Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms

Inquire and Investigate

by Maria Cook, Alexis Cornell (Illustrations)

An informative and project-filled book for middle graders to explore the meaning and history behind LGBTQ rights movements, including biographies of key figures in gender and gay/lesbian history, the context behind today’s transgender “bathroom wars” and dozens of activities and research ideas for perspectives and further learning. What does it mean to think of gender as being a range instead of being simply male or female? In Gender Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms , middle school readers unpack the cultural significance of gender identity in the United States and around the world. Written using #ownvoices and with editors trained in the sensitivities of today’s gender discussions, the book is filled with interesting facts, primary sources, a range of text features, and more to engage readers.

Highlights • Introductions to concepts crucial to understanding the basics of gender identity, including how gender identity differs from physical sex and sexual orientation, the importance of gender-specific and gender-neutral pronouns, and more • Short biographies of gender activists and other important public figures throughout the text, filled with personal stories to help readers form social-emotional connections to the subject – including Renee Richards , Chaz Bono , and gender rights pioneers Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson , plus early transgender individuals including Lili Elbe and Christine Jorgensen . • In-depth information on famous gay/lesbian rights protests and movements, detailing the cultural and legal struggles for gay rights and gender acceptance, from the Compton Cafeteria riots to the Stonewall Riots to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, and more. Sidebars throughout on how books and popular TV shows and movies helped expand gay/lesbian awareness and rights, from 1970s shows such as The Jeffersons to the contemporary show Meet Polkadot . Projects and activities encourage teens to form their own, well-informed opinions on the many facets of gender perspectives and issues.

Gender Identity is part of a set of four books called Inquire & Investigate Social Issues of the Twenty-First Century , which explores the social challenges that have faced our world in the past and that continue to drive us to do better in the future. Other titles in this set are Feminism , Immigration Nation , and Race Relations . About the series and Nomad Press

Nomad Press books in the Inquire & Investigate series integrate content with participation, encouraging readers to engage in student-directed learning as opposed to teacher-guided instruction. This student-centered approach provides readers with the tools they need to become inquiry-based learners. Combining content with inquiry-based projects stimulates learning and makes it active and alive. As informational texts, our books provide key ideas and details from which readers can make their own inferences. Nomad’s unique approach simultaneously grounds kids in factual knowledge while allowing them the space to be curious, creative, and critical thinkers. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile, and meet Common Core State Standards and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Banned Books, History, Middle Grade

128 pages, Hardcover

Published April 16, 2019

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a textbook I believe aimed for 10-14 year olds about gender identity, so I (twice the medium age) was not the target audience. However, I still learned a lot of new information from this easy to read book especially in the 1800s-80s topics. Most of the new stuff I learned was historical based and I loved that, but I was looking more for a better grasp on vocabulary. This did provide that, but again simplified with nuanced at for the level of jr high.

Also, I read this as an eBook meaning the QR codes were easily clickable so I could read cited articles, videos and documents. this was really cool and the first time I have experienced this granted I don't read much nonfiction or textbooks outside of Art History.

Would recommend to parents, kids, teachers and maybe even adults that want a quick mostly up to date for 2020 reference. It took me a year to read it because I wasn't actively reading it, just chapters here or there but it is about 100 pages plus a bit over an hour of content from links.

[Suzi La · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms by Maria Cook was published in 2019 by Nomad Press and is non-fiction. With a Lexile level of 1170, Gender Identity is appropriate for ages 12-15.

Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms is part of inquiry based series of four on social issues of the 20th century which emphasize critical thinking and exploring diverse perspectives. The book explores gender identities, providing a chronological history of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, laws, important dates, events, changing social attitudes and stories of relevant figures. Using photos, cartoons and side bars with QR codes to resources, Cook offers a content heavy yet engaging and affirming view of gender identities while providing context and vocabulary.

Gender Identity: Beyond Pronouns and Bathrooms was reviewed by Booklist, Publisher's Weekly and the School Library Journal. It would be an excellent starting point for middle grade students to understand gender identity and the history behind the LBGTQ+ Civil Rights movement, as well as providing some sources for further inquiry and research. It could be integrated into a humanities curriculum for identity or civil rights, and/or could be a valuable resource for a middle school student trying to understand aspects of the subject or looking for background information before exploring aspects in greater depth.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

more like 3.5 stars.

Clear, straightforward textbook aimed at middleschoolers. Good and inclusive history while still being concise. It wasn't as appealing for me as it would be for most middleschoolers because 1) it's very much written from a point of view where trans people are still the other. an other that deserves full human rights and equal protection and entirely the reader's support and respect.... it's not at all dehumanizing or anything like that ... but it DOES assume the person reading the book is probably cis and probably not questioning their gender identity. Which I wish they'd done a bit more to adapt or acknowledge that plenty of kids/people reading it might themselves be trans. I *did* find the comic strip illustrations much more inclusive and less othering. 2) any time you want to make something straightforward and crystal clear for 12 year olds, particularly an issue like this where they've probably heard all kinds of poppycock before getting here, you are liable to lose quite a bit of nuance and complexity in translation. it is what it is.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very textbook-y, written for middleschool/ younger teens, probably mostly useful as a resource for queer and questioning youth. Provides solid LGBT history with en emphasis on trans elders, but totally dances around the issue of how racially exclusionary early gay and lesbian organizations were, and waits until the last chapter to mention how trans and non-binary people of color are at a greater risk. Would have also liked it to address the idea of representation—that gay celebrities represent and define the lgbtq community to people outside it in a way that straight celebs. do not represent straight folks.

[Catherben (Noah) · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far the best educational book on this topic aimed at a young audience that I've encountered yet.

It has it's blind spots (mainly in the history of trans activism portions), but far less than most similar books I've read.

I really appreciate how it goes out of its way to explain how different trans people have different prefered terms and have different transition narratives and goals.

Would definetly recommend as a starting point for teens wanting to learn about trans topics.

[Ellen Kunce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. But I felt that it didn’t have enough information on binary people, or asexual people. And for a book called Gender Identity, I thought it would have all groups. So that’s why this gets 4 stars. However, I did really want to learn about transgender people and it covered that thoroughly, as I was transphobic before, and now I am not. This book enlightened me in so many ways and gave me so many stories. And in a way my brain could understand!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in my capacity as a teen services librarian. Due to its shelving location I thought it was geared toward older students but I’d put this as tween/early teen. It covers the history of terminology and legal rights as well as including some chapters on key historical players in the transgender/non-binary community.

It’s presented in kind of a textbook style with questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, a glossary, and QR code’s to scan for video links and other sources.

[DFZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m glad that a classroom text like this exists for young people. It’s not a book to just pick up and casually read, and it definitely is simplistic and omits important historical content in the timeline and elsewhere in the book. Still, I hope schools adopt this book and the ones to come for use in their standard curriculum.

[Tricia Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and accessible primer aimed at upper primary-MS readers (or educators therein). This would be a great classroom resource because it debunks myths about gender and has a mix of cartoons, links, text, history, key figures, definitions and questions to ponder.

[Jadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly I skimmed this book. I was looking more for terms and definitions for understanding, not necessarily for history. I did read a few of the history things though. This book was semi helpful, in the sense of learning something I didn't already know or was aware of.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is written for middle schoolers, early high school at best. It was in the adult section of my library presumably to “protect” teens. But that misleads adults seeking a more in depth understanding of these matters.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read for kids 8+, would be a wonderful primer for family/friends that know little about LGBTQ+ history, or what terms mean. Lightly touches on many subjects, but toothy for someone’s first dip into the topic.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good resource for teens about gender identity.

[Samantha Kobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent intro text for students or adults! Clear definitions, great text features, well organized. I plan to store this in my classroom library!

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I have Rent stuck in my head. The whole musical. I didn't even realize it was queer. No wonder I was obsessed.

[Corinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing resource for middle school classrooms.