English 10c, Wolpert 11.10.
2024
Reading Comprehension: My Journey with Gender Identity
Since I was a child, I always felt a bit di>erent. I remember everyone around me
assuming I was a girl because of how I looked, but deep inside, it didn’t feel quite
right. At first, I thought maybe I just didn’t fit the usual "girly" roles—I wasn’t into
makeup or dresses, and I preferred playing sports with the boys. But as I grew older, I
5 realized that it wasn’t just about my hobbies. It was something deeper, something
about how I saw myself.
By the time I was 15, I started to explore what gender really means. I learned that gender
is not just about being a boy or a girl—it’s about how you feel inside and how you want to
express yourself. That’s when I first came across the term non-binary. It was a relief. For
10 the first time, I had a word that described how I felt. I wasn’t just confused or weird—I
was non-binary, which meant that I didn’t feel fully like a boy or a girl. I existed
somewhere in between.
Coming out to my family and friends wasn’t easy. Some didn’t understand at first, asking
me if I just wanted attention or if it was a "phase." My parents were confused and worried
15 about what this would mean for my future. However, over time, they learned more
about gender identity and started to support me. It made a huge di>erence.
School was harder. While some friends were accepting, others made jokes or said
hurtful things. Teachers rarely knew what to do, and I often had to explain my identity
again and again. It became exhausting, and sometimes, I just wanted to be invisible.
20 One of the most challenging moments was when I had to correct people about my
pronouns. I use "they/them" pronouns, and although some tried, many people didn’t get
it right, which made me feel unseen.
Society as a whole still has a long way to go in understanding people like me. From filling
out forms that only have "male" and "female" options to hearing people say, "But you
25 don’t look non-binary," I realized that many people aren’t used to thinking about
gender in a di>erent way. But despite these challenges, I’ve learned to embrace who I
am. I know now that there is no right or wrong way to be a person, and I am proud of my
identity. I hope that sharing my story will help others who might be questioning their
gender and encourage more understanding in the world around us.
English 10c, Wolpert 11.10.2024
Multiple Choice Questions:
1.) What can be said about the writer’s initial feelings regarding their gender
identity?
a) They knew from a young age that they were non-binary.
b) They felt pressured to fit into typical gender roles but sensed they didn’t belong.
c) They enjoyed activities typically associated with girls but still felt confused.
d) They openly discussed their feelings about gender with friends and family.
2.) How did the writer's perception of gender evolve over time?
a) They gradually accepted traditional gender roles after exploring them.
b) They learned about gender beyond binary concepts and identified more with those
ideas.
c) They found it easier to accept their biological sex after researching gender.
d) They struggled to understand gender identity after discovering the term "non-binary."
3.) What does the reaction of the writer's friends and family suggest about societal
attitudes towards gender identity?
a) People generally accept gender diversity without much questioning.
b) Even well-meaning people often lack the understanding of non-binary identities.
c) Society is completely unprepared to handle gender issues.
d) Most families immediately support non-binary individuals after explanation.
4.) What does the diBiculty with pronouns suggest about the challenges non-binary
individuals face in everyday life?
a) People deliberately refuse to use correct pronouns to hurt non-binary individuals.
b) Mistakes are often accidental, but they still deeply a>ect non-binary individuals.
c) Non-binary individuals must accept that people will never learn their pronouns.
d) Pronoun issues are minor compared to other challenges faced by non-binary people.
5.) How does the writer view the importance of sharing their story?
a) They believe personal stories have little impact on broader social understanding.
b) They hope their story will change the laws related to gender identity.
c) They want to inspire other non-binary individuals and promote acceptance.
d) They believe that sharing their story is the only way to gain personal attention.
Open Questions:
1.) How does the person describe their gender identity?
2.) Name three challenges the writer experienced.
3.) What do the author's experiences tell us about the understanding of gender identity
at school?
