Concerns Over Gender Teaching in Academia

Georgian Davis, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico, recently voiced her concerns about being pressured to teach a binary view of gender—specifically, the notion that there are only two genders: male and female. In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, she expressed her worries about having to misrepresent crucial aspects of sexuality and intersex identities in her classroom.

Davis’s reflection was triggered by a viral incident involving a student at Texas A&M University who questioned the rhetoric surrounding “gender and sexuality.” The professor shared a graphic known as the “gender unicorn,” which aims to clarify differences in gender identity and sexuality to students. This has become a contentious topic, particularly as Texas Tech University has mandated that faculty modify their instructional content to adhere strictly to a two-gender framework.

In light of this, an unsettling question arose during a recent discussion: “Is it even legal to teach about the complexities of gender?” One student noted that the official stance aligns with some religious beliefs, thus complicating the conversation further. This echoes the broader concerns regarding academic freedom in the context of rapidly evolving social norms and policies.

Despite the university’s claims that some teachings contradicted course descriptions, the situation escalated to the point where a professor faced termination over similar issues. The former president of Texas A&M, Mark A. Wales III, emphasized that course content should accurately reflect the official course descriptions, leading to significant administrative changes in the department.

Davis, who openly identifies as intersex, conveyed a profound fear of the repercussions of teaching authentically. The spread of misinformation, particularly regarding biological realities, weighs heavily on her conscience. She questioned whether she should downplay or entirely ignore intersex existence simply to conform to restrictive teachings. “Do we really want to deny the biological complexities of gender?” she pondered.

Further complicating the discussion, Davis noted that approximately one in 100 Americans are intersex, according to estimates by the Cleveland Clinic, and about 2% of the global population possesses intersex characteristics. This statistical reality stands at odds with binary narratives. The professor reinforced her commitment to truth by asserting, “I refuse to mislead my students,” emphasizing that the existence of intersex individuals is not merely a product of ideological disputes but a scientific reality.