College and Transgender discrimination/bias/harrassment

 In the 2016-2017 term at Siena College, there was a student climate survey. The results showed that 100% of transgender students at Siena College experienced bias, harassment, and/ or discrimination. As a current student at Siena, I feel upset that these are the results of the survey because I love this school. However, I am not shocked that 100% of transgender students experienced bias, harassment, and/or discrimination. The reason I am not shocked is due to the fact that in every community, there are people who are not accepting. Unfortunately, sometimes the people, who are not accepting, are the most vocal. It is sad to know people can be mean and cruel towards others for simply being themselves. Everyone should be able to be who they are without being harassed or discriminated against. 

I think that Siena should have a mandatory seminar discussing the topics of sexuality, gender , and accepting others. This seminar would be good for everyone, but especially those, who do not know much on the topic or need to learn to accept others. There will always be closed-minded people, so the seminar will probably not get rid of all the bias, harassment, and/ or discrimination. Therefore, Siena should also teach students to be better active bystanders. Sadly, bystanders do not always feel as if they should or could report these kinds of issues, and some do not even recognize that there is a problem. Educating students on being better active bystanders may cause more students to report these issues on campus. Overall, issues with transgender discrimination and harassment have been present for a long time and will need a long-term solution. Colleges should be educating their students about sexuality, gender, discrimination, and teaching students to be better active bystanders. 

Comments

  1. Bri BlakeOctober 8, 2020 at 11:00 AM

    Hi Audrey!
    I think you make a really good point about how it is the people who are not accepting that are always the most vocal. Even still, I was shocked to see that Siena's statistic was 100%. I agree with you that people can be really rude and that it is those people who are always the most vocal, but for all transgender students at Siena to say they faced some sort of harassment was shocking to me.
    I think a seminar would be a good idea. It is a good way to educate people on transgender issues and such. I think it also goes well with the point you made in the first paragraph about the most vocal people. Typically those people are so vocal and hateful because they do not fully understand. I think if there were a seminar or some type of educational tool then it can teach people both about transgender issues and such. I think it is also a great idea as you said to teach people how to be active bystanders. That is just as important I think. It can help us to learn ways we can help others both on and off campus.

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    Replies
    1. Audrey DubauskasNovember 8, 2020 at 2:10 PM

      Hello Bri!

      I agree that the most vocal and hateful typically do not fully understand. I think there should either be a mandatory seminar during freshmen orientation or have the topic incorporated into FYSM.

      ~Audrey

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  2. Ashna GuptaOctober 9, 2020 at 10:17 AM

    Hi Audrey,
    I had a similar reaction to the survey where I was upset but not completely surprised by the fact that 100% of transgender students at Siena have faced some form of discrimination. You raise a good point that the people who are the least accepting are the most vocal about their views, and I wonder if this stems from insecurities the vocal students have about themselves that make them feel like they have to put others down to validate their own identity.
    I had a similar idea of a seminar to discuss how students can be accepting of other people's sexuality, gender, and race. Teaching students to be active bystanders is vital because I think it is really important to not only disapprove of prejudice, but to actively stand up against it by advocating for victims of injustice or calling out friends with discriminatory beliefs. I proposed incorporating some these ideas into the FYSM classes and elaborating on them by changing the Franciscan Diversity requirement at Siena to a course focused on these topics, but I was wondering when you think students should take a class like this and whether it should be separate from FYSM? Do you think this seminar should be mandatory for all freshman so that they can implement what they learned throughout their time at college, or do you think students should be able to take it at any time during their four years at Siena as this class would overlap with the diversity training that is already a part of many FYSM classes? Let me know what you think!

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    Replies
    1. Audrey DubauskasNovember 8, 2020 at 2:08 PM

      Hello Ashna,
      I agree that the vocal students could be super vocal due to insecurities that they have about themselves. Typically that is the case with people projecting onto others. I agree that teaching students to be accepting and active bystanders is crucial. I think incorporating these topics into FYSM could be an option to teach students and elaborate on gender topics. I took women studies for my FYSM, and looking back, I am slightly surprised that we did not go into these topics for at least one or two class periods. I agree that there should be a course in the Diversity requirement at Siena that focuses on these topics. If a course like this is separate from FYSM, I think freshmen should be obligated to take it, so they can learn to be accepting of others the first year they are at Siena. If it is not possible to make it a course, then there should either be a mandatory seminar during freshmen orientation or at least be incorporated into FYSM.
      ~Audrey

      Delete
  3. Runa's blogNovember 7, 2020 at 6:28 PM

    Audrey,
    I think that's a very creative idea of a seminar to discuss the topics of sexuality, and gender. I think the fact that it would be mandatory would be a great way to engage more students In the topic and make it aware by everyone. It may also make students more comfortable in discussing how they have been treated. Which would give them support.

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