Ed for Sex Ed

Principles of Gender-Inclusive Puberty and Health Education by Gender Spectrum
GenderSpectrum, March 3, 2019

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Gender Spectrum, an organization that works to create gender-sensitive environments for children, has published the first guide to gender-inclusive sexual education. Their guide, which has been endorsed by several leading non-profits, aims to give educators tools to create a puberty health education (PHE) experience that is “decidedly individual.” Gender Spectrum’s work, which is intended to be incorporated into existing PHE materials, stresses the complexity of gender as the interrelationship between one’s body, identity, and expression. While transgender and gender expansive students are frequently at risk of stigmatization and discrimination, research shows that support from families and schools can greatly alleviate mental health risks. Gender Spectrum has identified the foundation for gender-inclusive PHE through five key principles and provides guidance on how to create a more inclusive educational environment. While not a one-size-fits-all gameplan, the recommendations serve as a valuable tool for educators and set the stage for broadening the scope of what traditional sexual education can be.