I Don't Belong In This Body
An Internet WebQuest on Gender Identity

created by Whitney Toussaint
Flanagan High School

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Conclusion |


Introduction
Why do they put me in a dress? I don't like it, why can't I just wear pants and be left alone. At school I don't fit in with the other girls, I feel out of place and like I don't belong in this body and I'm trapped. Hi my name is Brittany. I'm six years old and I always felt I should be a boy. I don't know how to tell my mom but I feel I should do so. Even though gender identity is most common in boys, girls can have it to. It is proven that children by the age of 6 or 7 know their own identity and what they want to be.

Task
How does gender identity affect children physically, mentally and emotionally?

Process
.

Phase 1 - Background Information
This site gives you an introduction on Gender Identity.

Using this site to answer the following questions.

1. What is Gender Identity Disorder?
2. How can Gender Identity be identified in infancy and toddlerhood?
3. Gender is also known as? And why does it have this other name?
4. Based on the article what are the common problems in Gender Identity Disorder?


Phase 2 - Roles
LOOKING DEEPER FROM DIFFRENT PERSPECTIVES

I have taken the time to look at this topic from four different perspectives for you and me to get a deeper understanding of what exactly Gender Identity is.

CHILD :

Use these links to answer the following questions

Use the link Gender Identity Issues in Children and Adolescents to answer the following questions.

1. What does gender identity make up in children and adolescents?
2. The cause of gender identity issues in the result of?
3. How are gender problems social problems?
4. What are some of the ways children and adolescents cope with gender identity?

Use the link Guidance for the Management of Gender Identity In Children and Adolescents to anwser the following questions.

1. Contrast gender identity in an adult and child?
2. What is the result in a child if you don't do therapeutic intervention as early as possible?
3. Why shouldn't you perform physical intervention early?
4. What is gender identity characterized by? Can you think of any other possible ways?

Using the site Children with Gender Identity is on the Rise answer the following questions.

1. How do children get depressed when dealing with gender identity?
2. How can you prevent it?
3. Is there anyway gender identity can be treated as a child or child?
4. What happens to children when they go to school being diagnosed with gender identity?

PARENT :

Use the following links to answer these questions.

Using the link Your Child's Development answer the following questions.

1. When does Gender stability form and what is it?
2. What is the difference between gender identity and gender?
3. How do cultural stereotypes play a role in a child development?
4. Why should we model the behaviors of a child?

Using the link Child Development and Parenting: Early childhood answer the following questions.

1. What factors influence gender based beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors? What are some of these factors?
2. Why do you think caregivers, family, and teachers unconsciously reinforce gender stereotyped behaviors?
3. It is normal for young children to explore their sexuality in what stage of development?
4. Why should caregivers remain calm when a child is exploring their sexuality?

Using the following pages of the link Boys and girls, and Gender Identity anwser the following questions.

1. What are the diffrences between the brrain and hormones of a boy and girl?
2.How should you approach your child when dealing with gender identity?
3.When should you seek to get more help for your child when dealing with identity?
4. Parents need help to, when do they need help?

SOCIETY :

Use the following links to answer these questions.

Using the link Media's Effect on Girls: Body Image And Gender Identity answer the following questions.

1. Why do girls care more about how they look rather than what they do?
2. How are cartoons effective in gender identity?
3. How are body image and gender identity related?
4. Besides cartoons what are other ways media effects gender Identity?

Using the link Gender Identity and Socialisation answer the following questions.

1. How is Socialisation and Gender Identity related? Do you think there are misconceptions? Explain.
2. How do people show unequal power relations between boys and girls and give them different and unequal status? Do you think it's right?
3. How does society and the patterns of control harm young children to developing their own natural direction?
4. Why do you think boys and girls are taught to have certain traits?

Using the link What It Means to Have a Gender Crisis answer the following questions?

1. How is gender identity crisis a social issue?
2. What is gender identity crisis?
3. What is the behavior pattern of a person with gender identity crisis?
4. Doctors are now considering transgendered behavior as a variation of human condition, why is that?

PSYCHOLOGIST:

Use these links to answer the following questions.

Based on the link Gender identity disorder and Transsexualism answer the following questions.

1. How is Gender identity different from transsexualism in etiology?
2. What are some symptoms of a child in experiencing gender identity?
3. How are cross gender mistaken for gender identity?
4. What is gender role?

Using the link My Therapist. Info answer the following questions.

1. Explain Briefly the four criteria's of gender identity?
2. How would you know if a boy has gender identity?
3. How would you know if a girl has gender identity?
4. What are some other disorders children may have due to gender identity? Why do you think this is?

Using the site Gender identity: Encyclopedia Of Psychology answer the following questions.

1. How do children become aware of the anatomical differences between the sexes?
2. Briefly explain the Oedipus and Electra Complexes?
3. Differentiate Kohlberg's and Freud formation of gender identity?
4. Why is the Oedipus complex criticized so much?


Phase 3 - Reaching Consensus
Conduct this survey with students in your school.

1. Do you feel uncomfortable being around somebody with Gender Identity?

-YES
-NO

2. Is Gender Identity the same thing as Transsexualism?

-YES
-NO

3.Do you think it is wrong for people to dress in the opposite sex clothing?

-YES
-NO

4. When you were younger where you gender stereotyped?

-YES
-NO

5. Is Gender Identity affected by the society?

-YES
-NO

6. When you were younger were you able to explore your own gender?

-YES
-NO

7. Is Gender Identity a biological factor?

-YES
-NO

8. Would you befriend a person with Gender Identity?

-YES
-NO

9. Do you think that Gender Identity is just a phase?

-YES
-NO

10. Do you think being gay, lesbian is the same as having Gender Identity?

-YES
-NO


Compare results with a professional

Conclusion
I think that I finally figured it out. I had a conversation with my mom about me being trapped in another person body. She took it very well and really understood me. She says that she'll try to help me out which ever way she can. She loves me for me, and accepts me for who I am. She has found ways at home to make me comfortable. I don't know what this would lead to but I know I have my mother by my side no matter where this takes me.

created by Filamentality Content by Whitney Toussaint
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/webteenagewh.html
Last revised Wed May 14 14:40:58 US/Pacific 2008