This letter, coordinated by a range of organizations and individuals including the Society of Gender Professionals, InterACT, and the Intersex Justice Project, details the need for greater visibility of intersex experiences in the science curriculum. Read and share widely!
Ten simple rules for supporting historically underrepresented students in science
Post-secondary science educators, including college and university instructors and informal educators, will find actionable strategies for supporting historically underrepresented students in this PLOS Computational Biology article by Arif S, Massey MDB, Klinard N, Charbonneau J, Jabre L, Martins AB, et al. (2021)
California Condors reproduce without a male. A first.
Erik Anderson reports for KPBS the discovery that captive condors have reproduced through parthenogenesis, with just a single parent and an unfertilized egg.
Sex Redefined: The Idea of 2 Sexes Is Overly Simplistic
In this Scientific American article, Claire Ainsworth, discusses evidence for the spectrum model of biological sex using introductory language.
Gender-Inclusive Biology: A framework in action
A long-haired teacher gesturing to three seated students over a diagram of the human circulatory system.
We have a feature article in the September October issue of The Science Teacher titled Gender-Inclusive Biology: A framework in action Practical Strategies for Teaching About Gender, Sex, and Sexuality in Biology.
The bones activity with the broken link can be found at bit.ly/biobones.
1,000-Year-Old Remains May Be Of A Highly Respected Nonbinary Warrior, Study Finds
Analysis of ancient DNA found in Finland has unveiled a surprise a century later – the remains of an early medieval warrior thought to be female may have been nonbinary. Xcaret Nuñez reports for NPR.
The data indicate that the person had a feminine presentation, likely XXY chromosomes, and a penis. The way they were buried led to the conclusion that the remains were of "a respected person whose gender identity may well have been non-binary."
To use this article with students, pre-teach the difference between gender and sex because this is not well-defined in the article.
NABT, NSTA, and NGSS Equity Statements
Gender-inclusive biology teaching is aligned with the position statements of major science education authorities. The relevant excerpts are stated below and the full texts can be accessed by clicking the image.
STEM Teaching Tool: How do we present gender, sex, and sexuality as part of inclusive and accurate science teaching?
The Gender-Inclusive Biology team collaborated with Gender Inclusive Classrooms and the UW STEM Teaching Tools team to create this concise, action-oriented brief on best practices.
Other, Neither, Both - Talk by Sam Sharpe
Biological sex takes on so many diverse patterns across species, but discussion of human sex often consists of an oversimplified and incomplete binary. Biologist Sam Sharpe discussed this issue in a five-minute INSPIRE talk at the Ecological Society of America annual meeting in 2020.
You don't have a male or female brain – the more brains scientists study, the weaker the evidence for sex differences
Lise Eliot of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science addresses common misconceptions about differences between male and female brains. She reviewed 30 years of research on human brain sex differences and found that almost none of these claims are reliable. This article addresses claims of difference in brain size and composition in both humans and animals. Eliot discusses what this data means for nonbinary and transgender people.
GIB Newsletter: Back-to-School edition! [Sep]
Hello, Gender-Inclusive Biology community!
Many folks have returned to school, and no matter if you are teaching online, in a hybrid model, or fully in person, it's clear that this school year is unlike any that most of us have ever experienced. Below are a few resources and ideas to hold up as this school year unfolds!
Names and online platforms
One major barrier that trans students can encounter is systems which don't allow them to display their chosen name if it is different than the one in their official school records. This list is a first crack at providing some insight into some online tools used by K-12 educators that provide choice in what name students display to others in the classroom as well as those that make it difficult or impossible to choose your display name. Have something to add or change? Comment in the doc!
Deadname Remover
This new Chrome extension created by and for trans people automatically replaces a person's deadname on any website with the name they enter through the plugin. This doesn't change the name on the website itself, but for students in non-affirming districts that use systems that don't allow them to change their name, this can reduce the stress and anxiety caused by seeing their deadname on a regular basis.
Official statements to support gender-inclusive teaching
As family members are more frequently a part of our classroom meetings during online learning, teachers may receive increased pushback against gender-inclusive moves used in our classroom. Here are a few policy statements that can help back you up if you end up receiving some pushback from community members or administration at your school:
NSTA statement on Gender Equity in Science Education
NABT statement on Equity in Science Education
NGSS Appendix D: All Standards, All Students
We also make a point to include references to sources in peer-reviewed journals for as many of our website resources as possible, so look to those for backup as well as needed!
LGBTQ curriculum kits for educators Hope in a Box provides LGBTQ-affirming books, curriculum guides, and community-building to middle and high school educators around the country. They prioritize rural public schools, though anyone can apply. You can also purchase a kit directly from them or donate funds to support a kit being sent to another school.
Articles about supporting LGBTQ students during distance learning
Supporting LGBTQ students During Social Distancing
NEA & HRC: A Checklist for supporting LGBTQ+ students during COVID-19
Upcoming appearances
Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference Saturday October 17th
NABT conference Friday-Saturday November 6-7
Colorado Science Conference Saturday November 14th
Take care and stay safe out there!
Sam, River, and Lewis
Happy New Year from Gender-Inclusive Biology! [Jan]
Happy New Year from Gender-Inclusive Biology!
Welcome to our updated newsletter, filled with updates, resources, and ideas for teaching that includes ALL students and identities.
Gender-Inclusion In the News
On January 5th, the U.S. House of Representatives approved gender-neutral language in the official House rules and established a permanent Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This change in language uses inclusive words such as “parent,” “child,” and “sibling” and changes references to an individual in the third person to “themself.”
This move is one small step towards equity, but shows the impact shifting language can make! Check out our language guide that shows simple shifts teachers can make to create a more inclusive biology classroom.
Upcoming Inclusive Sex Ed Book
Many are excited about an upcoming publication, Puberty: Pick Your Path by Dr. Sydney Tam, MD, CCFP and Rakiyah Jones, DNP, FNP-BC, illustrated by Bishakh Som and kd diamond. Here’s the description shared by the publisher, Flamingo Rampant:
“This groundbreaking book introduces young people to the process of puberty, allowing any kid to learn about the changes that may come. The book describes many options for trans and nonbinary kids to explore - for the first time ever - possible routes and options through puberty and into adulthood, with age-appropriate illustrations and diagrams throughout.”
You can pre-order this and other titles in the Flamingo Rampant collection here.
Calling High School Life Science Teachers!
A call to participate in research by Elizbeth Hobbs
I am asking for your participation in a survey to insight into how Biology teachers teach social justice and socioscientific issues. I am asking high school Biology, Life Science and Environmental Science teachers to participate. It is about a 15-20 minute survey. One in four participants who gives a valid email address and submits the survey will be emailed a $10 gift card from Amazon.com within a month of submittal. The survey will not work on a mobile device, so please complete on a laptop or desktop computer. Please see the link to the survey below. Consent information is included at the beginning of the survey. Thank you!
-Elizabeth Hobbs, Webster Groves High School (MO) Science Teacher
Upcoming events
The Gender-Inclusive Biology team will be presenting at the Science Educators for Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice conference January 28-February 1, 2021.
We’d love to hear from you! We have lots in store but are always looking for new ideas and hearing from folks who are looking for resources, collaboration, or support. We also welcome your feedback as we step into a new shiny email newsletter platform!
Happy New Year!! - Sam, River, and Lewis
Fourteen Recommendations to Create a More Inclusive Environment for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Academic Biology
This article in Life Sciences Education provides guidance for making biology inclusive in higher education and academia. The authors provide detailed recommendations for creating an inclusive collegial environment as well as adaptations to biology content and language.
The biology classroom is well-suited for discussions of gender and sexuality. As biologists, we have opportunities in our classrooms to dispel myths regarding the biology of attraction, biology of gender, sexuality, reproduction, hormones, and genetics. Instead of avoiding these topics, we recommend that instructors intentionally include them in class.
The Unbelievable Secrets of Sex-Changing Animals
In Interesting Engineering, Trevor English surveys the common phenomenon of animals changing sex, and its physiological and genetic basis. For student-facing use, we recommend prefacing this article with a language distinction: Animals “change sex” meaning there is a change in their production of sex hormones and a physical change in their reproductive organs. Humans instead undergo “gender transition”, with “sex change” being an outdated term for this process.
Are There “Transgender” Proclivities in Animals?
In JSTOR Daily, Juliet Lamb discusses non-human species that gain advantages by project an opposite-sex appearance which has parallels to transgender humans.
Sex isn’t binary, and we should stop acting like it is
This article by Liza Brusman is available in English and Spanish, text or read loud.
NSTA Engage: Spring21 Session (Online)
We are excited to present our session "Gender-Inclusive Biology Curriculum: Small Tweaks and Big Shifts” at the NSTA Engage Spring21 Conference. Ours is a live session on May 6, 2021, 06:30 PM - 07:15 PM Eastern time.
Article: Transgender People and “Biological Sex” Myths
In this Medium article, biochemist and writer Julia Serano discusses the myth of a binary biological sex, and its implications for oppression and social justice.
Equity Guidance from Next Generation Science Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards include an appendix which discusses why and how science teachers must provide equitable learning opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, including diverse genders. Two pertinent quotes from the appendix are as follows:
“To engage all students in learning the NGSS, it is important to understand the context that influences science learning by diverse student groups.”
“Science teachers need to acquire effective strategies to include all students regardless of racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and gender backgrounds.”
NABT Position Statement on Equity in Science Education
The National Association of Biology Teaching adopted this position statement in 2003, last revised 2009. The statement supports gender-inclusive biology teaching through two key points:
“We have a fundamental, active, and obligatory role in creating, ensuring, and promoting meaningful education environments that reflect the full spectrum of human dimensions so that diversity, unity, and equity are able to flourish in science education.”
“Diversity contributes to the richness of biological science understanding and ways of knowing, enhances our educational and scientific discourse, [and] places historical, cultural, and philosophical frames of reference in context.”