"I'm not trying to feminize anybody. I'm trying to insist on wholeness for both our boys and our girls." This is the message conveyed by the speaker, who admires the masculinity displayed by the first responders during 9-11. They believe that one can be tough, strong, brave, and have a big heart all at the same time. The speaker wants to challenge the societal norms that divide people based on gender and aims to promote inclusivity and understanding. They emphasize the need for a gender literacy among influential figures in children's lives, such as parents, teachers, and coaches, to allow young people to be true to themselves.
Writer Ben James and his wife Oona are raising their sons in a progressive and “queer-friendly” New England town. They actively encourage the boys to be themselves, never mind those traditional gender norms around “masculinity” and “femininity.” All was well. Until the elder son, Huck, went to sixth grade. Story by Ben James, with hosts Celeste Headlee and John Biewen, and psychologist Terrence Real.
Music by Alex Weston, Evgueni and Sacha Galperine, Blue Dot Sessions, and Kevin MacLeod. Music and production help from Joe Augustine at Narrative Music.