Why TrueChild
TrueChild's work is founded on one, simple fact: three decades of research have documented clear and strong links between gender stereotypes and harm to young people in three key areas: reproductive health, academic achievement, and youth-on-youth violence. This will not be news to any parent with a teenager at home during the "gender intensification" years, a period in late adolescence and early teens, when desire to fit into traditional gender roles accelerates, and belief in narrow gender norms intensifies (Hill & Lynch, 1983).
There is an emerging consensus among researchers that remediating disparities among the most disadvantaged youth populations requires moving advocacy organizations, community leadership, and policy-makers to incorporate a specific policy focus on gender norms.
Our Vision
TrueChild envisions a world where every child can break through gender stereotypes, so they can be their true selves and reach their full potential.
Who We Are
TrueChild was created by a group of concerned parents and experts who wanted to ensure children could achieve their full potential and not be held back by narrow stereotypes for boys and girls.
TrueChild is a research and action center devoted to challenging and transforming gender stereotypes and their impact on young people so they achieve their full potential. We are particularly concerned with the challenges faced by at-risk or disadvantaged youth, like those who are of color or LGBT.
What We Do
We are working with local partners around the country to develop more effective interventions, convene experts and practitioners, and change policies to challenge and transform gender norms and their impact on children and adolescents – including issues such as reproductive health (HIV AIDS/Safe Sex), Bullying/Violence (Intimate Partner Violence [IPV], youth-on-youth and homophobic violence), and Academic Achievement (STEM and boys' dropout rates).
We have assembled a who's who list of the leading researchers and academics in these fields – our TrueChild Experts (www.truechild.org/ourexperts) – to help bring this research to bear and implement specific policy changes. TrueChild:
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Conducts applied research that improves "best practices" standards in health and prevention
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Builds networks of experts, policy-makers and community-based organizations across regions and disciplines
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Educates policy-makers and strengthens leadership in gender and health issues among disadvantaged youth
As a thought leader, TrueChild's unique role is pulling together all the pieces in one place – policy, research, organizing, and media – to make other organizations and programs more effective.
Foundation & Corporate Support
Bastian Foundation
David Geffen Foundation
Ford Foundation
ING Foundation
John Lee Fund
Novo Foundation
Open Society Institute
Overbrook Foundation
Queer Consciousness Fund
Small Change Fund
Snowdon Foundation
Contact Us
TrueChild
(t) 202.462.6610
(f) 202.462.6744
1731 Connecticut Avenue NW
Fourth floor
Washington, DC 20009
View Our Brochure
