Do we have to come up with words for non-transgender people calling them cisgender because developing thicker skins isn't an option?
I bet it's convenient to assume that when your behavior hurts someone it's because of something they lack, rather than something you lack. I imagine that's very comforting for you.
Right. And my point is that what's been said in this thread is not off topic. Off topic would be if someone started questioning President Obama's citizenship.
I bet it's convenient to assume that when your behavior hurts someone it's because of something they lack, rather than something you lack. I imagine that's very comforting for you.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I bet it's convenient to assume that when your behavior hurts someone it's because of something they lack, rather than something you lack. I imagine that's very comforting for you.
Sadly, that is the attitude of many in the area where the poster you quoted is from. There's a reason I'm very glad to have moved on from that area to a more accepting and less conservative area.
So i have been quietly following this thread all weekend and giving this some thought. And my position on this does not change. The contents of someone's underpants in none of my business. But that being said - someone along the way here did bring up a good point about communal showers. I dug around a bit and tried to find some sort of semblance of directive already in place - but as this is a "hot button" issue - the media and websites are so focuses of the bathrooms that locker rooms and their adjoining showers are simply a passing thought. I poked around on Jazz Jenning's site (that's the girl with the reality show) to see if she made any mention - nope - just excited to change at Target and pee in peace. To me this is small potatoes. If a girl looking like Jazz Jennings walked into the bathroom and used the stall next to me, I'd think nothing of it. Most females of all ages would. But into a communal shower I wondered if Jazz would even bother? Go full bore into showering? I'm really not sure... Do schools even require kids to shower? Mine does not.
Onto my next thought - suppose a school does require a kid to shower - what about the female to male that now has to fit in with his male and threatened peers? If they realize now in said communal shower that this person who outwardly looks male due to hormones is missing a member will they react violently towards him?
Perhaps these are baseless thoughts. Perhaps i am waaaayyyy over thinking things. Perhaps it has been too many years since i've been in a school locker room and things don't work like that anymore, so shut up, Flare and sit down.
My bottom line is and always will be keeping students healthy and safe in school. If that means they use my office - fine. If that means transgender students use a bathroom they feel comfortable in - fine. If that means constructing a single shower - well, i've been fighting for that for life skills for years... but that, friends is a different topic.
So i have been quietly following this thread all weekend and giving this some thought. And my position on this does not change. The contents of someone's underpants in none of my business. But that being said - someone along the way here did bring up a good point about communal showers. I dug around a bit and tried to find some sort of semblance of directive already in place - but as this is a "hot button" issue - the media and websites are so focuses of the bathrooms that locker rooms and their adjoining showers are simply a passing thought. I poked around on Jazz Jenning's site (that's the girl with the reality show) to see if she made any mention - nope - just excited to change at Target and pee in peace. To me this is small potatoes. If a girl looking like Jazz Jennings walked into the bathroom and used the stall next to me, I'd think nothing of it. Most females of all ages would. But into a communal shower I wondered if Jazz would even bother? Go full bore into showering? I'm really not sure... Do schools even require kids to shower? Mine does not.
Onto my next thought - suppose a school does require a kid to shower - what about the female to male that now has to fit in with his male and threatened peers? If they realize now in said communal shower that this person who outwardly looks male due to hormones is missing a member will they react violently towards him?
Perhaps these are baseless thoughts. Perhaps i am waaaayyyy over thinking things. Perhaps it has been too many years since i've been in a school locker room and things don't work like that anymore, so shut up, Flare and sit down.
My bottom line is and always will be keeping students healthy and safe in school. If that means they use my office - fine. If that means transgender students use a bathroom they feel comfortable in - fine. If that means constructing a single shower - well, i've been fighting for that for life skills for years... but that, friends is a different topic.
Perhaps your's are baseless thoughts...but perhaps you're right on the money...this thread is about the school environment. I think you're right on the money! Flare, you are school nursing. We are school nursing and all of us SCHOOL NURSES want what is best for all of our students; every day!
I've learned a lot from this thread. It's caused me to take a hard look at myself in the mirror of reality and humanity and humility. That's a good thing. That's all I'm gonna say.
I have students use my private office restroom all day. The real reason they want to use it? Because the student bathrooms are gross, thanks to students that aim poorly, don't flush, and otherwise do not remember that student bathrooms deserve the same respect as your bathroom at at home.
But if a student feels more comfortable using my restroom - regardless of their sexual identity - I'm going to let them my restroom. No one here cares if they do.
(And we don't have showers here. We may in our new gym we are planning, not sure.)
Dogen
897 Posts
I bet it's convenient to assume that when your behavior hurts someone it's because of something they lack, rather than something you lack. I imagine that's very comforting for you.