The Gender Fairy
{{Short description|2015 picture book by Jo Hirst}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title =
| name = The Gender Fairy
| image = File:The Gender Fairy, children's book.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Cover
| author = Jo Hirst
| translator = Libby Wirt
| cover_artist =
| country = Australia
| language = English
| series =
| release_number =
| subject = Gender dysphoria in children
| genre =
| set_in =
| published = Balaclava, Victoria
| publisher = Oban Road Publishing
| publisher2 =
| pub_date = 2015
| media_type = Print
| pages = 35
| awards =
| isbn = 9780994457004
| isbn_note =
| oclc =
| dewey =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| website = [http://www.thegenderfairy.com/ www.thegenderfairy.com]
}}
The Gender Fairy is a 2015 picture book written by Jo Hirst and illustrated by Libby Wirt.
Background and synopsis
The Gender Fairy is an Australian book aimed at helping transgender children and their families,{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-01/new-book-helps-young-children-dealing-with-gender-dysphoria/6991060|title=The Gender Fairy: New book helps young children deal with gender dysphoria |date=1 December 2015|publisher=ABC News|access-date=28 March 2018}} inspired by Hirst's experiences as a mother to a transgender child.{{cite news |last=Hirst |first=Jo |date=27 March 2018 |title=Transgender children: doing it for the kids |work=Archer Magazine |url=http://archermagazine.com.au/2018/03/transgender-children/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031112801/https://archermagazine.com.au/2018/03/transgender-children/ |archive-date=31 October 2022}} The book's story is described as "a tale of two children who are taking their first joyful steps toward living as their true selves". The book is aimed as an educational resource for children aged four and up and is designed to be read aloud at home or in the classroom. The book aims to reassure transgender children, saying "only you know whether you are a boy or a girl. No one can tell you."
The book contains notes for teachers and parents compiled by academic Roz Ward.{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/marxist-roz-ward-now-victorian-school-lgbti-adviser/news-story/bcfc421e3d5c148775d282c2093deeaa|title=Marxist Roz Ward now Victorian school LGBTI adviser|date=23 May 2016|publisher=The Australian|access-date=17 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/news-and-views/opinion/why-attacks-on-safe-schools-founder-roz-ward-are-attacks-on-our-children-20160601-gp97ra.html|title=Why the attacks on Safe Schools founder Roz Ward are attacks on our children|date=2 June 2016|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=17 September 2017}} The foreword is written by paediatrician Michelle Telfer of the Centre for Adolescent Health, Gender Service at the Royal Children's Hospital.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-gender-fairy-a-new-chapter-in-transgender-education-for-kids-20151130-glbst8.html|title='The Gender Fairy': a new chapter in transgender education for kids|first=Miki|last=Perkins|date=2 December 2015|access-date=13 September 2017|via=The Age}}
Publishing and reception
The book, promoted by the Safe Schools Coalition,{{cite web|url=http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org.au/is-the-gender-fairy-in-your-school-library-5|title=Is 'The Gender Fairy' in your school library?|date=27 January 2016|work=Safe Schools Coalition|access-date=16 September 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329114810/http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org.au/is-the-gender-fairy-in-your-school-library-5|archive-date=29 March 2016}}{{Cite web| last = Bita| first = Natasha| title = Sexual politics in the classroom| access-date = 17 September 2017| date = 12 February 2016| url = http://at.theaustralian.com.au/link/bf58ff141ba0b08bf165e3d53cc8a055?domain=theaustralian.com.au| publisher = The Australian}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} was launched at St Kilda Primary School at an event attended by Victorian Minister for Equality Martin Foley who stated that "This book is about affirming trans children’s rights to be who they are, and if that means they’re happy, healthy, and engaged, and that their families are reconciled in support of that, that can only be a good thing."{{cite web|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/victoria-news/the-gender-fairy-aims-to-raise-awareness-around-trans-children/143627|title="The Gender Fairy" aims to raise awareness around trans children - Star Observer|website=www.starobserver.com.au|date=4 December 2015 |access-date=13 September 2017}}
The book has received widespread support from LGBTQ+ activists and some politicians. In November 2015, Senator Janet Rice, who was married to a transgender woman, praised the book in the Australian Senate.{{cite web|url=https://janet-rice.greensmps.org.au/articles/we-can-and-must-end-discrimination-trans-and-gender-diverse-people|title=We can and must end the discrimination of trans and gender diverse people|first=Sam|last=Drummond|date=25 November 2015|website=janet-rice.greensmps.org.au|access-date=13 September 2017}}
=Criticism=
The book has been the subject of criticism from conservative political figures and organisations. The author estimated in 2018 that since its publication, The Gender Fairy had been mentioned in three different Australian political elections, as well as the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. Lyle Shelton of the Australian Christian Lobby described the book's contents as "contested gender theory" in a 2016 criticism of the Safe Schools program.{{cite web|url=http://www.acl.org.au/claims_gender_fairy_is_totally_unrelated_to_safe_schools_untrue|title=Claims Gender Fairy is Totally Unrelated to Safe Schools Untrue|date=2 June 2016|author=Shelton, Lyle|publisher=The Australian Christian Lobby|access-date=17 September 2017}} The author has stated that the book is unrelated to the Safe Schools campaign, although it featured on the Safe Schools website.
During the 2016 Australian federal election flyers criticising the education policies of the Australian Labor Party were distributed to voters attacking the book as "gender bending political correctness", which they linked to "Labor's plan for education".{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/federal-election-2016-author-jo-hirst-slams-australian-christian-lobby-over-use-of-her-book-gender-fairy-20160705-gpyq2e.html|title=Federal election 2016: Author Jo Hirst slams Australian Christian Lobby over use of her book Gender Fairy|first=Tom|last=McIlroy|date=5 July 2016|access-date=13 September 2017|via=The Sydney Morning Herald}}
In September 2017 the book featured in a television ad, released in conjunction with the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey for the "No" campaign. The ad incorporates the words, "Only you know whether you are a boy or a girl".{{cite news|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/09/15/no-campaign-targets-gender-fairy-new-ad |title='No' campaign targets 'The Gender Fairy' in new ad |date=16 September 2017|work=SBS|access-date=16 September 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/antisamesex-marriage-groups-officially-launch-no-campaign/news-story/235e715af9152d7a4dca4449df21318f |title=Anti-same-sex marriage groups officially launch 'no' campaign |author=Brook, Benedict|date=16 September 2017|work=News Ltd|access-date=17 September 2017}} Cory Bernardi, the leader of the Australian Conservatives party, subsequently mentioned The Gender Fairy in a robocall during the postal survey.{{cite news|title=Cory Bernardi has voiced a robo call pushing the No vote|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/cory-bernardi-voices-robo-call-in-campaign-against-samesex-marriage/news-story/f2ba38da85f2b4646f47e38f0edced3e|access-date=13 April 2018|work=news.com.au}}
See also
{{Portal|Children's literature}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gender Fairy, The}}
Category:Controversies in Australia