Foster Care Training

As part of our socialization growing up, under the confines of the artificial social construct of gender, we are sorting our entire population into a restrictive and oppressive binary of just two genders.  The consequences for youth are pervasive and internalized notions of what it means to act and be seen as a “real” man, or to be valued and desired as a stereotypically feminine woman.  These extreme binaries don’t allow for children to be their full selves, with a wide range of emotions and behaviors.  Youth who don’t fit into the heteronormative, cisgender identity or who don’t conform to the gender roles, expressions and behaviors are even more susceptible to feelings of isolation, depression, and outright discrimination and bullying.