Exclusive: New materials from a California ninth-grade sex education class have come to light, focusing on themes of “privilege,” oppression, and various gender concepts.
The Woodland Unified School District’s curriculum includes a module named Teen Talk, developed by Health Connected and adopted by public schools. This module represents the third lesson in the sex education curriculum established by the company.
One prominent slide is labeled “Identity Iceberg,” illustrating that aspects like body type and skin color can contribute to identity, whereas traits such as race, gender, nationality, and sexual orientation are described merely as estimates.
The module places significant emphasis on “privilege” and oppression. It outlines “circles of privilege/power,” highlighting how individuals are categorized based on varying degrees of privilege, defining privilege itself as “a social advantage or opportunity that is unequally distributed based on historical power.”
For example, in terms of gender, “transgender, intersex, and non-binary” individuals are labeled as “marginalized,” while “cisgender” women are depicted as less marginalized, and “cisgender men” as the least marginalized and most powerful. A related category involves “body size,” suggesting larger individuals experience more marginalization, followed by average-sized individuals, while those who are thinner may hold the most privilege. Racial categories range from individuals with dark skin being the most marginalized to those with lighter skin as the least marginalized.
This curriculum also delves into “systems of oppression,” pointing to power imbalances in sectors such as the legal, healthcare, and education systems.
Gender issues continue to take center stage, with slides defining gender dysphoria as an acute discomfort stemming from a mismatch between one’s body and identity. It mentions distress regarding specific body parts and a troubled ability to express oneself comfortably. Notably, one slide warns that “Intentionally misgendering someone is sexual harassment.”
In a segment explaining transgender identities, a depiction shows a character with male genitalia stating, “I am a girl,” while another with female genitalia claims, “I am a boy.” There’s also a discussion around the binary nature of gender, arguing that categories of “male” and “female” represent false dichotomies.
One slide provides examples of homosexuality across over 1,500 animal species, illustrating this with images of various animals.
As the presentation concludes, it offers “Tips for Respectful Interactions,” suggesting that students should display their pronouns visibly in social media and email signatures and encourage others to do the same.
The Woodland Unified School District responded briefly regarding the module, acknowledging that families may have differing opinions but affirming their duty to comply with state laws and create a secure learning environment for all students, including offering opt-out options for parents.
Health Connected has yet to provide a comment on the matter.
