9781422283752

CONTENTS

Foreword by Kevin Jennings, Founder, GLSEN ........................................... 8

1 What Is Gender? .............................................................................................. 11 Sex ≠ Gender ......................................................................................................... 13 Close-up: Sex versus Gender ............................................................................. 14 Gender Roles and Sexuality ................................................................................ 15 The Myth of the “Real Man” ................................................................................. 16 Close-up: The Roots of Gender Prejudice ......................................................... 17 Gender Roles: Still Evolving ................................................................................. 18 Close-up: Gender Programming from Birth ...................................................... 20 2 What Is Transgender? .................................................................................... 23 The Wide Range of Gender Variance ................................................................. 25 Crossdressers and Drag Performers ................................................................. 27 Close-up: Intersex—Born Both Male and Female ............................................ 28 Transitioning from Male to Female or Female to Male ..................................... 29 Transgender ≠ Gay ................................................................................................ 30 3 Growing Up Transgender .............................................................................. 33 Hormone Therapy to Redirect Puberty .............................................................. 34 Too Young to Be Certain? .................................................................................... 36 Parental Concern . . . and Confusion .................................................................. 38 The Risks of Repressing Gender Identity .......................................................... 40 Close-up: Finding a Trans Community ............................................................... 42