Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms

(Hardback)

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An informative and project-filled book for middle graders to explore the meaning and history behind LGBTQ rights movements, including biographies of key figures in gender and gay/lesbian history, the context behind todays transgender bathroom wars and dozens of activities and research ideas for perspectives and further learning. What does it mean to think of gender as being a range instead of being simply male or female In Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms, middle school readers unpack the cultural significance of gender identity in the United States and around the world. Written using #ownvoices and with editors trained in the sensitivities of todays gender discussions, the book is filled with interesting facts, primary sources, a range of text features, and more to engage readers. Highlights include: Introductions to concepts crucial to understanding the basics of gender identity, including how gender identity differs from physical sex and sexual orientation, the importance of gender-specific and gender-neutral pronouns, and more Short biographies of gender activists and other important public figures throughout the text, filled with personal stories to help readers form social-emotional connections to the subject including Renee Richards, Chaz Bono, and gender rights pioneers Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, plus early transgender individuals including Lili Elbe and Christine Jorgensen. In-depth information on famous gay/lesbian rights protests and movements, detailing the cultural and legal struggles for gay rights and gender acceptance, from the Compton Cafeteria riots to the Stonewall Riots to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and more. Sidebars throughout on how books and popular TV shows and movies helped expand gay/lesbian awareness and rights, from 1970s shows such as The Jeffersons to the contemporary show Meet Polkadot. Projects and activities encourage teens to form their own, well-informed opinions on the many facets of gender perspectives and issues. Gender Identity is part of a set of four books called Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twenty-First Century, which explores the social challenges that have faced our world in the past and that continue to drive us to do better in the future. Other titles in this set are Feminism, Immigration Nation, and Race Relations. About the series and Nomad Press Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning as opposed to teacher-guided instruction. This student-centered approach provides readers with the tools they need to become inquiry-based learners. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. As informational texts, our books provide key ideas and details from which readers can make their own inferences. Nomads unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile, and meet Common Core State Standards and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

Reviews

Praise for other books in the Inquire and Investigate series:

Comparative Religion: Investigate the World Through Religious Traditions
Booklist
"The abstractions of religion make it a tricky topic for objective and clear middle-level resources, but this dynamic book manages to be both informative and accessible."

The Holocaust: Racism and Genocide in World War II
Skipping Stones 2018 Honor Award

Terrorism: Violence, Intimidation, and Solutions for Peace
VOYA Magazine
". . .a good overview of an incredibly intricate and evolving topic, useful for middle-grade and high school history classrooms."

Windy City Times: The Voice of Chicago's Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, and Queer Community

"What exactly is gender How does one determine pronouns, for themselves and others And why, exactly, is the bathroom debate such a big deal

Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms. . .is a gentle but thorough resource for younger readers looking to define their own identities or understand others, and for adults who want an easy-to-follow guide to transgender history. . . .Gender Identity hits all the important points of transgender history--the life of Christine Jorgensen, the first American to medically transition, as well as the Stonewall Riots, initiated by trans women of color Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson--and supplements with information that isn't as widely known. There's a sober reminder of the demise of Brandon Teena, a young transgender man in Nebraska who was the subject of the Oscar-winning 2000 film "Boys Don'tCry", and more uplifting passages about the rise of social media in helping young trans people feel seen and understood.

Cook's writing is both informative and engaging, favoring short declarative sentences and vivid descriptions. Illustrator Alexis Cornell, a graduate of the prestigious Center for Cartoon Studies, enhances the narrative with a snappy and fun comic strip at the beginning of every chapter. Most significantly, Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms encourages communication, respect and acceptance at every
turn--and that is perhaps its greatest lesson of all."

Publishers Weekly
"This addition to the Inquire & Investigate series provides an interactive exploration of gender identity, gendered societal expectations, and LGBTQ rights. Sections explore gender expression in media and place changing views within the broader context of social history. They also name significant events, figures, and legislation pivotal to the LGBTQ movement from the 1930s onward. Cornell's comic panels feature characters expressing affirming perspectives on gender identity, while Cook provides vocabulary relating to expression, questions for readers to consider, and suggestions for further investigation. A thought-provoking resource."
School Library Connection

Grades 8-12 "Once the terms he, she, gay and straight were all that was required for a discussion about gender and sexuality. Now a plethora of terms exist to helpfully indicate the broad spectrum of genders and sexual orientations which many people are using to better define and express their individual identity. This recognition and acceptance was won by many courageous individuals whose stories, dating back to the 1930s, are told in this title. Still, even today there are cultural norms that limit full acceptance of the true range of gender and sexual expression, especially for people identifying as transgender. Various groups using social media, individual stories, and legal action are working to change laws and attitudes that limit acceptance of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. Photos, cartoons, and news reports are used to supplement the text. Critical thinking activities encourage readers, individually or in groups, to examine their personal attitudes, and consider how this new information increases their understanding of the range of gender and sexual expression. Recommended"

Booklist
"The Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twentieth Century series offers facts, historical perspective, and useful suggestions for young people studying key issues in America today. The writers encourage further study and thoughtful consideration of their books' subjects, which have all seen shifts in political rhetoric and public perception over time. Besides presenting each topic, they challenge readers to engage in critical thinking and consider questions from various people's points of view. . . Gender Identity provides a chronological narrative, providing the history of relevant issues, individuals' stories, lawsuits, and social changes over the last century. . . Well organized information and practical help for students researching significant social issues."
From the foreword by: Christine Hallquist, first openly transgender major party gubernatorial nominee in the United States

"Maria Cook has done a brilliant job of capturing the important moments and the key leaders in the transgender movement, as well as providing an understanding of the nuance of language and the issues. For anyone who is transgender, who knows someone who is transgender, or simply wants to learn about the transgender movement, this is the book for you."

Author Bio

Maria Cook is an award-winning freelance writer who holds a BS in secondary English education and an MFA in writing, both from Butler University. Her nonfiction can be found in such publications as Marie Claire, Narratively, and Green Matters. Maria lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.Alexis Cornell is a graduate of The Center for Cartoon Studies. Alexis has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, including Big Data: Information in the Digital World with Science Activities for Kids and Artificial Intelligence: Thinking Machines and Smart Robots with Science Activities for Kids. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.