Considerations of Identity

Gender

Sexual violence affects us all. Yet, clearly there are disparities related to gender. Even a quick glance at the statistics will show that the majority of victims/survivors are women; further, although there are male victims of sexual assault, the majority of perpetrators – regardless of the gender of the victim, are male.

The sheer rate of perpetration raises questions – not about the inherent biology of being male, but of the socialization of males – and females – within a culture which perpetuates misogyny, dictates rigid gender roles, and mistakenly allows rape behavior and language to appear as normal, acceptable dating behavior.

Online Resources:

Transgender Law and Policy Institute 

FORGE (For Ourselves: Reworking Gender Expression)  is a national education, advocacy and support umbrella organization supporting the transgender community

• Quick Tips for Caregivers Of Transgender Clients 
• 101 Things You Can Do - We are all responsible… 

GLSEN – Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Newtork 

• Harsh Realities: The Experiences of Transgender Youth in Our Nation's Schools [report available on linked page]

"Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey."  - available at endtransdiscrimination.org 

Virginia Anti-Violence Project

• The Survivor Handbook - impact of interpersonal violence on LGBTQ survivors 
• The Model Policies and Best Practices guide – increasing agency capacity to serve LGBTQ survivors 

See also resources listed on our Considerations of Identity: Sexual Orientation page pertaining to the LGBTQ members of the community…

Articles and other Resources:

• For Women, Equal Pay? No Way [national map of % disparity in salaries across gender lines] | April, 2010  Magazine 

• How to Respect a Transgender Person - Wikihow: http://www.wikihow.com/Respect-a-Transgender-Person

• The Myth of the Mama’s Boy – We never worry about an involved father "masculinizing" his daughter. Why do such fears persist about a feminizing aspect of mothering? | March 16, 2012  Magazine