The matter in summary: Christian Karlsen, leader of PKI (Patient Organization for Gender Incongruence), believes that children in kindergarten should learn about transgender people in order to normalize gender diversity. Viljar Eidsvik, head of Fri – the association for gender and sexuality diversity, agrees with Karlsen and emphasizes the importance of representation and diversity in teaching materials. Family policy spokeswoman in the FRP, Silje Hjemdal, believes that teaching in school and kindergarten should be based on scientific facts and not contribute to confusion among children. Hadle Bjuland, leader of Christian People’s Party Youth, believes that children in kindergarten should be treated with respect, but that this should not enter the kindergarten. Krf nevertheless believes that children should learn that it is okay to be different from the norm. Aud Jektvik, coordinator at the regional center for gender incongruence, believes that gender incongruence can appear early, often from the age of three to four, and that it is important to allow children to explore this. The Education Association believes that kindergarten teachers have the competence to handle the topic in a good way, and that it is important to start from the children’s own experiences and questions. – We humans are built to need a network, and to feel part of something. That’s what Christian Karlsen, head of the Patient Organization for Gender Incongruence (PKI), says. He meets news at the starting line at the parade in Harstad pride. Here he feels part of a community. A community he missed greatly when he was younger. Karlsen, now 35, came out as a transman when he was 31. He believes that more representation and information about gender diversity from an early age would have saved him from several years of shame. Therefore, he believes that children in kindergarten should learn about transgender people. Read also: Childless couples in the north will soon not have to travel far From Harstad pride 2024. Photo: TORA JARNÆS VOLD/news – Children have a relationship with gender Viljar Eidsvik, leader of Fri – the association for gender and sexuality diversity, agrees with Karlsen . – It’s just nice that we’re expanding the narrow boxes that the children grow up in, he says to news. Between 20,000 and 260,000 are transgender in Norway, according to calculations from the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (external link). – Children have an active relationship with gender and gender expression. The kindergarten should give plenty of space to talk about people who stand out. Viljar Eidsvik believes that children have an early relationship with gender. Photo: Jane Bjørnstad / FRI/Jane Bjørnstad Eidsvik emphasizes that the value of learning about this early is that we must learn to live together in a society. – Growing up in a world where you never see any role models like yourself leads to a lot of shame. That is why representation is very important. Having a diversity in the material used in teaching right from kindergarten contributes to that. Must not contribute to confusion The FRP has no specific wishes to have this as part of kindergarten education. – We should primarily focus on the fact that we humans are different and unique. This is what family policy spokeswoman for the FRP, Silje Hjemdal, writes to news in an e-mail. Family policy spokeswoman for FRP Silje Hjemdal believes that children are already aware that there are many different people. Photo: Oskar Rennedal / Oskar Rennedal – For Frp, it is important that what children learn in school and kindergarten is based on scientific facts and that one does not contribute to confusion among children by dragging in topics that are difficult for children to understand. Hjemdal believes that children are aware that there are many different types of people, and that children learn about diversity every single day. – However, when it comes to more complex issues, we must remember that children are not small adults, she says. – We have to let children be children – I don’t think children in kindergarten should learn about this here. This is what leader of the Christian Folkeparti Ungdom, Hadle Bjuland, told news. Leader of KrFU, Hadle Bjuland believes that we must let children be children, and that all children should be met with respect. Photo: Kristian Skårdalsmo Bjuland believes that we must teach children that it is perfectly fine to be a girl who likes to do traditional boy things, and a boy who likes to do traditional girl things. He emphasizes that all children in Norwegian kindergartens must be met with respect. – It does not mean that all children should learn about this, he says. Is about normalization – It is the employees’ task to tell this in a good way, says Vilde Håkansson. Håkansson is a qualified kindergarten teacher and earlier this year wrote a professional article on how to make gender diversity visible in the kindergarten. She says that it is primarily about creating a normalization for children who are gender creative. Vilde Håkansson says that getting gender diversity into the nursery is about normalisation. Håkansson is a qualified kindergarten teacher and earlier this year wrote a professional article on how to make gender diversity visible in the kindergarten. Photo: Utestemme Foto AS – They get just as confused when you tell them that dinosaurs don’t exist anymore. It is the employees’ task to explain it, she concludes. – Especially to avoid bullying. But also to make room for action larger for all children. Håkonsson believes that children are too young to put into words whether they are transgender when they are of kindergarten age, but that all children benefit from learning more about diversity, hence also people with other gender expressions. Thinks children can know from the age of four Coordinator at the regional center for gender incongruence, Aud Jektvik agrees with Karlsen and says that this should absolutely be included in kindergarten. According to Jektvik, not all children who explore different gender expressions in kindergarten will turn out to be trans later. – Children play different roles and explore without it necessarily having anything to do with their identity later, she tells news. Aud Jektvik agrees with Karlsen and believes that information about trans people should absolutely be included in the kindergarten. Photo: Ingun A. Mæhlum According to Jektvik, gender incongruity can appear early, often from the age of three to four. Although it may take time before the child puts it into words himself. She emphasizes that something that is common among older trans people she meets is that some wish they had explored this earlier. – If you are worried that a child may be transgender, then you could try to focus on making the world a better place for transgender people. And acquire knowledge, instead of potentially forcing someone into the closet. Have confidence in the kindergarten teachers All kindergartens must follow the “Framework plan for the kindergarten”. It states that the kindergarten must promote respect for human dignity by making visible, valuing and promoting diversity and mutual respect. – Therefore, the nursery school must also be able to talk to the children about different gender expressions and gender identity. That’s what Ann Mari Milo Lorentzen, 1st deputy chairperson of the Education Association, writes to news in an e-mail. – It is important that the nursery starts from the children’s experiences and what they themselves say they are surprised by. In order to be able to meet the children in an open and unprejudiced way, it is clearly important that the adults have knowledge about gender and gender expression, and that they have a good knowledge of the framework plan’s guidelines. – I have confidence that kindergarten teachers, who know the group of children, do this in a good way. news has been in contact with the children’s ombudsman, who does not wish to comment on the case. – I’ve always been who I am “Why doesn’t anyone look like me?” Christian Karlsen often asked himself that during his upbringing. Christian Karlsen at Harstad pride 2024. Here he feels part of a community he missed when he was younger. Photo: Tora Jarnæs Vold / TORA JARNÆS VOLD/news – There were many years of depression and dark thoughts. I questioned why no one was like me. We humans are built to need a network. and if you don’t see anyone who is like yourself, then you are not part of any group. You feel left out. – That’s why pride, for example, is fantastic, he says with a big smile. Karlsen says that it is important for him to appear so that other children have someone to look up to. – I want to be visible to those who are 31 years old and terrified to come forward, and to the children. So they will not have to go 31 years to feel what I have felt. – I have always been who I am. You don’t just become trans, it’s something you know you are. It’s more about when you feel confident enough to stand up as such, says Karlsen in conclusion. Do you think children in kindergarten should learn more about trans people? Absolutely not Don’t know Yes, but not before a certain age Yes, absolutely! Show result Published 29/09/2024, at 17.36
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Christian Karlsen in PKI believes that children in kindergarten should learn about transgender people – news Troms and Finnmark
