Straighten up, girls and boys : how schools have shaped sexuality and gender / Jackie M. Blount.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blount, Jackie M., 1959- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Homosexuality and education--United States--History--20th century.

Homosexuality and education.

Sexual minorities--Education--United States.

Sexual minorities.

Sex role in children.

LGBTQ+ history.

LGBTQ+ people.

Physical Description:

186 pages ; 23 cm

Other Title:

How schools have shaped sexuality and gender

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard Education Press, [2026].

Summary:

In Straighten Up, Girls and Boys, acclaimed historian and educator Jackie M. Blount exposes the hidden history of how American schools have carefully shaped and policed gender and sexuality--affecting every student and educator, past and present. With clarity and compassion, she invites readers not only to understand these forces, but to take action for positive change in their own school communities. Drawing on centuries of school design, hiring practices, and classroom curriculum, Blount uncovers how seemingly neutral decisions--from the layout of restrooms to textbooks and teacher roles--have been used to enforce binary gender norms and rigid expectations around sexuality. She explores the implications for both students and educators, highlighting moments of resistance and progress, but also the persistence of exclusion and harm. Through vivid historical storytelling and fresh analysis, Blount connects the dots between age-old anxieties and today's most pressing debates around LGBTQ+ issues in schools. This book empowers educators with the knowledge and historical context needed to question entrenched practices and build more supportive school cultures. Encouraging both critical reflection and practical action, Blount's work is a vital resource for anyone committed to fostering respect and opportunity for every member of the school community. -- Publisher website 20260609

Contents:

Space

Educators

Curriculum

Patterns

Action.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9798895570814

OCLC:

1545052132