Reckoning with Trans Medical Care through Poetry
The best way forward for busy medical practitioners to understand trans experiences is through education and empathy, but these two elements take time and vulnerability. The overall goal of this curriculum is not to teach the key terms or approaches important to trans people. Rather, this curriculum aims to instill an open approach so practitioners can omit and confront bias by a practice of careful listening and writing—both to themselves and others—about tough topics around gender and through poetry.
Learning Objectives
- Disrupt transphobic bias
- Strengthen critical self-reflection proficiencies
- Increase vulnerability and humility skills
- Build gender and sexuality knowledge and understanding
- Facilitate your own poetic practice
- Recognize and shift heteronormative worldviews
Lessons
RECOMMENDED FORMAT: Self-directed, Small Group, Classroom Course
Go to Facilitation Guides
CURRICULUM DETAILS:
Est. total length: 3-4 hours
12 Lessons in 3 Modules
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Download/print the Syllabus and review. It is your guide for completing this curriculum.
- Work through the Lessons in order.
Hover over each resource button for estimated length.
Words - Video 1.2 - Text to Engage
Words - Video 1.3 - Poetic Form
Words - Video 1.4 - Reflections
Poet Interviews - AUDIO Only
Interview - Cameron Awkward-Rich
Form - Video 2.2 - Text to Engage
Doing Differently - Video 3.1 - Intro
Doing Differently - Video 3.2 - Text to Engage
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Additional Resources
Click above link to view Additional Resources.
Module One
Learn about Found Poems https://poets.org/glossary/found-poem
Nordmarken, Sonny. 2023. “Coming into Identity: How Gender Minorities Experience Identity Formation.” Gender & Society 37 (4): 584–613. https://doi.org/10.1177/08912432231172992
Module Two
The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner https://poets.org/poem/death-ball-turret-gunner
Boland, Eavan, and Mark Strand, eds. 2001. The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms. Reprint edition. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Finch, Annie, and Alexandra Oliver, eds. 2015. Measure for Measure: An Anthology of Poetic Meters. Everyman’s Library.
Hirsch, Edward. 2017. The Essential Poet’s Glossary. Ecco.
Oliver, Mary. 1994. A Poetry Handbook. First Edition. San Diego: Ecco.
2013 DSM diagnostic change (content warning)
State of trans experience: https://www.genderpodcast.com/
DeRango-Adem, Adebe. 2014. The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry. Second edition. Calgary, Alberta: Frontenac House Ltd.
Ferguson, Margaret, Tim Kendall, and Mary Jo Salter. 2018. The Norton Anthology of Poetry. Sixth edition. New York London: W. W. Norton & Company.
Soto, Christopher, ed. 2018. Nepantla: An Anthology Dedicated to Queer Poets of Color. Nightboat Books.
Module Three
Abel - from The Place of Scraps
Dickinson - I Heard a Fly Buzz - When I Died
Vuong - On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous
Gill-Peterson, Jules. 2018. Histories of the Transgender Child. 3rd ed. edition. Minneapolis: Univ Of Minnesota Press.
Malatino, Hil. 2020. Trans Care. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Malatino, Hil. 2022. Side Affects: On Being Trans and Feeling Bad. Minneapolis: Univ of Minnesota Press.
Shlasko, Davey. 2014. Trans* Ally Workbook: Getting Pronouns Right & What It Teaches Us about Gender. Think Again Training.
Shlasko, Davey. 2017. Trans Allyship Workbook: Building Skills to Support Trans People in Our Lives. Think Again Training.
Yehuda, Rene. 2022. The Testosterone Survey Zine. https://renayehuda.gumroad.com/l/TestosteroneSurveyZine
Belcourt, Billy-Ray. 2020. A History of My Brief Body. Columbus: Two Dollar Radio.
Belcourt, Billy-Ray. 2022. A Minor Chorus. New York London: W. W. Norton & Company.
Koch - Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams <I have pdf to link to>
Poetry Foundations https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43914/the-walrus-and-the-carpenter-56d222cbc80a9
Contributors
