Beyond the Gender Binary: Understanding nonbinary gender identities
Grade level: 11
Text set by Katey Dager
Grade level: 11
Text set by Katey Dager
Anchor Text: Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz
Schmatz, P. (2015). Lizard radio. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
In Kivali’s society, people are expected to adhere to strict roles. Unfortunately, Kivali has been far from typical ever since she was found as a baby, wrapped in a t-shirt with a picture of a lizard on it. She passes all of her tests except the gender one, where she ends up right in the middle, neither boy nor girl. Living like this is forbidden, and Kivali is forced to live as one gender, even if it doesn’t feel right. She feels like she doesn’t belong, and waits for the day that lizard people will take her away and claim her as their own. When she is sent to Crop Camp, she finally makes some real friends, but still feels out of place in the world. Lizard Radio is the story of a young person coming to terms with her gender identity in a society that rejects anything beyond the binary.
Schmatz, P. (2015). Lizard radio. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
In Kivali’s society, people are expected to adhere to strict roles. Unfortunately, Kivali has been far from typical ever since she was found as a baby, wrapped in a t-shirt with a picture of a lizard on it. She passes all of her tests except the gender one, where she ends up right in the middle, neither boy nor girl. Living like this is forbidden, and Kivali is forced to live as one gender, even if it doesn’t feel right. She feels like she doesn’t belong, and waits for the day that lizard people will take her away and claim her as their own. When she is sent to Crop Camp, she finally makes some real friends, but still feels out of place in the world. Lizard Radio is the story of a young person coming to terms with her gender identity in a society that rejects anything beyond the binary.
The Gender Book – Mel Reiff Hill and Jay Mays
Hill, M. R., & Mays, J. (2013). The gender book. Houston: Marshall House Press.
This short, brightly-illustrated book is a comprehensive look at the diversity of gender. It explains gender issues through infographics, comics, and illustrations. It is easy to read and easy to understand, and serves as a primer for those unfamiliar with gender studies or those who are navigating their own gender identity.
Hill, M. R., & Mays, J. (2013). The gender book. Houston: Marshall House Press.
This short, brightly-illustrated book is a comprehensive look at the diversity of gender. It explains gender issues through infographics, comics, and illustrations. It is easy to read and easy to understand, and serves as a primer for those unfamiliar with gender studies or those who are navigating their own gender identity.
Symptoms of Being Human- Jeff Garvin
Garvin, J. (2017). Symptoms of being human. New York, NY: Balzer Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Riley Cavanaugh is a gender fluid teenager dealing with the pressures of a new school and a conservative community. Riley starts an anonymous blog to talk about the feelings and experiences that come with being gender fluid, and it becomes popular as Riley starts to make friends at school. When a commenter discovers Riley’s identity and threatens to reveal it, Riley is faced with a difficult choice—shut down the blog and lose the good things that have come along with it, or risk everything by coming out.
Garvin, J. (2017). Symptoms of being human. New York, NY: Balzer Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Riley Cavanaugh is a gender fluid teenager dealing with the pressures of a new school and a conservative community. Riley starts an anonymous blog to talk about the feelings and experiences that come with being gender fluid, and it becomes popular as Riley starts to make friends at school. When a commenter discovers Riley’s identity and threatens to reveal it, Riley is faced with a difficult choice—shut down the blog and lose the good things that have come along with it, or risk everything by coming out.
My New Gender Workbook- Kate Bornstein
Bornstein, K. (2013). My new gender workbook: a step-by-step guide to achieving world peace through gender anarchy and sex positivity. New York: Routledge.
This humorous introduction to gender theory begins with the premise that there are not just two genders. Bornstein uses quizzes, exercises, and puzzles to guide the reader toward discovery of their own gender identity or understanding of others’.
Bornstein, K. (2013). My new gender workbook: a step-by-step guide to achieving world peace through gender anarchy and sex positivity. New York: Routledge.
This humorous introduction to gender theory begins with the premise that there are not just two genders. Bornstein uses quizzes, exercises, and puzzles to guide the reader toward discovery of their own gender identity or understanding of others’.
|
Why we need gender-neutral bathrooms – Ted Talk by Ivan Coyote
Coyote, I. (2015). Why we need gender-neutral bathrooms. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/ivan_coyote_why_we_need_gender_neutral_bathrooms/transcript#t-15599. Ivan Coyote speaks about the difficulty of using public bathrooms as a nonbinary or gender non-conforming person. Ivan’s suggestion of a small way that life could be made easier for trans people is a good starting point for discussion. |