Diversity in heArts: Gender And Sexuality Ch.2

In our ideal Th e ge nd er of yo ur

Pa rt ne r sh ou ld

Clara Camps Costa & K ristine AngelviK

NOTES FROM CLARA & KRISTINE

Not wanting to use a label is not a message that we decided to face or something we sat down to agree not to use. Meeting each other and falling in love was something that happened slowly and very naturally in both our lives. Most importantly, the fact that we were two girls did not make it feel different. It was just two people falling in love. Our lives did not change, our friends did not change, and we did not change.

We were, and still are, just two people in love. However, we are well aware that this is just our situation, and sadly not the case everywhere in the world. The fact that we live in Norway gives us the luxury of living openly as a couple, not having to defend or hide our love. We can walk down the street holding hands and feel safe and we are not treated differently because of the person we love. In our ideal world, the gender of your partner should not be relevant, you should not need to define yourself with a label.

Love is love, as simple as that. Nevertheless, we know that

without the long and hard fight by proud LGBT men and women, it would be impossible to live and think as we do.

– Clara Camps Costa & Kristine Angelvik

Illegal

Illegal IN SOME CONTEXTs

No protection

LGBT discrimination World economic forum 2017

As youth, we have the to BreaK BarrieS & LimitationS

Ammarantha Wass

NOTES FROM AMMARANTHA

I have lived all the different stages; at 13, I defined myself as a homosexual man, then bisexual and at last I started my transit to become a woman - a trans, heterosexual woman.

It has been quite a ride. People in my society see trans as something negative or related to prostitution. There is a correlation between trans and prostitution, and it has two main causes; different needs that families face and a general lack of support from a society that does not accept diverse bodies, identities or forms of expression. The result is that many trans people are kicked out of their homes and are not able to go to school, thus they have to resort to prostitution.

There is too much pressure to be, or look, like something specific. I chose not to use hormones or have any surgeries on my body, and that comes from a place of self-love and a resistance to what is conceived as an “average” body. If I ever change something, I want it to come from me, instead of it being something society is asking for.

We have to be critical - to remember that we are here because someone else before us fought for our human rights; someone else stood up and said “No”. As youths, we have the task to break barriers and limitations, so future children of the world will not have to struggle so much. We have to change things and inspire others. You can do it in your everyday life by actively listening to others, and understanding where they come from, by loving, accepting and integrating them into your life. You can also take the activist road, which is a tough but a beautiful one, full of challenges and rewards.

Sometimes things can get scary.

Being a little scared is okay as long as the fear does not paralyze you. Remember that you are not standing up for one population or group; you stand up for every human being.

– Ammarantha Wass

Julie Tiegen - Norway

DID YOU KNOW? 1

In 1972, Sweden became the first country to allow citizens to change their gender legally. [1]

2

Some experts estimate that as many as 1 in every 1,500 babies is born with genitals that cannot easily be classified as male or female. [2]

3

JUNE is the LGBTQ Pride Month which was chosen to commemorate the Stonewall Riots occurred at the end of June in 1969.[3]

4

The original LGBT flag was hand-dyed and consisted of eight symbolic colors: Pink (Sexuality) Red (Life) Orange (Healing) Yellow (Sunlight) Green (Nature) Turquoise (Magic/Art) Blue (Serenity /Harmony) Purple (Spirit) [4]

[1]

Official Site of Sweden. Working for a Gay-Friendly Sweden.

[2]

American Psychological Association.

Answers to Your Questions About Individuals With Intersex Conditions.

In 2006 South Africa became the first country in Africa, and the fifth in the world, to legalize same-sex marriages.[5]

5 6

7

In 2015 Ireland became the first country to legalise gay marriage by popular vote,out of an electorate of more than 3 million, 1,201,607 backed gay marriage, while 734,300 voters said No. [6] "In February 2014, Facebook expanded gender identity from male and female to a list of dozens of options, including Androgyne, Gender Fluid, Intersex, Neither and Transgender. People who choose a custom gender can also choose the pronoun they would like to be referred to publicly: he/his, she/her or they/their" [7]

[5]

Washington Post (December, 2006) Same-Sex Marriage Law Takes Effect in S. Africa

[3]

Diversity Best Practices. Resource Guide 2016: LGBT Pride Month.

[6]

The Guardian (May, 2015) Ireland becomes the first country to legalise gay marriage by popular vote

[4]

The Sun (July, 2017) Gay Pride flag – what do the rainbow colours mean and when was the LGBT+ pride flag first used?.

[7]

CBC/Radio-Canada (February, 2015) Facebook adds new gender option for users: fill in the blank.

GENDER & SEXUALITY:

You can compliment the activity by watching our video

What do you carry in your gender backpack (> 15 participants, 2 hours)

< Are labels important to you ? >

MATERIALS: paper, markers, 2 empty backpacks, random personal items from facilitator(s) – preferably “typical gender

DO: o Ask participants to sit in a circle o Ask them to answer this question individually and in a piece of paper:

“fits” in the two backpacks. They should go one by one and choose items from a pile in the middle of the room.

o Encourage them to think about where that “belongs”

according to the questions asked before (What does being a woman/man mean to you? & What does it mean to be a woman/man today?”) ask them to place the items according to their firsts thought, and the facilitator should try to “force” them to place it in one bag, not in between. (For instance: there is a lipstick, should it be placed in a Man’s bag? There is a bill, should it be placed in a Woman’s bag?)

1

What does being a woman/man mean to you?

2

What does it mean to be a woman/man today? (They can draw or write down their thoughts on a piece of paper)

group. Look through the things that they have packed in the two backpacks while having a dialogue with the groups about the reasons for deciding on where to place the objects.

o Put all the pieces of paper in a pile or a hat without writing their names on it. (They will be reviewed in the debrief)

o You can ask if there are any thing that is missing from the two

o Split participants into two groups (males & females).

o Then ask them if there’s anything they would like to change and replace from the two bags, reflecting on their own experiences and roles as a woman/man in their school, community and social environment.

o Give a backpack and blank papers to each group and ask them to label the backpack and decorate the label. The labels should read “Women’s Backpack” & “Men’s Backpack” respectively. o The participants in the two groups are supposed to fill the

backpacks with the personal items according to what they think

o Ask the participants to present the backpacks to the other

bags.

o Each group can present one case where these bags have

limited or been a hinder for them as individuals, and then present it to the other group.

Debrief: o How did the people from the “female side” / ”male side” feel about the activity?

o Why do you think some people have to face several challenges due to their gender?

o What can we do as global citizens to change the situations where those bags have not allowed people to be what they really want to be?

o What was the most difficult part about deciding where to place the objects?

o Is there any “particular” type of pressure for male and female adolescents that you have experienced?

o How can we make others aware of this

oDid the whole group agree on where to place the objects? How did you manage the different opinions in your group?

oHave you ever had to justify yourself because you were doing something stereotypically reserved to the other gender? (e.g. girls doing combat sports or boys using make up)

situation?

o How can we educate people to avoid that gender is a limit in education, profession, hobbies, preferences etc.?

TIPS for facilitator: o This is a good activity for Village age (12/13) but can be adapted to other age groups.

o Facilitate the activity and mix the questions while relevant things are happening.

o Make participants feel safe and comfortable so they can share their point of view

oChoose objects that touch upon different aspects of gender roles like; traditional occupations, different types of emotions, objects based on appearance/beauty standards and hobbies/interests.

Sebastian Alvarez â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CISV Guatemala

Gender & Sexuality Make a mark in the line of each option depending on how much you think it applies to you

AGENDER

EXAMPLE:

I AM …

a person with no (or very little) connection to the traditional system of gender, no personal alignment with the concepts of either man or woman, and/or someone who sees themselves as existing without gender.

DEMISEXUAL 100%

0%

0%

ASEXUAL

BIGENDER

experiencing little or no sexual attraction to others and/or a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior.

a person who fluctuates between traditionally “woman” and “man” gender-based behavior and identities, identifying with both genders

100%

100%

0%

BISEXUAL

CISGENDER

o is a person wh physically, emotionally, racted att lly and/or sexua and to males/men . en om females/w 100%

0%

DEMISEXUAL

a person whose gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth align (e.g., man and assigned male at birth)

0%

QUEER

0%

100%

a person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions.

0%

100%

a person primarily emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted to members of the same sex/gender.

100%

PANSEXUAL

used as an umbrella term to describe individuals who don’t identify as straight.

HOMOSEXUAL

little or no capacit y to experience sexual attraction until a strong romantic or emotion al connection is form ed with another individual

100%

0%

100%

0%

TRANSSEXUAL

STRAIGHT a person primarily , emotionally, physically to and/or sexually attracted people who are not their r same sex/gende 0%

100%

0%

100%

a person who identifies psychologically as a gender/sex other than the one to which they were assigned at birth.

0%

100%

SOURCE: http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2013/01/a-comprehensive-list-of-lgbtq-term-definitions/