Episode #37:
Gender Identity and Sexuality in Adolescents (PART 2 with Amy Lang)
March 31, 2022, by Ashley Chandler
This week's featured freebies
Sex Safety 101
Conversation starters, the biggest goals around sex safety, and tips on monitoring and filtering technology for your tweens - taken straight from the episode! Your kids are being exposed to more and more each day and it's necessary that you talk to them about sex before the damaging effects of pornography have more influence than you.
The Gender Unicorn
A graphic created by TSER (Trans Student Educational Resource), to help you and your middle schooler better understand the differences between gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality.
Show your kid you love them exactly as they are
If you didn't hear last week's episode my guest today, sex educator, Amy Lang, shares all about How to Keep Your Kids Safe from Sexual Content Online -you've got to listen to it.
Seriously parents - prioritize these episodes - as they are linked to confidence, mental health, and overall success in relationships and life. We had such a rich discussion that segwayed into gender identity 101, so this is part 2 of our conversation.
First things first, I am an LGBTQ ally, but I'm not an expert. I'm learning so much of this alongside many of you, as I am a sis-gender, white female. But, despite me growing up in conservative bible belt Missouri and Oklahoma, I've always had the belief and knowing that we are spiritual beings having a human experience - all created equal. Every single one of us. I feel this so deeply it brings tears to my eyes.
Being spiritual, religious, agnostic, atheist - it can and must live in harmony with the LGBTQ world.
Remove all the external features, gender, qualities, and sexuality - and your kid is a being - equal to you and me. And, they deserve the love, respect, and safety that all beings deserve.
Needless to say, gender identity and sexuality in adolescents is a topic that is coming up big time.
Give yourself and your family the gift of education around these topics that are going to come up whether you like it or not. Learning about gender and sexuality is a gift that will keep on giving. And, in doing so, you communicate to them: I love you EXACTLY as you are. And, maybe you start to hear this message for yourself as well.
Take a look at today's talking points
[3:14] Rule of thumb for a parent of an LGBTQ+ kid
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Believe them and be there for them 100%
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LGBTQ+ kids have the highest suicide rate of all adolescents and the biggest factor is parental/caregiver support
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Being supportive doesn't mean you have to understand
[5:13] Terms to know
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Gender identity: how you feel (girl, boy, neither, both)
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Sex: this is about your biological anatomy
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Intersex: someone who is born with a combination of male and female parts
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Sis-gender: when your gender identity matches your biological parts
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Gender fluid: not identifying as all girl or all boy, sometimes it's a bit of both
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Non-binary: not identifying as male or female
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Trans-gender: The biological parts do not match the gender identity (and they identify strongly as a boy or girl)
People, places, things mentioned in this episode:
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Amy's upcoming book Spring of 2022: Sex Talk with Tweens: What to Say and How to Say It
Parents, if you're uncomfortable around these topics - it's ok. Most of us are! But our kids are growing up differently than we did. Conversations around gender and sexuality are more open.
They are crossing this invisible bridge into adulthood, and they need these tools of awareness and education.
I think we can all agree that growing up feeling fully seen, accepted, and healthy - exactly as we are is the greatest gift we can give our kids.
We all play a role in creating a more loving, just, and peaceful world - and this is an excellent place to start if you haven't already.
Like what you hear? Keep listening to the Elevated Adolescence Podcast
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