Gender

I decided to be very broad with my post title.  There is a reason for this; throughout my next ten entries of this blog I am going to be looking at gender- for those of you who crave some more specific information; I (we) are going to be looking at sexism and heterosexism in a more detailed light.  Growing up in a small town in Southern Ontario- there was no question about gender.  Boys played with cars and tractors and dreamed of following their fathers footsteps; taking over the farm.  While girls played with their dolls, helped their mom in the kitchen, and wore really pretty pink dresses.  This may see a little outdated to you, but this is the experience I had growing up in St. George, Ontario.  Therefore there were no questions about gender roles, let alone conversations of hetersexism existing in the community.  People have their roles in society and everything else is hushed under the rug.  Growing up I always knew this was backwards, that my father wasn't homophobia; it was just his generation and that the area we grew up in wasn't accepting or welcoming to anyone who didn't fit the 'norm'.  There it is- some back ground information as to why I want to look at sexism and heterosexism in a more detailed light.  They are issues that happen within a school and my goal as a teacher is to have an inclusive classroom, where everyone feels welcome and leaves with a warm feeling of exceptance.

I also understand that sexism and hetersoexism are two totally different things.  That being said they do go hand in hand; which is why I decided to label this post gender.  Gender is 'the state of being make or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather then biological ones).' From just reading that definitions you can see an endless possibility of topics and ideas to discuss regarding gender.  I'm going to cover variety of topics in my blog that are very much so relevant to gender in our classroom that include issues around sexism and heterosexism. To start this blog out with a rocking jam as well as a thinking piece, I would like you to take 4 minutes out of your day to watch this lovely music video pro formed by the beautiful Miranda Lambert.

There's a verse in the music video, I will share a line with you 'Thomas was a congressman with closets full of skeletons and dresses that he wore on Friday nights.'  This is the beauty of life, everyone is different and that is what makes it beautiful. From the wise words of Miranda Lambert, it takes all kinds of kinds.  This line really hit home for me,  sure I grew up in a backwards, one stoplight kind of town; but I am different.  Im accepting of everyone, I care and want the best for those I meet and teach, I want to do whatever I can to help every child succeed not only in education but also in life.