luin joy
misc.
GENDER LITERACY COACHING
What is “gender literacy”?
- Having a thorough understanding of gender on personal (your own gender), interpersonal (other’s experiences of gender) and cultural (societies ideas and constructs around gender) levels
- The ability to recognize, critically analyze, and engage with how gender is expressed and constructed in society
- Developing the language and skills to have conversations about gender in inclusive and informed ways
- Gender literacy is expansion - allowing our worlds to become bigger by integrating new knowledge and perspectives
Whether you are a cis person, a trans person, or a gender non-comfoming person, everyone has a relationship to gender and a gender identity. Gender roles and gendered expectations shape nearly every aspect of our lives, but we’re seldom taught how to recognize their impact or grow into our own, unique relationship to our gender.
Whether we embrace or reject traditional gender norms, our spirits are impacted by cultural messaging around gender that takes root in our subconscious - it’s communicated through schooling, our families, media, fashion, beauty products, body standards, public policy and laws, professional environments, career expectations, sexuality, sports, etc.
These collective messages tell us how and who we should be. Even when we consciously deny social pressures to confrom, parts of our authentic selves can be lost, rejected, or obscurbed. Unpacking your relationship to gender, especially as a cis person, will unlock tremendous healing and self-connection to help you understand who you are, beyond all that has been expected of you. As a result, your capacity to empathize, advocate for, and support trans people, will grow. This work is deeply important in creating a world where all people, especially trans people, are able to
Why do I do this work?
My goal is to help all types of people gain a deeper understanding of gender on a personal and collective level, for the sake of healing, education, and self-connection. I’m here to hold space without judgement and help guide your personal journey the wisdom of my lived experiences, spiritual work, and education. For cis people, gaining a deeper understanding your own gender also serves the parallel purpose of increasing compassion, understanding, and respect for transness and trans experiences. Our experiences are intertwined.
As a trans man, I have dedicated the majority of my life to this realm of study and self-discovery. I’ve accumulated a density of lived experience (10 years of medical transition, navigating daily life as a trans person in a hostile political climate, living 20 years as a gender non-comforming person), professional experience (completing graduate-level Gender Studies courses, leading workshops, professional consulting, giving lectures, and attending trans health conferences) and experience working within my community (organizing, mutual aid, peer support, mentoring, advocacy within higher education settings, participating in public demonstrations, and developing free resources).
I’ve learned that transness is about a lot more than gender - it’s about contagious freedom, radical honesty, and transformative love. Transness is an entirely natural and ancient part of humanity. Through my lived experiences, I have gained the ability
to hear my own
alignement attunement the work of becoming free
honor my I’m passionate
It’s a way of being, it’s self-knowledge, it’s personal inquiry, it’s an experience of moving through the world
Ultimately, this work is about comprehension, self-awareness, and integrating new perspectives.
When we’re all born, being cisgender is the assumed “default” setting - a sex (and gender) is automatically assigned at birth. As trans people, our conception of self is formed as we realize that “default” assumption is incorrect and limited. This realization is different for everyone, but it’s a process of self-recognition, deep listening, investigation, and becoming aware of self in relation to society.
However we identify, we have all internalized ideas about how we should or should not be, based on the gender we’re assigned at birth.
**talk about transness conceptually with this metaphor*
*** make a video of me talking about this stuff****
maybe it’s interview style?
what qualifies me to do this work?
**answer here and in a video*
For indiviuals, parents, partners, allies, family, and friends:
For businesses, organizations, community networks, schools, education spaces, care facilities, health centers, and other professional environments:
Are you hoping to create a more trans-friendly workplace, expand your knowledge, and find solutions to problems within your organization related to trans inclusion? Do you feel passionate about making changes but aren't sure where to start? Are you afraid of "getting it wrong" or creating more problems?
Take a deep breath, I'm here to help! With your trust and willingness, I will support your team through personalized, compassionate, and engaging sessions focused on increasing fundamental trans literacy skills, finding practical solutions to current problems, and creating lasting change within your organization.
My goal is to make this important work feel interpersonal, easier to talk about, and infused with compassion and empathy. My approach to consulting is creative, innovative, warm, and accessible.