introspective

          The Gender Education Center presents many workshops on transgender issues to a variety of audiences. One of the pieces used in some of these presentations is called "self introspective." It is a series of questions to ask yourself about your attitudes and feelings. It is meant to open up discussion and make people aware of their biases and feelings about gender issues. Take time to think about and answer each question for yourself . . . . How you really feel? . . . . Why do you feel that way? . . . .

Assume you are single and not in a relationship:

Would you ever consider dating or starting a relationship with a transgender person?


If not, why not?


The question than is, WHY have you never considered a relationship or dating a transgender person?

Hypothesis:

Assume the person is physically attractive to you.

Assume the person is the gender that you are attracted to you.

Assume the person has a personality that you enjoy.

Assume the person has values and beliefs that could co-exist with yours.

Assume the person has everything that you find attractive in a potential partner except the fact that they happen to be transgender.

Why is it you probably would not think of dating this person?

Think about the things that might stop you from considering this relationship. What are they?

List: 1. _______________ 2. _______________ 3. _______________

How did you happen to have these values or bias?

Does society norms or peer pressure have anything to do with your feelings?

If you dated a transgender person - could you:

Take them to very public straight places?

Go places where you might run in to friends?

Tell our family and loved ones about the relationship?

Have a picture on your desk at work?

Bring them to a company?

What other things might be difficult with this kind of relationship?

  Presentations, Workshops & Training

  Return to GEC home page