Spotlights the work of trans youth in creating inclusive spaces within high schools
Based on a year-long ethnographic study conducted in a Canadian high school, Fierce, Fabulous, and Fluid presents a poignant critique of educational policies aimed at supporting trans and gender-nonconforming students. Author LJ Slovin observes the experiences of gender-nonconforming youth who were often overlooked in discussions about trans issues, in part due to policies created by well-meaning educators that inadvertently perpetuated a narrow definition of trans identity. Despite their lack of recognition, these individuals persevered, navigating their own identities and striving to thrive within the education system while building more inclusive spaces that embrace a spectrum of trans identities.
By sharing these stories, Slovin emphasizes the need for educators to move away from a focus on risk and concern and instead towards fostering a celebration of trans and gender-nonconforming youth. The book urges educators to cultivate a genuine desire to understand and support trans youth, paving the way for a brighter and queerer future within educational settings.
Authors
- Pages
- 240
- Published in
- Canada
Table of Contents
- Fierce Fabulous and Fluid 1
- LJ Slovin 3
- Contents 5
- Introduction 7
- East City High 11
- Theorizing Gender Nonconformity 14
- From Risk to Desire 15
- On Labor and Care 18
- Gender Is Never Just Gender 24
- Going Back to High School 29
- Ethnography as Movement 33
- Analyzing Fluid Data 35
- Organization of the Book 37
- East City Highs Diversity Culture 41
- How to Be Nice 43
- Culturally Rich Feeling Good 46
- The Indigenous Awareness Week Assembly 48
- Color Me Diverse 55
- The Staff Meeting 59
- Building a Generation beyond Prejudice 60
- Quit Stalling 63
- Conclusion 67
- Accommodating Trans Youth 70
- Combating Risk with Inclusion 71
- Trans- Inclusive Policies as Easy as SOGI 123 77
- The Trouble with Fitting In 81
- Theres a Test for That 83
- Preying on the Weak and Chubby 85
- Conclusion 86
- The Labor of Understanding and Forgiveness 89
- Language of Concern 92
- Nice Spaces Are Safe Spaces 96
- As Safe as a Rainbow 97
- I Am Concerned about Safe Spaces 99
- Theater Company by Any Other Name 106
- Opening a Can of Worms 106
- Keep It Confusing 111
- Conclusion 113
- The Labor of Gender Legibility 116
- Trans Enough 119
- The Tensions in Being Trans Enough 120
- Trans It Is Science 123
- External Labor 128
- I Like Looking Pretty 129
- Pronouns 131
- What Not to Wear 133
- The Messiness of Gender 135
- Living in Confusion 135
- Just a Pause 137
- Conclusion 140
- The Labor of World- Making 143
- The Tech Booth 145
- The Tech Booth Is Gay 146
- The Tech Booth Is for Guys 150
- Writing 151
- Writing Queerness 153
- Fantastical Genders in Fantastical Worlds 154
- What Is the Problem with Writing 157
- The Band Hall 161
- Band Hall Is the New GSA 162
- Meet Me in the In- Between 165
- Band Hall Is for Gay Shit 167
- Conclusion 170
- Conclusion 173
- The Meaning of Safety 175
- The Limits of Visibility 179
- The Hard Work of Desire 181
- A Pedagogy of Desire 184
- Listening to Youth 189
- We Need a Cultural Shift 190
- We Need More Queer and Trans Adults 193
- Gender Is Complicated 195
- Acknowledgments 197
- Appendix 199
- Notes 207
- Bibliography 217
- Index 227
- About the Author 237
