A Deep Divide Over Teaching Gender Identity

NY Times

Feb. 23, 2024, Section A, Page 14

Sarah Mervosh

A recent report by Sarah Mervosh for The New York Times, published on February 22, 2024, delves into the contentious issue of teaching gender identity in schools, a topic that has polarized Americans, including groups traditionally seen as more liberal, such as Democrats, teachers, and teenagers. According to two separate polls conducted by the University of Southern California and the Pew Research Center, there's a stark divide in opinions on whether schools should include gender identity in their curriculum.

The debate over educational content isn't limited to gender identity; discussions on race have also been a focal point of educational policy and parental concern. However, the polls indicate a broader acceptance for teaching about race, with some support even among Republicans, particularly for older students. This suggests a nuanced public opinion on what are often portrayed as binary issues in the political arena.

Key findings from the USC survey, which polled nearly 4,000 adults, half of whom live with school-age children, reveal a split among Democrats on the topic of teaching gender identity in elementary schools. Less than half of the Democrats supported instruction on gender identity for young children or the use of preferred pronouns without parental consent at this age level. However, the support within the Democratic base increases significantly for teaching LGBTQ+ topics to high school students.

On the other hand, Republicans displayed a strong opposition to teaching about transgender topics across all grade levels, although there was a notable increase in their support for issues like same-sex marriage for older students. This pattern was mirrored in attitudes towards discussions on race, with more Republican support for teaching these topics to high school students compared to younger ones.

The Pew Research Center's survey, which included about 2,500 K-12 teachers and 1,400 teenagers, found that both groups are divided on the issue of gender identity education. Half of the teachers, particularly those at the elementary level, opposed such instruction, a sentiment echoed by half of the teenage respondents. The opposition among teenagers was more pronounced among those identifying or leaning Republican, but a significant portion of more liberal teenagers also shared this view.

These findings highlight the complexity of public opinion on education about gender identity and race, suggesting that state laws may not always accurately reflect the diversity within even a state's majority party. The discrepancy points to the influence of partisan politics in education policy, often driven more by the interests of political bases than by a consensus among the broader public.

For further details, the original article can be accessed at The New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/us/gender-identity-race-educatio...