Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Gender Casting: Theatre Educators in the United States Need to Pay Attention to Title IX Developments
HowlRound Theatre Commons: As a theatre educator who has spent the last few years working with high school students, I find some of this year’s headlines troubling. This summer, Laurel Hubbard made news as the first transgender woman to compete in the Olympics. Many celebrated this highly publicized, international victory for transgender people. However, just a few months before, on a much smaller, more local stage, the rights of transgender students were being threatened. In March, Tennessee governor Bill Lee joined like-minded officials to pass a law that requires students participating on a girls’ or boys’ sports team to show a birth certificate to prove their assigned sex.
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When the recent law was passed requiring students’ assigned sex on their birth certificate to dictate what sports team they could play on, it was heartbreaking and distressing to know that this law would lead to harm against transgender students. Extracurriculars like sports and theater can be a safe haven for students where they can pursue something they’re passionate about, and when transgender students are made to feel uncomfortable and unsafe in these activities, it pushes them out. The law forces them to either continue doing what they love but be constantly misgendered, or quit altogether. When so many transgender teens suffer from depression and suicidal ideation, this isolation can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and rejection. It is definitely important for theater educators to pay attention to Title IX issues, as they can be a source of support for trans students and fight against laws that target them, as well as make an active effort to learn pronouns and educate themselves as the author mentions.
I really appreciate the high school drama teacher Kimberly Messer, reflecting in this article. A lot of times drama teachers don’t realize how big of an impact their support and words can have on student. What they say and do can really stick with a student. As a teacher, especially to a group who is predominately questioning their identity, it is so important to understand the full picture of the challenges your students in the world. If you do not understand your students or the issues and prejudices they face, how do you plan on teaching them. The same concepts apply to race, sexuality, and gender. Drama teachers truly provide one of the few places on a high school campus where students can really loosen up and be unapologetically themselves. For many students, this may be the only place they are able to be themselves anywhere, including with family.
If you ask anyone at our school what the Title IX office does, the answer is often “nothing.” The Title IX office is supposed to protect students from discrimination or harassment. You’re supposed to feel like you can go to them when you need help, but half the time they can’t or just won’t do anything. The only thing I can really describe that as is stupid. It’s stupid because it’s true. Schools in general need to take Title IX more seriously, but like this article goes on to say, it’s incredibly important for theatre educators to take this into account. With theatre being such a “safe and inclusive space”, it’s not uncommon for students to take the opportunity to explore their own identities, including gender identity. If you’re going to advertise your theatre program as being a safe space then students should be allowed to take advantage of that without fear of judgement or fear of missing out on certain opportunities because they aren’t cis-gender and/or straight.
It is good to hear Title IX stands in alliance with those who are oftentimes discriminated against as a response to their sex, gender, and / or sexual orientation. With laws 92 - 318 stating: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” it is great to hear direct action has been taken. Unfortunately, however, it is also enraging to hear about the anti - trans bill, adopted now by thirteen states within the United States of America. As the author is quick to point out, gender (and the question of gender identity) is one that goes beyond the walls of a school. It is a matter of inclusion and acceptance rooted in America's tight bond to anti-equitable practices of discrimination towards anyone who does not fit the image of a cis-gendered white man.
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