Jen Gilbert – The Conversation

Moms and dads of queer and trans teens also have parental rights. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe

June 21, 2022

‘Parental rights’ lobby puts trans and queer kids at risk

Jen Gilbert, York University, Canada and Victoria Rawlings, University of Sydney

Conservative rhetoric about ‘parent rights’ that marginalizes LGBTQ+ positive sex education erases the complexity of parent identities and denies possibilities for richer school experiences.

For teens, the pandemic has spotlit the risk of not being able to take risks associated with establishing new intimate relationships outside of the family. (Pexels/ Helena Lopes)

May 4, 2021

Parents, for your ‘quaranteenager’s’ sexual health, talk to them about taking risks

Jen Gilbert, York University, Canada

As teens forge their post-pandemic identities, let’s afford them the ‘dignity of risk,’ in their whole lives including their sexualities.

Sex education includes both formal and informal education, so schools should not be afraid of reaching out to parents. (Shutterstock)

September 3, 2019

Parents can benefit as much as their kids from Ontario’s new sex ed

Jen Gilbert, York University, Canada

Progressive responses that problematize Ontario’s new opt-out policy for sex ed might reinforce the misleading idea that parents are an obstacle to their children’s sex education.

Toronto police respond to an incident at St. Michael’s College School, in Toronto on November 19, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

November 29, 2018

Responding to sexual violence in schools: What can educators learn?

Jen Gilbert, York University, Canada

A single solution can’t magically erase gender-based violence in schools, but if we start listening to students, we may hear new stories of masculinity and femininity echoing through school hallways.

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