A VLOG (video blog) that desribes sexuality diversity

If you missed Jennifer Bryan's talk, this 3min take on sexuality and gender diversity provides the basic context :



For more in-depth information about sex diversity, check out the resources on the now defunct Intersex Society of North America site - the 12min online video is particularly poignant and useful.

This TED TALK by Alice Dreger  (Is Anatomy Destiny) opens up a bigger conversation about what it means to maintain or deconstruct sex categories, knowing that they are not actually fully inclusive, descriptive, or "real" but that they do serve social, political and personal purposes.

Post-Jennifer Bryan

Jennifer Bryan's workshop and public talk on gender and sexuality diversity raised so many questions  and provided a strong and clear mandate to adults that if we want our children to have the fullest possible humanity and to include all children in our schools and communities we must become more educated about our potential differences.  Bryan used modifications of Kinsey's spectrum of sexuality development to offer a schema that helps us understand that individual sex, gender and sexuality potentially changes over time and place and involves an infinite number of ways of being, not just 2.  Sharing interviews with kids, in the evening program, Bryan asked us to be more empathetic to the hurts that come with being forced into a sex/gender binary system and then to be more thoughtful about the stereotypes that describe each type.

Some follow up links :

Jennifer's web site is here --  many reported wishing for more time with her; perhaps a school district could organize a whole-day training?

If nothing else, we should all pledge not to buy into the horror of super-sexy halloween costumes!

ABC did a story on the gendering of costumes / of kids in the choosing of costumes

 

"Feminist Frequency" examines the ways that legos' markets gender norms and sexism; Lyn Michel Brown's book "Packaging Girlhood" provides even more data on this and Hardy Girls, Healthy Women offers a lot of strategies for resistance including a Halloween tip sheet! 

Maine's Trans Youth Equality Foundation offers resources for families and supporters of kids whose gender expression doesn't "match" their assigned sex. Equality Maine offers political support and resources for safe schools.

Boys to Men offers trainings for schools interested in addressing gender stereotypes and the ways that they can support violence, and also support for parents wanting to help boys build a masculinity not centered on "Battle" (the biggest word in the "boy toy" word cloud).

SMILE / DRAMA

In Portland Saturday!

Alone Together by Sherry Turkle

The topic of technology and kids lives is a big one, and we had a great conversation about it last week at our middle school parents meeting.  Listening to Sherry Turkle, though, I was reminded that the topic of technology and adults is as much the story and that I should be more mindful and intentional about how I use my device.  Live-Tweeting the debate has advantages - advantages that outweigh the cons, for me -- but Live-Tweeting the x-country meet, not so much.  It is challenging to parent well about tech use, because we're almost all struggling to live well without collapsing under mountains of information and interaction or staying slightly Luddite about the whole enterprise.

We are excited to share this as the theme of our Spring (May 2012) Parenting for Peace event!  More details TBA.

In the meantime,  I thought the Fresh Air with Turkle was well worth a listen and more conversation among us!

And, as a bridge between our P4P events, check out this Common Sense Media Guide to exploring gender stereotypes online and these Hardy Girl webinars:

Beyond Media Literacy: Empowering Girls Through Media Activism
Emily Brostek, MPH, CHES
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Noon-1:30 pm Eastern Time
$29.95
Register Today!

Gender and Early Childhood: The World According to Marketers
Emily Brostek, MPH, CHES
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
4-5:30 pm Eastern Time
$29.95
Register Today!

Girlfighting Goes Online: Cyberbullying (and What We Can Do About It) 
Emily Brostek, MPH, CHES
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
4-5:30 pm Eastern Time
$29.95
Register Today!

Telling Room Events

FSP proud to support Paul Tough! 

 Super Famous Writer Series

Every year, the Telling Room organizes a series of events aimed at introducing students and the community at large to successful, working writers. Whether held in a school auditorium as a panel discussion or in the more intimate confines of our studio space, our Super Famous Writers Series offers burgeoning authors a chance to ask questions of a few successful scribes and to imagine themselves as a literary superhero.

Fall Schedule

Paul Tough

November 7th, USM's Hannaford Hall

The prevailing wisdom has it that success in life depends on getting the best grades in the best schools. Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character, offers another model, arguing that lasting achievements depend on character traits such as perseverance, self-discipline, and optimism, skills not necessarily measured on standardized tests. Join him for a lecture at USM's Hannaford Hall on November 7th at 7pm. He is the author of a series of acclaimed articles about character and childhood in the New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker and a regular contributor to the public-radio program This American Life. Seating for this free event requires an RSVP. Visit paultoughportlandme.eventbrite.com to register.
Sponsored by Portland Public Schools, Breakwater School's Parent and Professional Enrichment Program, USM Department of Teacher Education, Portland Education Foundation, Longfellow Books, Friends School of Portland, Olympia Companies and Hilton Garden Portland Downtown Waterfront. 

Tom Perrotta

November 15th, Space Gallery

Tom Perrotta, author of New York Times bestsellers The Leftovers and The Abstinence Teacher, will read at SPACE Gallery on November 15th at 7pm as part of The Telling Room’s 2012 Super Famous Writer Series, a slate of literary events that showcases the working lives of talented fiction, nonfiction, and student authors. His novels Election and Little Children were both made into acclaimed movies, and Perrotta received an Academy award nomination for the screenplay of Little Children, which he wrote with director Todd Field. He's currently adapting The Leftovers into an HBO series along with Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of Lost. Perrotta has taught writing at Yale and Harvard, and published essays and reviews in Rolling Stone, GQ, and The New York Times. He also edited the 2012 edition of Best American Short Stories. Seating for this free event is first come first serve.
Presented by The Telling Room in partnership with Space Gallery, Olympia Companies and Hilton Garden Portland Downtown Waterfront.

Eric Carle - Portland Ovations

FSP families have often enjoyed meeting at these events and then sharing lunch... 

 

New friends and classic characters come to life with the Family Series performance, Treasured Stories by Eric Carle on Saturday, October 20th at 11 am at Merrill Auditorium. This new work by Mermaid Theatre brings together old favorites from The Very Hungry Caterpillar and new friends drawn from the pages of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? and the poignant story of a young girl's unusual quest, Papa, Please get the Moon for Me for a fantastical hour-long production that will entertain and educate the next generation of theatergoers. Featuring innovative puppetry, dazzling visual effects and evocative music Treasured Stories This performance is recommended for children ages 3 to 8 and tickets are only $10. Click here to get them today.

in the interest of children

 --  A Guide for Voters and Candidates, published by the Maine Children's Alliance is now available.

-- Today is the first International Day of the Girl :  If you're in Portland, join Hardy Girls / Healthy Women's Press Conference :  Stand with girls in Maine and around the world tomorrow at our Day of the Girl event.  Mayor Michael Brennan will join girl advocacy groups, teen girls, and supporters on Thursday at 10:00am on the steps of Portland City Hall to proclaim October 11th as Day of the Girl.

-- October 16th :  Debate moderated by Candy Crowley... it is hard to imagine wanting to watch this, but she is the first woman moderator since 1992 -- here's hoping some questions are asked about women's health, economic security, and children!

-- October 18th : Love Your Body Day

Blog neglecting

**** I apologize for neglecting the blog for a while... if any FSP parents are interested in contributing, it would be a more active and vibrant blog with more voices!  ******


Children's Theater of Maine Auditions on 10/25 - more info here!

Auditions

Little Red Riding Hood (or Grandmother Slyboots)
(summer 2011)

A Seussified Christmas Carol

Thursday, October 25 from 3-5pm

We're looking for talented young actors to join the cast of our holiday production, A Seussified Christmas Carol. No experience is required, and newcomers are welcome! Please arrive between 3pm and 5pm with a one-minute monologue prepared.

Subscribe to our email list to receive the audition notice, which will contain a tentative rehearsal calendar, detailed audition information and tips for a great audition.