This week's reading is about Sex and Gender Based Systems by the "Trevor Project". What the Trevor project is attempting to do from this piece is trying to educate people on what Sex and Gender are, and how to properly address people who identify as the opposite or nonbinary genders. The first thing the piece does is define the terms to make sure people who read it are on the same page. They define Sex as something that we are assigned to us at birth, while gender identity is how each person experiences or views themselves. Gender is more complicated because it is more personal to us as people. Though the Trevor project does provide some clarity for people. There is Cisgender which is the gender they associate with their sex at birth. Then there is Transgender, which is someone's gender identity for those who have a different gender from the one assigned at birth.
The next part that the Trevor Project goes over is how to properly address/refer to people who identify as Transgender. it states that it is important to use people's preferred pronouns as a form of respect and dignity towards them. It also states that it is important to use appropriate language with someone to avoid offending them. This can range from misgendering someone or saying a microaggression that isn't meant to harm them. One ways one can better prevent situations like this from occurring is by asking someone what their preferred pronouns are. This helps as a way to mitigate any chances of saying something that may offend someone who is cis, trans, or non-binary. The Trevor project even talks about how important it is to take accountability and attempt to do better by trying to apologize if one of the mistakes listed above occurs. The Trevor Project does a really good job of educating people on navigating these sensitive topics. It also makes the reader feel more confident in being able to engage in these kinds of discussions in a respectful manner.
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