Gender and Queer Theory for Counselling Students: An Introduction!

[Music] Welcome to our Channel today in honor of pride month we're diving into an essential topic for all counselors career and gender Theory now understanding these Concepts is absolutely crucial for counselors and counseling students to provide inclusive and effective care so first off let's start with the basics now gender Theory examines the social cultural and biological aspects of gender and it challenges the traditional binary view of male and female and it explores the complexities and fluidity of gender identities now some key Concepts in gender Theory include the distinction between gender and sex now gender and sex are two different things sex is typically understood as biological differences so for example chromosomes hormonal profiles internal and external sex organs gender refers to the roles behaviors activities and expectations that Society considers appropriate for men and women now this is a crucial [Music] difference next we have gender identity now now this is a personal conception of oneself as male female blend of both or neither now it can align with or differ from the sex assigned at Birth gender expression this is how individuals present their gender to the outside world through Behavior clothing hairstyle voice and other forms of presentation gender roles these are societal Norms dictating what types of behaviors are generally considered acceptable or appropriate or desirable for a person based on their perceived or actual sex now influential theorists in this field include Judith Butler who introduced the idea of gender performativity and Simone deir who highlighted the societal construction of gender roles next let's explore queer Theory now queer Theory emerged in the early 1990s and critiques fixed on categories of sexual orientation and gender identity advocates for fluidity and diversity in how we understand these Concepts now queer Theory introduces terms like heteronormativity which refers to the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm also emphasizes intersectionality examining how various forms of Oppression and identity categories overlap so let's take a a look at some key [Music] Concepts well the term queerness originally a derogatory term queer has been reclaimed by some lgbtq plus individuals and activists to describe non-normative sexualities and gender identities queer Theory views queerness as a rejection of traditional categories and an Embrace of fluid identities het normativity this concept refers to the Assumption like I mentioned that heterosexuality is the norm or default sexual orientation queer Theory critiques and challenges the privileging of heterosexual relationships and identities intersectionality so queer Theory often intersects with other critical theories such as feminist Theory or race Theory to examine how different forms of Oppression and identity categories overlap and interact now key contributors include Eve kuskovsky Cedric and Judith Butler who challenge normative structures and promote diverse identities now we're going to take a look at understanding sexual and gender identities so let's break down some sexual identity and gender identities now sexual identity refers to how individuals perceive their sexual orientation now this includes heterosexuality homosexuality bisexual uality pansexuality asexuality demisexuality and queer identity so let's take a look at these in detail so first of all we have heterosexual which is straight attraction to individuals of the opposite sex then we have homosexual which is gay or lesbian and this is attraction to individuals of the same sex bisexual which is attraction to do both both rather men and women pansexual attraction to individuals regard of their gender identity or biological sex asexual which is a lack of sexual attraction to others though asexual individuals may still have romantic attractions known as romantic orientation demisexual sexual attraction that only occurs when a strong emotional bond is present now queer like I've mentioned is a broad and inclusive term that can Encompass a range of nonheteronormative sexual orientation so some people use quer to describe a fluid or undefined sexual orientation gender identity on the other hand is a personal sense of being male female both or neither or somewhere along the gender Spectrum now this includes identity such as cisgender transgender non-binary gender queer gender fluid agender by gender and to Spirit so let's take a look at these so we have cisgender a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex that they were assigned at Birth so for example a person who was assigned female at Birth who identifies as a woman transgender a person whose gender identities differ from their sex they were assigned at Birth so for example a person assigned male at Birth who identifies as a woman non-binary a gender identity that doesn't fit within the traditional binary of male and female non-binary people may identify as a mix of both genders neither or something else entirely gender quea so this is similar to non-binary this term encompasses a variety of gender identities that are not exclusively male or female and often conveys a sense of nonconformity to traditional gender Norms gender fluid a gender identity that may change or shift over time a person might feel more masculine at times and more feminine at others a gender a person who identifies as having no gender or being gender neutral by gender a person who identifies as having two genders either simultaneously or switching between them to Spirit now this is a term used by some indigenous cultures in North America to describe a person who embodies both masculine and feminine qualities now it is culturally specific identity with spiritual and social roles now understanding these distinctions between genders is crucial now sexual identity versus gender identity so sexual identity relates to someone who someone is attracted to whereas gender identity relates to one's own sense of being male female or neither or somewhere along the gender Spectrum now sexual identity is about relationships and attraction while gender identity is about personal identity and self-perception now intersection and fluidity is are also important Concepts within gender and queer Theory so both sexual and gender identities can be fluid meaning they can change over time so some people might find that their understanding and experience of their own sexual orientation or gender identity evolves as they grow and explore different aspects of themselves next let's take a look at what it means to be [Music] transgender so we've looked at transgender and we know that it's a term that historically refers to individuals whose gender identity is different from the sex that they were assigned at Birth and who seek transition physically often through medical interventions such as hormone therapy or surgery but it's crucial to note that not all transgender people feel the need to change into their physical appearance now what is transitioning so transitioning is the process that some transgender individuals go through to align their physical appearance with their gender identity now this can include social transition so changing your name your pronouns clothing and other gender Expressions to align one's gender identity it can also include medical transitions so seeking medical treatment such as hormone replacement therapy Y and gender affirming surgeries such as mastectomy breast argumentation genital reconstruction surgeries to physically change one's [Music] body now terminology and sensitivity is absolutely crucial so let's take a look at preferred terms many people now prefer the term transgender as opposed to transsexual as it's more inclusive and focuses on gender identity rather than medical aspects transexual can be seen as too focusing heavily on medical transition and is sometimes viewed as pathologizing now respect and pronouns is a crucial thing to look at as well so it's important to respect individuals preferred terms and pronouns not all transgender individuals Choose Or can afford to undergo medical Transitions and their gender identity is valid regardless of physical changes so if someone identifies as she her use those pronouns if someone identifies as they them use those pronouns the list goes on so why is this all important for counselors and counseling students providing inclusive and affirming care clients need to feel safe and understood in a counseling environment and knowledge of gender and sexual identities helps counselors create a non-judgmental and inclusive space where clients can openly discuss their experiences and challenges now recognizing and affirming clients's identities validates their experiences and promotes their mental health and well-being of course now affirmation includes using correct names and pronouns and respecting each client's self-identified gender and sexual orientation addressing specific needs now clients who are transgender non-binary or identify with other diverse sexual orientations often face unique challenges such as discrimination stigma and identity related stress now counselors knowledgeable in these areas can help better address these specific issues now for transgender clients counselors can provide critical support during social medical and legal transitions now this includes offering guidance resources and emotional support enhancing therapeutic outcomes now knowledgeable counselors are better equipped to build trust and rapport with clients this is essential for Effective therapy as clients are more likely to be engaged and to open up in sessions where they feel understood understanding the nuances of gender and sexual identities allows counselors to tailor interventions to the specific needs of each client this can lead to more effective and relevant therapeutic strategies promoting mental health marginalized individuals including those with diverse gender and sexual identities are at a higher risk for mental health issues such as depression anxiety and suicidal ideation now informed counselors can work to mitigate these risks through supportive and knowledgeable Care Now counselors can help clients work through internalized stigma and self-acceptance issues fostering a healthier self-concept and resilience ethical and professional responsib not least professional ethical guidelines often include the need for cultural competence and respect for diversity understanding gender and sexual identities is part and parcel of fulfilling these ethical responsibilities now it's crucial counselors pursue ongoing Education and Training in these areas relevant to their clients needs which includes gender and sexual diversity advocacy and social Justice crucially counselors can play a crucial role in advocating for the rights and well-being of clients with diverse gender and sexual identities now this can involve supporting clients in navigating systemic barriers and advocating for policy changes educating others including colleagues and The Wider Community about gender and sexual diversity contributes to a more inclusive and understanding Society so what can counts do to improve their practice firstly Education and Training engage in continuous professional development through workshops seminars and courses focused on gender and sexual diversity now here at johy connect we have a CPD subscription where you can access all of our live seminars and on which we have a number of relevant seminars to this topics stay informed by reading current literature research and books on gender Theory queer Theory and the experiences of lgbtq plus individuals now we have a post with some top book recommendations Linked In the description below it's also important to develop cultural competence so reflect on any personal biases and assumptions and really work to challenge and overcome these it's also important to seek supervision and consultation so regularly consult with more experienced colleagues or supervisors when working with clients whose experiences are outside of one's personal expertise use inclusive language in all Communications and documents so ensure intake forms and other paperwork allows clients to self-identify their gender and sexual orientation now you can also create a welcoming environment with visible signs of support such as lgbtq affirming materials posters and result resources also have a list of supportive resources such as lgbtq plus support groups legal aid and medical professionals knowledgeable in gender affirming care finally recognize when a client's needs are beyond your expertise and refer them to appropriate Specialists understanding gender and in C theory is essential for counselors as it allows counselors to provide competent and ethical and effective care now be continually educ ating yourself and advocating for your clients you can contribute to a more inclusive and just Society now thanks for watching if you found this video helpful please like comment and subscribe for more content see you next time

Channel: Astranti Connect

Views: 36

Keywords: mental health, lgbtq, transgender, improve mental health, signs of mental health

Id: XJG1t-1YGTc

Length: 16min 16sec (976 seconds)

Published: Wed Jun 05 2024