Lin Zejun, a fifth student of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Wat Nam Middle School, posted a clip online the day before yesterday (19th), telling that he was deprived of participating in school activities or faced suspension because he was accused by the school of violating school rules because of his long hair.
Later, he complained to the EOC that the "banning" involved gender discrimination, and was accepted by the EOC, and he will mediate or investigate with the school.
Some scholars believe that Lin's personal experience brings discussion to the society, which can make the society rethink the "ban" and its extended gender issues, including gender identity and gender dysphoria.
Scholars believe that many students will be emotionally disturbed due to the inconsistency of school uniforms and hairstyles with their gender identity. Therefore, schools are suggested to consider allowing students to have flexible choices in clothing.
Guo Qin, associate professor of the Department of Special Education and Counseling at the Education University of Hong Kong, pointed out that Lin explained on Instagram that he had a little gender dysphoria (also known as gender dysphoria) and did not want to have short hair after graduation. Therefore, teachers and social workers at the school were advised to Communicate with students to understand the importance of having long hair to Lin, whether hair expression is related to gender dysphoria, how gender dysphoria affects emotions, and whether it affects personal functioning, etc.
This time, Lin Zejun's complaint to the EOC about the school's "banning" has aroused a lot of responses in the community. Netizens not only discussed the "banning" and the rationality of school rules, but also discussed issues such as students' gender identity.
In an interview with the media, Lin Zejun also said that he has been exploring gender since high school, and described his gender identity as "more neutral and less neutral".
Guo Qin’s article pointed out that gender is a spectrum-like concept, not only male and female, but can be male, female, trans-male, trans-female, non-binary, half-male, half-female, male and female, etc.
Guo said frankly that teachers and social workers must be aware of gender dysphoria and gender identity, and they must also observe students’ daily life or what pronouns they use to call themselves on social platforms in order to understand students’ gender identity and their needs.
Guo Qin has dealt with many cases in the past, and found that some students will be affected by their mental health, including depression and anxiety, because their school uniforms and hairstyles are inconsistent with their gender identity.
Guo Qin cited a case where a student's identity card was female, but his personal gender identity was male, so he asked to cut his hair short and wear a men's school uniform, because the student would be depressed and anxious if he wore a women's school uniform. Even thoughts of hurting yourself.
After the parents and doctors wrote letters, they held a meeting with the principal, teachers and social workers, and the school finally allowed the student to wear a men's school uniform.
Kwok Qin (2nd from right), Associate Professor of the Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong.
(file picture)
Guo admitted that there are still schools that refuse to make concessions, especially schools with religious backgrounds. Even if parents accept their children’s gender identity and dress code, the school still refuses them on the grounds of violating school rules or religious reasons. Some schools even deny the students’ ideas, believing that Students are "wrong and need to be corrected". This kind of handling method has a great impact on students' emotions and makes students emotionally troubled.
Guo Qin pointed out that in fact, some international schools have more flexible requirements for students' clothing. For example, the school requires all students to wear the same upper body clothes, but allows students to choose to wear pants or skirts, and hairstyles are also allowed to be longer or shorter.
Guo believes that this approach can not only maintain uniform school uniforms, but also give students flexible choices, which is worthy of reference by other schools.
Guo Qinxu explained that in the past, schools and society had insufficient awareness of students with special educational needs ("SEN"), and misunderstood that students had behavior problems.
However, with the progress of society, schools and the society now understand what SEN is, understand the situation of SEN students, and make adjustments in teaching.
Guo believes that schools and society should understand that students will have their own gender identities, and do not think that students who express their opinions are "causing trouble", embarrassing the school or having behavioral problems.
Guo said frankly that he appreciated Lin's courage to stand up to express his needs and bring discussions to the society with his personal experience.
Guo believes that there may be transgender students in many schools, and the inability to return to school with the gender they identify with will bring a lot of trauma, so this incident can make the society think about related issues.
Form 5 students complained to the EOC about sex discrimination Cai Ruolian says there are guidelines for schools to handle Form 5 boys’ complaints to the EOC, saying that the school’s ban on boys from having long hair involves gender discrimination