Browsing by Author "Valaskivi, Liekki"

Goals. The new Finnish national curriculum names increasing knowlegde and understanding about the diversity of gender as one of the goals of basic education. Gender diversity contains not only boys and girls, but also transgender students, whose gender identity falls outside the binary. The experiences of these students have as of yet been researched little, especially in Finland, and insufficient information about transgender issues is available to teachers. The goal of this study is to understand transgender indentities through theoretical literature and to map the various factors that affect school experiences of transgender students. The study is based on educational sciences, but I also utilise gender studies as a frame of reference. Methods. I have executed this study as a integrative descriptive literary survey using a feminist approach. My goal was construct a comprehensive and coherent overall view by compiling different kinds of discretionarily chosen theoretical and research literature. I analyzed the material by constructing a general view of gender, sex and transgender identity from the theoretical literature, and by compiling factors that affect the school experiences of transgender students from previous studies. Results and conclusions. The study showed that the school institution is a relatively heteronormative institution, which upholds the idea of binary gender and reproduces both visible and hidden gendered practices. The material showed that expectations of gender control almost all school activity, so it is difficult for a transgender student to find their place as a part of the school community. The physical spaces at school, the toilets and changing rooms for example, have generally been divided by gender, so a transgender student is without a place at school in a very concrete way, as well. Transgender students face significantly more bullying, harrasment and violence at school than boys or girls do. Schools and teachers have not only the opportunity, but also the responsibility to change heteronormative and gendered practiced at school and make the school environment safer and more positive for transgender students. However, it is essential that transgender identities are researched more in Finnish schools.