Home Real Lives, Relevant Texts: A Survey of B2G Children’s Counternarratives
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Real Lives, Relevant Texts: A Survey of B2G Children’s Counternarratives

  • Danné E. Davis EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: February 9, 2016
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Abstract

In recent years, natal males’ assertions of being girls born in the wrong body have been unwelcome in elementary scholastic contexts. Several reasons call for individuals who teach or plan to teach young children to know about boy-to-girl (B2G) performance counternarratives. First, there is increasing visibility of B2G lives among elementary schoolchildren. Second, B2G performance counternarratives have empathetic impact with the potential to reshape educators’ views regarding schoolchildren’s embodiment and sexuality. Third, B2G performance counternarratives are increasingly present in children’s literature. Collectively, these reasons contribute to a “queer-eye pedagogical stance” capable of fostering empathy for B2G perspectives. This discussion on B2G performance counternarratives is the result of a three year examination. The 28 children’s picture storybooks put forth convey a range of B2G lived experiences – some of which feature classroom teachers. Ideally, these narratives – lived and in literature – will position actual teachers to become responsive to B2G schoolchildren in physical classrooms.

References

The Acceptance Curriculum. (2014). Retrieved February 7, 2015 from http://acceptancecurriculum.com/sample-page/Search in Google Scholar

Aphrodite, L. (2012). Hello, it’s only me! The diary of a transgendered kid. Lexington, KY: Layde Aphrodite.Search in Google Scholar

Axel, B., & Bidlespacher, T. (2012). Goblinheart: A fairy tale. Brooklyn, NY: East Waterfront Press.Search in Google Scholar

Baker-Street, M. (2014). Michael and me. Bloomington, IN: Xlibris.Search in Google Scholar

Baldacchino, C., & Malenfant, I. (2014). Morris Micklewhite and the tangerine dress. Toronto: Groundwood Press.Search in Google Scholar

Bauer, G. R., Hammond, R., Travers, R., Kaay, M., Hohenadel, K. M., & Boyce, M. (2009). “I don’t think this is theoretical; this is our lives”: How erasure impacts health care for transgender people. The Journal of the Association of Nurses in Aids Care, 20(5), 348–361.10.1016/j.jana.2009.07.004Search in Google Scholar

Bergman, S., & Malik, S. (2012). The adventures of Tulip birthday wish fairy. Toronto, ON: Flamingo Rampant.Search in Google Scholar

Bernal, D. D. (2002). Critical race theory, Latino critical theory, and critical raced-gendered epistemologies: Recognizing students of color as holders and creators of knowledge. Qualitative Inquiry, 8(1), 105–126.10.1177/107780040200800107Search in Google Scholar

Blackburn, E. (2012). Bookshelf: My princess boy. Retrieved from http://www.empowermagazine.com/bookshelf-my-princess-boy/Search in Google Scholar

Blaise, M., & Taylor, A. (2012). Using queer theory to rethink gender equity in early childhood education. Young Children, 67(1), 88–96.Search in Google Scholar

Bowers, G., & Lopez, W. (2012). Which way to the restroom? Respecting the rights of transgender youth in the school system. Toronto, Ontario: National School Boards Association.Search in Google Scholar

Broadhead, T. (2013). Meet Polkadot. Olympia, WA: Dangerdot Publishing.Search in Google Scholar

Butler, J. (1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. New York: Routledge.Search in Google Scholar

Carr, J., & Rumback, B. (2010). Be who you are. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.Search in Google Scholar

Cathcart, R. (2008). Boy’s killing, labeled a hate crime, stuns a town. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/us/23oxnard.html?_r=0Search in Google Scholar

Chapin, R. (2011). The Youngest Finds Joy. http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?contributorId=951531.Search in Google Scholar

Cianciotto, J., & Cahill, S. (2012). LGBT youth in America’s schools. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.10.3998/mpub.4656286Search in Google Scholar

Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/introduction/students-who-are-college-and-career-ready-in-reading-writingspeaking-listening-language/Search in Google Scholar

DePaola, T. (1979). Oliver button is a sissy. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.Search in Google Scholar

Douglas, K., & Hopson, R. (2001). Understanding the black church: The dynamics of change. Journal of Religious Thought, 56/57(2/1), 95–113.Search in Google Scholar

Duarté-Vélez, Y., Bernal, G., & Bonilla, K. (2010). Culturally adapted cognitive-behavior therapy: Integrating sexual, spiritual, and family identities in an evidence-based treatment of a depressed Latino adolescent. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(8), 895–906.10.1002/jclp.20710Search in Google Scholar

Duke, T., & McCarthy, K. (2009). Homophobia, sexism, and early childhood education: A review of the literature. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 30(4), 385–415.10.1080/10901020903320320Search in Google Scholar

Escamilla, K., & Nathenson-Mejã, S. (2003). Preparing culturally responsive teachers: Using Latino children’s literature in teacher education. Equity & Excellence in Education, 36(3), 238–248.10.1080/714044331Search in Google Scholar

Ewert, M., & Ray, R. (2008). 10,000 Dresses. New York: Seven Stories Press.Search in Google Scholar

Fabrikant, A., & Levine, J. (2013). When Kayla was Kyle. [Lakewood, CA]: Avid Readers Publishing Group.Search in Google Scholar

Fierstein, H. & Cole, H. (2002). The sissy duckling. New York: Simon Du Schuster Books for Young Readers.Search in Google Scholar

Gender Odyssey Family Conference. (2015). In Gender Odyssey Family Conference Homepage. Retrieved February 7, 2015 from http://www.genderodysseyfamily.org/Search in Google Scholar

GLSEN & Harris Interactive. (2012). Playgrounds and prejudice: Elementary school climate in the United States. A survey of students and teachers. New York: Author.Search in Google Scholar

Goldstein, T., Russell, V., & Daley, A. (2007). Safe, positive and queering moments in teaching education and schooling: A conceptual framework. Teaching Education, 18(3), 183–199.10.1080/10476210701533035Search in Google Scholar

Greytak, E., Kosciw, J., & Diaz, E. (2009). Harsh realities: The experiences of transgender youth in our nation’s schools. New York: GLSEN.Search in Google Scholar

Grossman, A., D’augelli, A., & Frank, J. (2011. Aspects of psychological resilience among transgender youth. Journal of LGBT Youth, 8(2), 103–115.10.1080/19361653.2011.541347Search in Google Scholar

Gruska, D., & Wummer, A. (2007). The only boy in ballet class. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith.Search in Google Scholar

Hansel, L., & Dubin, J. (2010). Common Core curriculum: An idea whose time has come. American Educator, 34(4), 2. Retrieved December 5, 2011 from http://www.aft.org/Search in Google Scholar

Harris, V. J. (1996). Using multiethnic literature in the K-8 classroom. Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon.Search in Google Scholar

Hatzenbuehler, M., McLaughlin, K., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2008). Emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms in a longitudinal study of sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(12), 1270–1278.10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01924.xSearch in Google Scholar

Heroy, E. (2010, January 29). Transgender children [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://genderacrossborders.com/2010/01/29/transgender-children.Search in Google Scholar

Hoffman, S., Hoffman, I., & Case, C. (2014). Jacob’s new dress. Park Ridge, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.Search in Google Scholar

Huang, S. (2011). ‘My Princess Boy’: An Interview with Cheryl Kilodavis. Parents.com Retrieved from http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/behavioral/interview-with-cheryl-kilodavis/Search in Google Scholar

Judes, M., Bourre, M., & Robins, J. (2001). Max, the stubborn little wolf. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.Search in Google Scholar

Karenga, M. (2009). Names and notions of black studies: issues of roots, range, and relevance. Journal of Black Studies, 40(1), 41.10.1177/0021934709335134Search in Google Scholar

Kemp, A., & Ogilvie, S. (2010). Dogs don’t do ballet. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. London: Simon & Schuster Children’s.Search in Google Scholar

Kiernan-Johnson, E., & Revenaugh, K. (2013). Roland Humphrey is wearing a what? Boulder: CO Huntley Rahara Press.Search in Google Scholar

Kilodavis, C., & DeSimone, S. (2011). My princess boy: A mom’s story about a young boy who loves to dress up. New York: Aladdin.Search in Google Scholar

Kosciw, J., Greytak, E., Diaz, E., & Bartkiewicz, M. (2010). The 2009 National school climate survey: The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in our nation’s schools. New York: GLSENSearch in Google Scholar

Kushner, E., & Byrne, M. (2013). The Purim superhero. Minneapolis, MN: Kar-Ben Pub.Search in Google Scholar

Leaf, M., & Lawson, R. (1936). The story of Ferdinand. New York: Viking Press.Search in Google Scholar

Levs, J., Payne, Ed., & Frantz, A. (2013). School’s transgender ruling: Fairness or discrimination? Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/us/colorado-transgender-girl-schoolSearch in Google Scholar

Mack, B., & Buchanan, M. (1979). Jesse’s dream skirt. Chapel Hill, NC: Lollipop Power, Inc.Search in Google Scholar

Mayo, C. (2010). Queer lessons: Sexual and gender minorities in multicultural education. In J. Banks & C. Banks (Eds.), Multicultural education issues and perspectives (pp. 209–227). New York: John Wiley & Sons.Search in Google Scholar

Meyer, E. (2007). “But I’m not gay”: What straight teachers need to know about queer theory. In N. M. Rodriguez & W. F. Pinar (Eds.), Queering straight teachers: Discourse and identity in education (pp. 15–32). New York: Peter Lang.Search in Google Scholar

Meyer, E. J. (2010). Gender and sexual diversity in schools: An introduction. Dordrecht: Springer.10.1007/978-90-481-8559-7Search in Google Scholar

Murray, O. (2011). Queer youth in heterosexist schools: Isolation, prejudice and no clear supportive policy frameworks. Multicultural Perspectives, 13(4), 215–219.10.1080/15210960.2011.616835Search in Google Scholar

Naidoo, J. (2012). Rainbow family collections: Selecting and using children’s books with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer content. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC.Search in Google Scholar

Nelson, M. (2001). No pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Journal of Curriculum and Supervision, 16(3), 206–227.Search in Google Scholar

New York City Public Schools. (1991). Children of the Rainbow – First Grade Niños del Arco Iris – Primer Grado. New York: New York City Public Schools.Search in Google Scholar

Newman, L., & Ferguson, P. (2004). The boy who cried fabulous. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press.Search in Google Scholar

Nones, E. (1993). Caleb’s friend. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.Search in Google Scholar

Payne, E., & Smith, M. (2012). Elementary schools, transgender kids, and educator freak-outs. [Blog]. HuffPost Gay Voices.Search in Google Scholar

Prater, M. A., Dyches, T. T., & Johnstun, M. (2006). Teaching Students About Learning Disabilities Through Children’s Literature. Intervention in School & Clinic, 42(1), 14–24.10.1177/10534512060420010301Search in Google Scholar

Pyne, J. (2014, April 01). Gender independent kids: A paradigm shift in approaches to gender non-conforming children. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 23(1), 1–8.10.3138/cjhs.23.1.CO1Search in Google Scholar

Romero, E., Stephens, D., & Calindas, M. (2013). Prinsesa: The boy who dreamed of being a princess. Lexington, KY: Emanuel Romero.Search in Google Scholar

Rosin, H. (2008). A boy’s life. Atlantic Monthly (10727825), 302(4), 56–71. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.Search in Google Scholar

Rothblatt, P. (2011). All I want to be is me. Lexington, KY: Phyliss Rothblatt.Search in Google Scholar

Salih, S. (2002). Judith Butler. London: Routledge.10.4324/9780203118641Search in Google Scholar

Shipley, H. (2012). Fairies, mermaids, mothers and princesses: Sexual difference and gender roles in peter pan. Studies in Gender and Sexuality, 13(2), 145–159.10.2139/ssrn.2079625Search in Google Scholar

Simon, M. (2009). My bullied son’s last day on Earth. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/Search in Google Scholar

Simone, G. (2002). Getting to the heart of teaching for diversity. In R. Kissen (Ed.), Getting ready for Benjamin (pp. 143–157). Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.Search in Google Scholar

Stryker, S. (2008). Transgender history. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press.10.1215/01636545-2007-026Search in Google Scholar

Swartz, P. (2003). Bridging multicultural education: Bringing sexual orientation into the children’s and young adult literature classrooms. Radical Teacher, (66), 11–16. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.Search in Google Scholar

Szalacha, L. (2004). Educating teachers on LGBTQ Issues: A review of research and program evaluations. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Issues in Education, 1(4), 67–79. Retrieved from http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=article&id=doi:10.1300/J367v01n04_.Search in Google Scholar

Tuerk, C. (2011). Considerations for affirming gender nonconforming boys and their families: New approaches, new challenges. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20(4), 767–777. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2011.07.005Search in Google Scholar

U’Ren, A. (2001). Pugdog. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.Search in Google Scholar

Valencia, M. (2009, April 20). Constantly bullied, he ends his life at age 11: Mother vows to expose dangers of harassment. Boston Globe, p. A.1. Retrieved May 30, 2010 from ProQuest Central. doi: 168169158.Search in Google Scholar

Wierst, T. (2004). Pearl’s Christmas present. United States: Pearl and Dotty.Search in Google Scholar

Winthrop, E., & Hoban, L. (1985). Tough Eddie. New York: Dutton.Search in Google Scholar

Zolotow, C., & DuBois, W. (1972). William’s doll. New York: Harper & Row.Search in Google Scholar

Published Online: 2016-2-9
Published in Print: 2017-3-1

©2017 by De Gruyter

Downloaded on 13.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/mlt-2013-0031/html
Scroll to top button