Entering 2023, a case related to the equal rights of sexual minorities was finally won, which made the society pay attention to the rights of sexual minorities again.
"Hong Kong 01" invited two transgender people to be interviewed. Leaving aside serious legal disputes and returning to the most ordinary and personal education system, what they expressed was full of lamentation at the backwardness of sex education in Hong Kong.
One of the interviewees talked about the struggle of gender dysphoria growing up, and he could only say: "This kind of struggle is an anxiety that can be avoided by doing gender education as early as possible."
DAB Legislative Council member and registered teacher Guo Lingli, who has always been concerned about the local education system, said frankly that Hong Kong schools lack systematic sexuality education courses, describing them as "a little behind".
She pointed out that with the changes of the times, it is time for the society to let go of the existing thinking, and can no longer avoid talking about issues such as sexual minorities.
When talking about sex education in Hong Kong, you can’t help but think of “Baby Nursing”. It focuses on educating elementary and middle school students about gender differences, body structure, skills of getting along with the sexes, and contraception, but hardly discusses gender identity and sexual minorities. topic.
The vice-chairman of the Hong Kong transgender youth group "Quarks", a transgender man Zephyrus, a member of "Quarks", and a transgender woman Christine recalled their first contact with transgender When discussing the topic, it was unanimously stated that the source was not an on-campus course.
Zephyrus, who was born in a girls' school, said that he was not sure about his female physical gender since he was a child, and even felt uneasy about the changes in his body during adolescence. However, it is difficult to find answers to his doubts in the sex education in the school. My only remaining memory is an abortion film that reminded students of the importance of safe sex.
Sex education in Hong Kong focuses on teaching primary and secondary school students basic knowledge such as gender differences and body structure, and hardly discusses issues related to gender identity and sexual minorities.
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Zephyrus said with a smile that he accidentally played a male role in a drama performance. After a taste of being a boy, he found himself more comfortable and eager to become a male body and mind. He described this as the first opportunity to "know and explore" himself.
Later, at the age of 18, I happened to encounter the judicial review case of "Miss W". After seeing a transgender man share his personal experience on a TV show, it seemed to open the door to a new world, and finally realized that he was a transgender man. Trans boys.
Christine said that she participated in the annual LGBT+ event "Pink Dot" in Hong Kong two or three years ago in order to "chasing stars", and happened to come across the "Cross Youth Moment" booth.
After reading the "Trans Youth Moment" leaflet, she found that many transgender people are similar to her own gender dysphoria and experience: "I always feel that I am weird. I bought girls' shirts when I went to middle school... umm The feeling of being happy is because after reading it, I feel that I am different from cisgender girls (Is the unhappiness due to the pressure of the public or the difficulty of getting social approval?) It comes from dissatisfaction with my body, especially during puberty Afterwards, the developmental characteristics became more and more obvious, and I felt that I was different from cisgender girls, but I didn’t know what I was transgender at the time, did I ever think that I was a transvestite? But it’s not true, I actually don't like it."
So there's this struggle (gender dysphoria), and I think that struggle is a kind of anxiety that can be avoided by doing gender education early on.
Christine
Incomplete sex education in Hong Kong?
After six years away from middle school, Christine returned to her alma mater and showed off her long hair. After seeing this, the former homeroom teacher asked a series of rhetorical questions: "Wow! Why do you have long hair?", "Are you okay to return to work?", Christine She didn't feel offended by this, but it also made her reflect, thinking that this reflected the values behind the teacher were inevitably affected by the campus atmosphere that blindly pursued "unity" and "wholeness".
Christine (right) mentioned issues such as promoting gender friendliness and equal rights on campus to friends in the education industry, and the other party said that parents would complain.
(Photo by Xia Jialang)
When Christine mentioned to a friend in the education industry the promotion of issues such as gender-friendliness and equal rights on campus, the other party responded: "But if we do this, parents will complain and parents will not like it. It is easier for us to do less. La".
She admitted that she was disappointed by this: "When people in the education field always have this mentality, it is very difficult for us to promote some changes. It is not easy to talk about comprehensive sex education. Let students grow long hair first, and parents may also Would you like it, and because the school has this concern, does it mean that a correct thing should not be done?"
In fact, the United Nations has been advocating Comprehensive Sexuality Education. The curriculum advocates a human rights perspective and encourages young people to be more aware of themselves and respect the rights of others.
However, since the Hong Kong Education Bureau announced the "Guidelines on Sex Education in Schools" in 1997 for schools' own reference, it has not been revised. In 2018, the relevant guidelines were removed from the website of the Education Bureau, and no new guidelines have been seen so far.
The Family Accounting Association released the results of the "Adolescent and Sex Research Survey" last year. The survey included a question about "gender identity" for the first time. It was found that 14% of the interviewed students expressed uncertainty about their gender identity, of which 23% were female students and 30% Male students once considered changing genders.
From this point of view, sexual minorities do exist in campuses called "small societies". Is it appropriate to continue to turn a blind eye and avoid talking about them?
Guo Lingli.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
Guo Lingli: Guidance on sex education "a little behind"
DAB Legislative Council member and registered teacher Guo Lingli, who has always been concerned about local education, said frankly that the Education Bureau has not formulated clear guidelines for middle school sex education courses, including requiring the inclusion of minority issues. Sex education in schools is mainly formulated by schools themselves, and most of them focus on Discuss the physical and psychological changes of men and women, puberty, sexual behavior, etc., and describe "a little behind".
She bluntly said that the Education Bureau "needs to do more", so that students of different sexual orientations and backgrounds can also have the opportunity to understand sexual minorities: "The role of the Education Bureau is to do more, and there must be clear curriculum guidelines. Some issues and areas of sexual minorities, I think it (sex education curriculum) should also involve (sexual minorities), so that students know that there are such things. To be honest, we cannot avoid it, even if the general Hong Kong tradition 、 Chinese traditional consciousness has not involved this kind of thing (sexual minorities), or agreed with this kind of thing (sexual minorities), but... this is unavoidable, and there are too many of them in this society They (students) must have some awareness of the small group of people.”
In addition to starting with the curriculum, Guo Lingli believes that it is also necessary to strengthen the education of parents: "At present, parent education is often ignored. Even the kids are very upset when they date...but times have changed, will you use another angle and mentality to talk to the kids, wait for them to get to know more...and avoid the old ones Topics include sex education, gender equality, sexual minorities, etc. Some traditional frameworks should be open (open) to share with students and children." The same is true for teaching staff. Guo Lingli believes that Hong Kong teachers have a lot of professional knowledge, but they are easily influenced by their own traditional concepts and existing ideas. Discussions may be "unspeakable".
Advocate the establishment of "Safe Base" to discuss "sex" with peace of mind
Zephyrus, who often organizes community-based minority education activities, said that he often reminds the public that establishing a "safe base" is especially important for gender education, whether at home, school or even in the workplace. Conversations related to gender are "boys' points, girls' points", "that person is so handsome, is Mickey?"... students or children next to them will feel that this is not a safe environment, if I'm going to get a trusted adult to talk about gender, and I'm not going to talk to him."
Zephyrus believes that schools should listen to the needs of their students.
(Photo by Xia Jialang)
Zephyrus believes that the original intention of the school is to train students and prepare them for joining the society. In addition to respecting the uniqueness of different students, the school should also pay attention to whether the concept of "gender stereotyping" is instilled in the students in the daily teaching : "Listen to their needs with your heart, instead of instilling a set of your values to influence them (sexual minorities)."
Last year, Taiwan updated the sex education curriculum guidelines and the UK became an independent subject
Looking at sex education around the world, it seems that it is more open and mature than that in Hong Kong.
In order to promote substantive equality of gender status, eliminate gender discrimination, maintain human dignity, cultivate and establish gender-equal educational resources and environment, the Ministry of Education of Taiwan revised the "Gender Equality Education Law" at the beginning of last year, clearly pointing out that education should be used to teach students Respect for diverse gender differences: "Schools should provide a gender-equal learning environment, respect and consider the different genders, gender traits, gender identities, or sexual orientations of students and staff, and establish a safe campus space."
In the United Kingdom, sex education has become an independent subject—"Relationships and Sex Education". In addition to covering general gender, family, and physical structure, the curriculum guidelines also require schools to take care of sex when designing courses. To meet the needs of the minority, discuss messages such as gender-friendliness, equal rights, and the prohibition of discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.
What is gender?
Finally, the reporter asked Zephyrus and Christine, what is "gender"?
Zephyrus said: "My understanding of gender is more based on "gender identity", not on what sexual organs or sexual characteristics... It is really difficult to express ourselves in one word or in a few words Who is it, what kind of clothes do you like, what kind of food do you like... I use these names to call myself, and I will continue to use them if I think it is suitable. The most important thing is not to use them to label or judge you. It's not like that."
And Christine said: "I think the understanding of transgender can be very broad. In short, anyone whose birth gender is different from his gender identity is already transgender... Actually, I have doubts about these labels, but if He (hashtag) can bring this community (community) together, which I think is a good thing.”
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