Drake Lomax

 

           In lesson one of education 2120 we discussed our view of gender change and how it would affect the way we felt about people who had one. We watched the video of a teacher in Oregon who had a gender change. We also watched a debate video where two people from opposite sides discussed their view of gender change and what they believed about it. Through this lesson I gained much knowledge concerning gender change in America. We were also required to complete a list of questions and provide researched information relating to the topic.  

 

 

What are your general thoughts concerning Gender change?

 

• My general thoughts concerning gender change is that I do not agree with gender change. I don’t believe that God made a man with the intention of that person later becoming a woman. I also believe that God doesn’t make anyone gay. When a person is born they have a brand new start on life. The way people are shaped into what they become is by their raisings and also the paths they decide themselves to walk. Concerning gender change though I don’t agree with it and I also don’t understand why anyone would want to change their gender.

 

•If you were friends with the Oregon teacher before the gender change, would you STILL be friends? If yes, why? If no, why not?

 

• If I had been friends with the Oregon teacher before the gender change I don’t believe I could continue being friends with her after the gender change. That is one thing that I do not agree with and I personally do not associate with those types of people. It also makes me sick to my stomach anytime I see someone like this. I’m not the type of person to just grab people to be my friends. I know a lot of people and consider them friends but we may only see each other once a month or just in different things around town, but I do have a few close friends that I go and do a lot with. My close friends are people that I have a lot in common with.

 

•If you were a classroom teacher, how would you explain this issue to your students?

 

• If I was the classroom teacher who had to explain this to my students I would tell them they these people are confused. You’ve heard the old say, “God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.” I would explain to my students that these people who participate in these things are confused as to who they are and who they want to be. I would also tell my students that they don’t have to live a confused life and that they can decide who they are and to never let anyone change their mind. A boy is a boy and he grows into a man and a girl is a girl and she grows into a woman.

 

•Concerning the "debate" video, the lady in stripes said that "we must protect our children and create a safe learning environment and we must not expose our children to this situation (gender change) because it might be harmful to our children". What does she mean by "protect" and "safe learning environment" and "harmful"? Explain.

 

• When she said she must protect our children and create a safe learning environment she meant that we could allow our children’s minds to be diluted with the mess that is being thrown around by all these different groups of people. I also believe that she is intending to say that we can’t allow the gender change option to get into one child’s mind and cause them to forever question what they’ve been taught. When children are eat these early ages their minds are still growing and taking in a sorts of information and they’re learning more and more and trying to put it all together and see what’s true and what’s not so to put such junk in their head is simply putting them on a path for destruction. We can’t allow such garbage to filtrate into the minds of our children at an early age.

 

•Explain in your own words the meaning behind Lady GaGa's "Born This Way" song.

 

• I believe in Lady GaGa’s “Born This Way” song she is saying that she is made the way she is and that it was all God’s plan. I also believe she is trying to tell other people that they are made just like they are and that is also God’s plan. She is trying to portray to the world they everyone is created in a different way and that it is ok to be different. She has a really great meaning behind her song. I also believe she is trying to tell the world that she was also born like she is and she isn’t going to change.

 

•At the end of the Lady GaGa video, she and her dancers raise their hands in the air. What does this mean?

 

• At the end of the music video I believe Lady GaGa and her dancers raise their hands up to heaven to signify that they are giving credit to God for making them the way they are. I believe it could also be her way of saying she is born that way and there is nothing she can do about it. It could be a sign of her throwing her hands up into the air in surrender to being who she is and not being able to do anything to change it. It is also very possible that it is significant for them worshipping God for creating them like he did and for giving them the abilities that he did.

 

•What do you think would have more of a NEGATIVE EFFECT on a child - having a transgender teacher or listening and viewing Lady GaGa's songs and videos?. Explain.

 

• I believe that the most negative effect on a child would come from viewing Lady GaGa’s videos and music. When you watch the Lady GaGa videos they’re all just about naked and they’re also all saying things that aren’t fitting for a child. The more we advance as a society seemingly the worse our children are becoming. We say that video games corrupt our children and that it’s all from that, but the reality of the fact is this that our children are simply trying to become something or somebody they’re not in order to feel as if they are popular and wanted. Lady GaGa’s songs may have decent meanings but when a child seems women and men dressed so provocative and doing provocative things he isn’t listening to the words he’s attempting to become like them.

 

•How does one become prejudice?

 

• I believe that one becomes prejudice through their raisings and the people they spend the majority of their time with. When a child is born they are innocent and will continue to be innocent until they fully grasp the concept of what life really is. We mold children into what they become if you asked a pre-k student what color their friends from school are the majority of them would tell you that they do not know or they’ve never paid attention to it. Children don’t think like that, they think I like this person they’re like me and I like that. A child isn’t consumed with their color or where they’re from or even who their parents are they are simply looking for people to have a good time with.

 

•Who is at fault or responsible for discrimination?

 

• Many different people are at fault or responsible for discrimination. Some teachers are without a doubt responsible for discrimination. Some parents are responsible. Many of us if we’re truly honest with ourselves are responsible for discrimination because we’ve made statements around children that have caused them to later feel racist toward a particular person and/or race. I’ve been guilty before of saying things even jokingly and a child pick up on it and say it at school and later get into trouble.

 

•Can you cite some personal examples of prejudice and discrimination?

 

• Growing up I had some black friends that I was really close to and we even grew to be good friends in school and even into regular life. I remember when I was in elementary school I wanted some of them to come over and my mom had a cow and I was like what do you mean they’re my best friends. To me at that young age I was devastated that my mom wouldn’t let my friends come over, but she later talked with their parents and they did get to come. I remember my dad was like let them come it will be fine, but my mom was acting crazy about it. That event in my childhood scarred me and made me feel different about things, but now it doesn’t bother me because I have friends of all races and one of those friends from elementary school is still one of my close friends.

 

Summary:

 

• Through watching these videos I have saw and realized that gender changes are a real issue in our world. Being that I have always been in South Georgia I’ve never really saw anyone that I knew of that had a gender change, therefore I didn’t really consider it to be such a big issue. I’ve watched the videos and read all the stories, but I still do not agree with gender changes. I feel like that’s like telling God that he didn’t do well enough on me so I will change myself. If God had wanted a man to be a woman he would’ve done it himself. I also believe that Lady GaGa really meant to do well through her song but I believe her approach was not in the right manner.

 

Research Question: How should a parent react to a child with a desire for a gender change?

 

Reference(s): http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/transgender.html#

 

Research Analysis:

 

         Many different parents have many different emotions through finding out that their child has a desire to be a different gender. Some parents feel like a very strong disappointment and some even go as far as to feel as if they’ve lost their children. On the other hand of the spectrum some parents don’t feel as if it was even a surprise or as something they saw coming. While parents experience many different emotions when dealing with a child who desires a gender change it is of most importance to react with love. It is of most importance for your child to not feel like you are trying to force them to do or be a certain way.

         One very good approach as dealing with a child who desires a gender change is to be slightly acceptable of their choice. When the reaction to the news is seemingly acceptable the child is less likely to respond harshly or even going overboard toward their parents. When parents absolutely will not even consider the child’s side of the story it causes their child to rebel and can even cause the parents to loss their relationship with the family. You must make the child feel loved and accepted no matter their decision about their gender. Love cures numerous things all while maintaining a relationship.

The absolutely wrong approach at correcting the decision of the child is by trying to force them into what you desire. A transgender child is going to face numerous different treatments from the people around them. They are bound to face discrimination and rejection. If the child also feels the same pressures from home they are more likely to pull away or become isolated to their own selves. If the child feels like they are being forced into a specific gender they are more like to develop depression. Depression can lead to far worse consequences than being a different gender an example would include suicide and/or other life altering behaviors.    

    

Research Summary:

 

Through my research as to how parents should react to the discovery of a child desiring a gender change I’ve learned many different ways to react if ever faced with the challenge. I also learned that trying to force a child to be a certain way also will cause greater harm then just making them feel accepted. Throughout this research I’ve learned many real life lessons. If ever approached by a student with the desire to change their gender I feel like I’m better equipped to help them and lead them in the right direction.