Health Across the Gender Spectrum

This course offers an intimate, story-based introduction to the experiences of six transgender children and their families. Through illustrated stories and short teaching videos, learners will gain a better understanding of gender identity and the gender spectrum. Stanford physicians, K-12 educators, and transgender faculty members offer practical tips for parents, teachers, healthcare providers and anyone who wants to help create a more gender-expansive environment - one in which all people can live authentically. As a global community of unique individuals, we can begin to build a world that is ready to nurture and love each and every child.

Due to the sensitive nature of the story-based course content, we have chosen not to offer course certificates for this course. Simply put, we feel that the thoughts, ideas and sentiments of these remarkable children and their families... are priceless. We are confident that, like us, you will end up learning more from them than you could ever imagine. Together, we can lay a stronger foundation for all children. Join us as we explore health, across the gender spectrum.

Additional note: When submitting answers to quizzes, you may be asked to enter your "full legal name". This feature is primarily for verification purposes for courses that offer a certificate on Coursera, so it does not really apply to this course. We recognize that, for some individuals the name they use does not match the one on their legal documents. Please feel free to enter the name you normally use in these boxes.

What is Gender Identity?
-In module one, we will begin to hear some of the real-life experiences of transgender children, their friends and families. We will gain a better understanding of terms like: gender identity, sex assigned at birth and sexual orientation as well as understanding how these characteristics differ from one another. By the end of this module, learners be more familiar with what it means to be transgender and what it means to have a non-binary gender identity.

What is the Gender Spectrum?
-In this module, we will explore some of the gender affirming management options available to support the health of transgender children across their lifespan, including the potential benefits of delaying puberty in transgender adolescents. We will examine the medical classification of transgender and take a closer look at how the diagnosis has changed over time as well as the arguments for and against the need for a medical diagnosis.


How Do We Create a Gender-Inclusive Society?
-In this module, we will explore some of the concrete steps that healthcare providers, teachers and parents can take to make their clinics, schools and homes more gender inclusive. We will discuss the importance of making basic facilities such as restrooms accessible to all children and we will explore the adverse consequences that can occur when children do not feel safe using public restrooms. We will also discuss the negative health outcomes associated with lack of familial and societal support for the transgender child.