Topic: Shift in Society’s Understanding of Gender Identity

Purpose: Inform and elaborate on a rapidly expanding topic and encourage equality and inclusion of all people regardless of their conformity or nonconformity to traditional gender roles and means of expression

Introduction: (Show two toys on the screen, a doll and a pile of legos) Which of these toys would you rather play with? Talk about my own experience with Christmas, how my grandma always got me dolls, and how I really preferred playing legos with my brother, and doing arts and crafts. My grandma wasn’t ill intentioned, but she didn’t understand why a little girl wouldn’t enjoy these things, after all, it was her prominent role in society to raise her three kids, cook, and clean, it was all she knew. I had more artistic, perhaps egocentric ambitions, because the society I grew up in told me that was possible. When did this change happen, and why seemingly so suddenly? How is this a metaphor for our society’s changing gender norms?

1. Main Idea – The equality of men and women made challenging our traditional gender roles, and how they played into our identity, possible. No longer was sex and gender one and the same.
   1. Second wave feminism, equality in the workplace, women emerge as leaders and some men take on roles as homemakers.
2. Main Idea – This led to an era of questioning and self-doubt that eventually sparked further scientific research into the matter, more media coverage, and social/political debate.
   1. Numerous studies were conducted, at first gender dysmorphia was considered a neurological disorder, before scientists gained a better understanding of it
   2. Researchers now believe gender expression is based on both nature and nurture, and parenting/early life can play a significant role
   3. Gender neutral parenting pros: allows freedom of expression and the ability to find your own identity without the influence of societal norms, cons: can lead to emotional distress and confusion when a young child isn’t sure how they’re supposed to behave, and childhood should be fun, not stressful.
3. Main Idea- With the emergence of new terminology and new laws to protect freedom of expression, more variation was fostered and allowed to exist in regards to both sexuality and gender identity
   1. Terms such as gender-fluid, gender nonconforming, gender-neutral, non-binary, etc. emerge
   2. Women’s and men’s fashion became increasingly lenient
   3. Women and men are (for the most part) encouraged to possess qualities that are traditionally linked to the other gender, such as empathy for men and assertiveness for women
4. Main Idea- However, because traditional gender roles were upheld for so long, some preconceived notions about what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman still exist
   1. Ex. man doesn’t ask a stranger for directions because he doesn’t want to be seen as incapable, woman doesn’t ask because she’s afraid the stranger will harm her
   2. Study conducted about children’s toys: father is more likely to offer boys traditionally masculine options, whereas moms tend to offer toys regardless of gender (father protecting son from society’s notion that boys who aren’t “masculine enough” will be bullied?)

Conclusion: Everyone should be aware that notions and stigmas we hold about gender are often unconscious and beyond are control, but they can have a significant impact on society as a whole. It may seem like a long way away, but when you are placed in a position of authority as a CEO, a teacher, coach, or parent in the future, you have the power to shape the next generation of minds, and you have an important choice to make. Foster the growth and expression of our youth, or suppress them. Make them feel ashamed to be who they are, or make them feel heard. Thank you.

Visual aids: Pictures/graphics relating to the major points in the topic to spark memory and to intrigue listeners. Haven’t fully planned these out yet, kinda a work in progress. Suggestions are welcome!

*I know this is pretty long, so please tell me what points/ideas you feel are crucial to this speech, or most interesting, and suggest points that are redundant or boring to cut out. Thank you :)*