Due to sexual liberation and rejection of unfounded ideas and conservatism, we are in a society that, to a greater or lesser extent, has taken great steps in terms of emotional and sexual diversity, always denied, this reality can be observed in different ways. contexts, such as in the workplace or at school. To meet the needs of this new reality, many professionals working with children wonder how they should deal with emotional diversity in the classroom. Is that something to work on?
The didactic guide “Love and sex are not one color” for example, for example, brings us closer to everyday situations related to the presence of homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality and heterosexuality in schools or institutes. The text also emphasizes that the adequacy of each is as important as promoting equality between men and women, teaching derivatives and integrals and the importance of respect, regardless of sexual orientation, skin color, origin and gender.
- Topics related to emotional and sexual diversity were excluded from school a long time ago.
- Many adults.
- Especially parents who do not have all the information necessary to make such judgment.
- Fear that the inclusion of the teaching of emotional and sexual diversity will make son or daughter?transgender.
- Homosexual or bisexual.
Although parents don’t understand, the truth is that children start identifying people they love from the age of 10. Asia Eaton, a social psychologist specializing in gender studies, reveals that the vast majority of a group of young adults belonging to a sexual minority experienced their first sexual attraction to another person at the age of 8 or 9. Other studies say this happens around the years. 11 years old. In fact, masturbation or sexual exploitation of children can occur from the age of 2.
Therefore, while children wonder and attest to what they like or don’t like, it is important to include in the school class the teaching of emotional and sexual diversity, which would be useful not only for children of a sexual minority, but also for others. Information is a very powerful tool to combat hatred, fear, harassment and rejection.
Emotional diversity is already found in schools, but in most cases in a negative way, the school or institute, as a mere reflection of popular ideology, is full of heterosexist language, this is seen when someone makes a joke about a gay historical character; when someone uses the term?at recess and is not punished; when all examples of a couple or marriage refer to heterosexual people?
This type of behavior, added to the general ignorance of teachers and parents, can lead boys and girls to erroneous associations, harmful relationships with LGTBIQ students or problems of self-esteem and self-acceptance in non-heterosexual children and adolescents.
The didactic guide mentioned above describes some of the steps an educational institution can implement to facilitate sexual and emotional diversity in the classroom, some of which are:
Often, the teacher becomes a reference figure, not only in the academic field but also in the personal life of the child, so these professionals can be seen in the position of being the first and only experts in the gender identity of the child.
Sometimes the child feels that it can disappoint his parents, who may be angry, and the perception of feeling something different, something strange, can lead him to think that the teacher is the right one. just one to count on.
What recommendations should we give teachers if they become confidants of their students?Educational guides on sexual diversity give us some tips:
The inclusion of affective-sexual diversity is a change that must mark the total functioning of the institution, it is not enough to include some workshops by educational cycle on sexual diversity, the school or institute must be transformed into a place where there is no discrimination, harassment and where all its students are accepted as is.
Therefore, it is necessary to change the language used, avoid at all costs any stereotype about any sexual group, and treat all these problems naturally. In addition, it is practical to carry out activities not only theoretical, but also formative. must cover the participation of all students in order for their motivation to be high.