Gender and the Next Generation
Toby Rose talks about their nonbinary experience and young people today.
Gender Stories is a series seeking to better understand the experiences of gender atypical, transgender, and nonbinary people, all from a Christian perspective. See the schedule of upcoming live interviews.
This series is about growing in understanding of people’s experiences of gender, so I am grateful to Toby for sharing their story as a Christian who is nonbinary. Many in the next generation, like Toby, have had exposure to different philosophies on sex and gender than I experienced growing up. To better understand where young people are at today, it’s important to hear their voices and why certain concepts are meaningful to them.
At the beginning of this series, I briefly discussed the distinction between sex and gender (sex as biological characteristics and gender as social norms). I also mentioned that some folks have a postmodern perspective that sees sex—and not just gender—as socially constructed. In other words, biological characteristics are subject to cultural interpretations and construction as well. My friend Toby Rose is someone who takes a postmodern view. And I wanted to better understand what that means to them.
Toby is a volunteer leader in their church’s youth ministry. They also enjoy using their musical gifts to lead worship. Toby attended Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship based, in part, on their skill playing the trombone. They also earned a Master’s degree in education. Toby currently works as a musician, music teacher, and chef.
Click on the video image below to watch/listen. Or click here.
Reflection Questions
1. How does Toby’s story help you to better understand and empathize with young people navigating sex and gender today?
2. What is the postmodern view of biological sex characteristics (and gender)? Do you hold a similar or different view? What has influenced your understanding?
3. What is Toby’s favorite hymn and why?
Further Reading
I asked Toby what books or media have influenced them, as they have pondered sex and gender. A few of the sources they mentioned are:
Sarah Richardson, Sex Itself: The Search for Male & Female in the Human Genome
Cynthia Russett, Sexual Science: The Victorian Constuction of Womanhood
Thomas Laqueur, Making Sex: Body and Gender from the Greeks to Freud
In future posts on sex and gender, I will explore the differences between essentialism, constructivism, postmodernism as it relates to sex and gender.
Next up: The last video in this Gender Stories series is a discussion with Grace Thomas (who previously appeared in episode 2) on the topic of discerning God’s will. Stay tuned!
Join LGBTQ Christians, parents of LGBTQ children, pastors, and friends at the national CenterPeace Conference, a Christ-centered event you don’t want to miss!