The Head, The Heart, and

The Body
A comprehensive curriculum on biological sex, gender identities,
and sexual orientation created for youth ages 10-20 years old.

The Body

Biological Sex
What is biological sex?: the sexual anatomy with which
you had at birth; includes sexual organs, hormones, and
chromosomes
Male- penis and testicles, XY chromosomes,
testosterone hormones
Female- vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and
ovaries; XX chromosomes; estrogen hormones
Intersex- situations in which sex chromosomes are
different than XY or XX, and genitalia that is neither
fully male nor fully female develops.

Think to yourself- what is your biological sex?

Male, Female, and Intersex. (2014). Retrieved from

http://
www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual- orientationgender/female-male-intersex

Intersex
~ 1 in 2,000 people in the United States are born
with intersex conditions
Some intersex babies are assigned a gender at birth
When gender is assigned, sometimes surgery is
performed on the genitals, other times the baby
can be raised as a boy or girl without such
surgeries
In small groups- How would you teach a baby to be a
boy? To be a girl?

Male, Female, and Intersex. (2014). Retrieved from

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual- orientationgender/female-male-intersex

The Head

Gender
The various ways in which your groups came up
with to teach a baby to be a boy or a girl is all part
of a process called socialization
Gender is a social construct: the by-products of
countless repeated human choices and actions
Every culture has its own set of norms for how
someone should behave based on their gender
also known as gender roles
In small groups- what are some of these gender
roles and/or norms for our society?
Male, Female, and Intersex. (2014). Retrieved from
http://
www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual- orientationgender/female-male-intersex

 Review Question
What is the difference between
biological sex and gender?

Gender Binary
The gender binary is the socially accepted distinction
of gender into two categories: male and female

Gender Identity
Ones personal conception themselves as male,
female, both (gender fluid), or neither

Ghosh, S. (2015, March 16). Gender Identity. Retrieved from

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/917990-overview
Trans Student Educational Resources. (2015).

Genderqueer
A term given to individuals who dont identify within the
gender binary

Transgender
As opposed to cisgender, which is one whose gender
identity aligns with their biological sex, transgender an
umbrella term applied to individuals whose gender
identity is not the same as their biological sex
~700,000 people in the United States identify as
transgender
Transgender Allies Group .(2014). Transgender Basics for Everyone
[PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from: http://
nebula.wsimg.com/63b54527bf9d1ce6d9e49ca173a
f987d?
AccessKeyId=C362865AD09B0807BB4F&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
Trans Student Educational Resources. (2015).

Transgender (Continued)
Those who identify as transgender express their gender
identity in various ways:
through gender expression- the visible ways an
individual dresses and acts
through the use of preferred pronouns (see following
slide)
Through transition or the use of hormone therapies
(through the blocking of internal hormones or use of
external agents to induce desired gender expression)
and through genital reconstruction surgeries

Transition may also refer to social transition process

of coming out to friends and family, using different
pronouns and names, and wearing different clothes

Trans Identities. (2014). Retrieved from

www.plannedparenthood.org/en/learn/sexualgender/trans-identities
Trans Student Educational Resources. (2015).

http://
orientation-

Trans Student Educational Resources. (2015).

Passing
When a transgender individual is perceived by
others as being the gender they present, this is
called passing

Offensive Terms

she-male or he-she
real woman or man
tranny
it

Transgender Allies Group .(2014). Transgender Basics for Everyone

[PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from:
http://nebula.wsimg.com/63b54527bf9d1ce6d9e49ca173a
f987d?
AccessKeyId=C362865AD09B0807BB4F&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

 Homework:

be
able to define these
gender related terms

Trans Student Educational Resources. (2015).

The Heart

Sexual Orientation
A term for an individuals pattern of sexual
attraction based on gender

Affectional Orientation

Different than sexual orientation which is

physical attraction, affectional orientation is
a term for the pattern of an individuals
romantic or emotional attraction based on
gender

*Often times, ones sexual and affectional

orientation are the same, but this is not
always true.
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity 101. (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/identity

Monosexual Sexual Orientations

Those who tend to be attracted to only one other gender
are monosexual
Gay
Also referred to as homosexual a man who is attracted
to men
Lesbian
A woman who is attracted to other women
Straight
the social norm men who are solely attracted to
women or women who are solely attracted to men

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity 101. (2015). Retrieved from

http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/identity

Polysexual Sexual Orientations

Individuals who are attracted to multiple genders
are polysexual
Bisexual
Also known as bi-individuals who are attracted to
people of their own gender as well as people of
other genders.
Pansexual
Also known as omnisexual- Individuals attracted
to others regardless of gender

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity 101. (2015). Retrieved from

http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/identity

Asexual Sexual Orientation

Individuals who experience no sexual attraction
are often asexual
Are either not sexually attracted to others or
have no desire to act on attraction
Asexual individuals sometimes experience
affectional attraction

Questioning
An individual who is unsure or still exploring their
sexual orientation and/or gender identity is
questioning
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity 101. (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/identity

Discussion Question:

Do you think ones gender identity influences

and/or determines their sexual orientation?
Provide evidence for your answer

 Final Quiz: Be
able to fill out
a blank
Gender
Unicorn

Trans Student Educational Resources. (2015).

Final Project
While this curriculum provides a cohesive overview of the
basics of biological sex, gender identity, and sexual
orientation, it does not cover the serious issues of
discrimination and mental health that non cisgender or straight
individuals face.
You and your group will research these issues in depth, and
provide a factual brochure presenting the seriousness of the
threats these individuals face.
Your brochure should include:
Statistics including suicide rates, mental health, and
homelessness
Laws in place that both protect and oppress these
individuals
Measures you can take to help combat these issues