‘What would they say?’

How would she feel if she found out that her son wants to be a girl? Wonder if she has any idea if I am different from Bhaiya? She, Dad and Bhaiya would be so embarrassed. What would they do to me? Wouldn’t my telling them only bring anger, shame, hurt and guilt? At least, right now, only I am the one suffering.

But two years is too long to be hiding my true self. I’m so tired of sneaking around, trying on dresses, experimenting with make-up, alone in my bathroom for no one to see. It is so strange. I fear getting caught, yet I want to get caught. I am meant to be a she and now this ‘she’ wants to be seen by everyone!

‘For how long?’

This urge to come out is so strong; I can barely contain myself. Last month I chanced upon a documentary about a teen transgender in America. She transitioned into a boy by the time she was 17.  This made me wonder, how long would I have to be stuck in this body? When would I become a girl on the outside? I’m already going through puberty and I hate it! I’m getting hair on parts of my body where I don’t want any, my voice has changed and I can see my Adam’s apple. Eeeeew! 

‘I’ll talk to her’

Some days are tougher, I don’t see the point of living if I can’t be the ‘me’ I want to be.  Trapped! I tried talking to Aisha at school last week but couldn’t get her alone. She is my best friend and I’m sure she’ll get what I’m going through. It would mean the world to me to finally have someone safe to confide in. Yup, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll catch Aisha alone and talk to her. 

Would you like to share your feelings with TeenBook? Send us your thoughts in the comments box! Remember, not to put any personal information in the comment box.

It’s June and Aahana (13) has seen several rainbow flags on her Instagram page. She wasn’t really sure what country the flag belonged to and why was everyone posting it in June! Should she ask mom?

A people’s flag 

‘Mom which country has a flag with rainbow colours? And what is the meaning of Happy Pride month?’ Aahana asked her mother as she was working on her laptop. 

Tahira has been working from home for the past three months now. It was Friday today and she was about to wrap up her work for the day. 

‘So many questions in one go! What have you been upto?’ quizzed Tahira, shutting her laptop. 

‘Mom, actually I saw it on your phone on my Insta account. Many of our school seniors have also put rainflow-themed colours on their profiles. People are using happy pride month and LGBT hashtags. What does it all mean?’, Aahana could not control her curiosity! 

‘Aahana, the rainbow flag is not a flag for any country. It’s a flag that represents a group of people, irrespective of their country and everyone is using it to celebrate the Pride Month, which is marked every year in June. It is celebrated by the LGBT community and everyone else who supports them. Let me explain to you about everything in detail. One by one.’ 

‘OK mom, I have all the time today!’ 

The king and the king

‘So Aahana, we have all grown up listening to stories where there was a king and a queen, or a princess and a prince, Romeo and Juliet or Aladdin and Jasmine, right? They fall in love, have families, and live happily ever after. Right?’, Tahira said. 

‘Right mom, I used to love such stories. Why don’t you tell me stories now?’ Aahana mocked. 

‘I am now Aahana, only if you listen! Now, let’s think about another scenario. What will the story be when a king and another king live together, or two princesses who fall in love with each other, or say Aladdin does not fall in love with princess Jasmine but the genie instead? Have you ever thought about this possibility?’ Tahira asked. 

‘Wow mom, it would be so much fun! But you are right, I never thought about this possibility. You mean it is possible for two men to have a family and a woman to like another woman and not a man!’ Aahana was surprised. 

‘Yes, exactly. That is possible. It’s common to feel attracted to someone from the same gender. It’s possible that boys are attracted to boys and girls attracted to girls,’ explained Tahira. 

People who fall in love with persons of their own sex are known as homosexuals or Lesbian, Gay or Bisexuals depending on who they like.  

Transgender is a slightly different identity. Here, a person who is born with a certain sex, does not identify with it. For example, if you were born as a female but you felt more like a boy, you would be described as a transgender. 

Pride month in June 

‘So, let’s come to Pride month now. People from the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trangender) community all wound the world celebrate the month of June as Pride Month. They take out marches, have events, concerts and feel happy and proud of what they are. Global Pride Day is celebrated on June 27,’ Tahira said. 

‘Can anyone join their marches?’ Aahana asked. 

‘Yes  even if you do not belong to the LGBT community but want to show support, you are welcome to join the celebrations as an ally or a friend. It is an opportunity to show support to your friends from the community, to listen to them and learn more about their lives,’ Tahira explained. 

‘Is it celebrated in India too?’ Aahana asked. 

‘Yes, it is very much celebrated in India. Pride marches are now held in most big cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru since almost two decades now. It is also held in other cities like Bhubaneswar, Kerala, Bhopal Surat, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Gurgugram and even Dehradun!’ said Tahira. 

‘Mom, when is the Delhi pride parade happening?’ 

‘I don’t think it is happening this year. Unfortunately, in 2020,  a lot of celebrations will be moved online to keep to social distancing rules because of the COVID-19 pandemic,’ Tahira answered. 

‘Hmm, sad. I wish I could see one Pride parade one day. It will be so much fun! 

‘We can surely go for the one next year’, Tahira assured Aahana. 

A peep into the past

‘But mom, how did it all start – I mean the Pride month celebrations?’ Aahana’s questions were not over yet. 

‘Good question!’ 

‘Well, it has a bit of a sad start, all the way back on June 28, 1969 when police raided a gay bar in New York and arrested people because being a gay was not accepted at that time. It was looked down upon even in America. People revolted and the riots that kicked off that day lasted for three days. These riots then paved the way for the movement for the rights of LGBT community not only in the US but also in other countries,’ explained Tahira. 

The colours of unity

‘How fascinating Mom, but how did the rainbow flag come about?,’ asked Tahira. 

‘That I do not know honestly! Let me Google,’ Tahira said as she picked her phone to check. 

‘So Aahana, in 1978, artist and designer Gilbert Baker designed the first rainbow flag for San Francisco’s Pride month celebrations. The colours of the rainbow represent many groups within the LGBT community,’ Tahira said reading from her mobile. 

‘Oh such a pretty symbol for unity!  I feel so enlightened today! It really helps to have these chats with you,’ Aahana said hugging her mom. 

And also, can we please order pizza today to celebrate the Pride month?’ Aahana chuckled. 

‘Let’s make one at home today! What do you say? We can try making a rainbow pizza!’ Tahira smiled and pulled Aahana to the kitchen with her. 

Do you have any questions that are bothering you?  Share with us in the comments box below. Remember no rude words or personal information in the comment box! 

Diversity is not a chapter in a textbook. It is sitting next to you in class, eating lunch with you, walking home the same way. This resource follows one classroom through one week and what they slowly began to notice.

Day 1 (Monday): Bodies are not all the same

ABILITY AND BODY DIVERSITY

Sports period began with running laps.

Aarav finished first and got a loud “Well done.” Meera finished last and got a quiet whisper from someone behind her. “She is so unfit.” Meera pretended not to hear.

Kabir did not run at all. He uses leg braces and long runs are painful. Two boys muttered, “Lucky guy, free period.” Kabir stared at the ground.

Later that day, badminton matches began. Meera won every round. Aarav lost in the second. Kabir turned out to be the best strategist on the team.

By the end of the day, “fit” did not look so simple anymore.

What is a disability?

Some people are born with a disability. Others develop one later in life due to illness, injury, or other reasons. A disability is not a disease or a character flaw, it simply means that a person may find certain tasks more difficult than others their age.

Disability can be physical (difficulty with walking, seeing, or hearing), cognitive or learning-related (like dyslexia or difficulty with comprehension), or emotional and behavioural (difficulty recognising or expressing emotions).

A disability is one part of a person’s life, it does not define them. Naina uses a wheelchair and is also the funniest mimic in the room. Kabir uses leg braces and is the sharpest strategist on the team.

Body diversity is broader than disability

Skin colour, height, weight, hair type, the way someone walks or speaks, these are all part of how bodies vary. Commenting on someone’s skin being “too dark”, their body being “too fat” or “too thin”, or their hair being “too rough” is not a joke. It causes real harm.

In India, there is enormous pressure on teens, especially girls, around skin tone and body shape. These standards are not natural. They are learned, and they can be unlearned.

Day 2 (Tuesday): Names, pronouns and gender

GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION

Tanmay, 14

“What does everyone mean I should dress like a girl? Everything seems to be for him or for her. Sure, I was born as a girl. But I have never felt like one.”

Tuesday morning. Attendance.

The teacher calls a name. Silence. She repeats it. A few students laugh. Tanmay feels that familiar knot in his stomach.

After class, he quietly tells the teacher the name and pronouns he wants used. The teacher listens. The next day, she corrects herself. A friend corrects someone else.

It is a small shift. But Tanmay walks a little straighter.

Sex and gender: Two different things

When a baby is born, they are assigned either male or female based on the appearance of their body. This is called their biological sex.

Gender is different. Gender is how a person feels about themselves, their inner sense of who they are. For many people, their gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth. For others, it does not.

Words to know

• Cisgender (or cis): A person whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. A boy who feels like a boy. A girl who feels like a girl.
• Transgender (or trans): A person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. A person assigned female at birth who identifies as a boy is a transman. A person assigned male at birth who identifies as a girl is a transwoman.
• Gender expression: How someone expresses their gender through clothing, behaviour, or appearance — this may or may not match their gender identity
• Non-binary: Some people do not identify strictly as a boy or a girl. They may identify as both, neither, or somewhere in between

You cannot tell someone’s gender by looking at them. You cannot assume it from their clothing or their name. The only way to know is if they tell you.

Understanding gender may take time for anyone. People explore and discover who they are throughout their lives. That is completely normal.

Day 3 (Wednesday): A Rainbow of Choices

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Wednesday lunch. “Future husband alert,” someone teases Nisha.

She laughs. Then stops.

“I… actually like girls.”

The table goes silent for three seconds that feel like thirty.

Then Zoya says: “Okay. So are we ordering momos or not?”

The teasing never returns. Sometimes acceptance is not dramatic. It is calm.

Aarav, 15

“Sahil told me he liked me. I was confused. Not upset, just… I had never thought about it before. I realised I did not have to have all the answers right away.”

What is sexual orientation?

As we grow up, we may find ourselves attracted to people romantically, emotionally, or physically. Who we feel that attraction toward is called our sexual orientation.

Words to know

• Heterosexual (straight): Attraction to people of a different gender. For example, a girl who is attracted to boys
• Homosexual (gay or lesbian): Attraction to people of the same gender. When this is between two males, it is called a gay relationship. Between two females, it is called a lesbian relationship.
• Bisexual: Attraction to both males and females
• Asexual: Little or no sexual attraction to anyone — this is also a valid orientation

It is common to feel attracted to someone of the same gender while growing up. It is also completely okay if you do not feel strongly attracted to anyone at all. Everyone’s experience is different, and you are allowed to take your time to understand yours.

Orientation is not a choice. It is not a phase that needs to be fixed. It is simply a part of who someone is.

Day 4(Thursday): Different ways of feeling

EMOTIONAL DIVERSITY

Thursday. Maths test results.

Riya cries in the corridor. Kabir jokes about failing. Aman goes completely quiet. Zoya says she does not care but checks her marks again and again.

Same marksheet. Four completely different reactions.

None of them are wrong.

Why do people react so differently?

Emotions are universal. Everyone feels joy, sadness, fear, and frustration. But how we express and manage those emotions varies enormously from person to person.

Some people were raised in families where expressing feelings openly was normal. Others learned early that it was safer to keep feelings inside. Neither approach is right or wrong, they are simply different.

When someone responds to a situation in a way that seems strange to you, it does not mean they are being dramatic or indifferent. It means they are coping in the way that makes sense to them.

Day 5 (Friday): Brains Work Differently

NEURODIVERSITY AND LEARNING

Friday. Rohit cannot stop tapping his foot during class.

“Sit properly,” the teacher says.

After a parent-teacher meeting, the school learns that Rohit has ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Movement actually helps him focus. After some small adjustments like short breaks and a slightly different seat, his grades improve steadily.

The issue was never effort. It was understanding.

What is neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in how human brains work. Most people are neurotypical their brains work in ways that match most standard expectations. Some people are neurodivergent their brains work differently.

This includes conditions like ADHD (difficulty with sustained attention and impulse control), dyslexia (difficulty with reading and writing), autism (different ways of processing social interaction and sensory input), and others.

Neurodivergent people are not less intelligent. They often have exceptional strengths in specific areas. What they need is understanding, not fixing.

Also: intelligence is not one thing

Group project day in 10B showed this clearly. Ananya writes beautifully but panics while presenting. Kabir struggles in written tests but explains ideas out loud with ease. Pooja designs the entire presentation quietly, without saying much.

The project works because of all three.

Exams measure one narrow kind of performance. They do not measure creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership, empathy, or the hundreds of other ways people are brilliant.

Day 6(Saturday): Faith, Culture and Everyday Respect

RELIGION, CASTE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

At a class celebration, Sameer offers sweets to Ayesha. She refuses quietly. Someone jokes. Neha explains that Ayesha is fasting for Ramzan.

Later, Ayesha says softly: “It gets tiring explaining every time.”

The group nods. Next time, no one jokes.

India is extraordinarily diverse

India has hundreds of languages, dozens of religions, thousands of castes and communities, and an enormous variety of customs, foods, and traditions. What is normal in one family may be completely unfamiliar in another even within the same city or school.

This diversity is one of India’s greatest strengths. It also means that classrooms will always contain people whose lives, backgrounds, and practices look very different from your own.

A word about caste

Caste is a system of social hierarchy that has existed in India for centuries. It has caused and continues to cause real harm to millions of people, particularly those from Dalit and other marginalised communities.

In school, caste discrimination can show up as exclusion, slurs, assumptions about ability, or being treated differently by peers or teachers. This is wrong, legally and morally.

If you witness caste-based discrimination, do not stay silent. Speak to a Trusted Adult. If it is happening to you, know that what is being done to you is unjust and that you deserve support.

Day 7 (Sunday): Different homes, different realities

FAMILY STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL DIVERSITY

Weekend plans in 10B. Riya needs permission for everything. Zoya has no curfew. Aman has to babysit his younger siblings. Arjun cannot afford the café everyone wants to go to.

At first it feels unfair. Then someone suggests a free park meet-up instead.

No one is left out.

Why this matters

Not everyone in your class has the same access to money, freedom, time or technology. This does not make anyone better or worse. It simply means that some things that feel casual to you (a café meetup, a school trip, a new phone) may feel stressful or impossible to someone else.

Making a comment about someone’s phone being old, their bag being worn, or their clothes being from last year is unkind, even as a joke. You rarely know the full story of someone else’s life.

When Being Different Hurts

BULLYING, EXCLUSION AND ONLINE HARM

Anonymous

“It’s hard. I have always been teased for looking different. At this new school, someone posted rude comments on my Snapchat. I feel very lonely. Why did I have to be different? I am not sure what to do.”

Being different in how you look, how you feel, who you are attracted to, how your brain works, what you believe, can sometimes make you a target. That is not fair. And it is not something you have to manage alone.

What counts as bullying?

Bullying is repeated, deliberate behaviour that causes someone harm. It can be physical (hitting, pushing), verbal (name-calling, taunting), social (excluding someone, spreading rumours), or online (posting hurtful comments, sharing private images, sending threatening messages).

All of these are serious. Online bullying, sometimes called cyberbullying, can feel especially hard to escape because it follows you home.

What you can do

If something hurtful happens online, a cruel comment, a rude post, something shared without your permission, close the app, screenshot it if safe to do so, and tell a Trusted Adult as soon as possible. You do not have to respond to the person who posted it.

If you are being bullied at school, tell a teacher, counsellor, or parent. If the first person you tell does not help, tell another. Keep going until someone takes it seriously.

If you see someone else being bullied or excluded because of who they are, do not stay silent. Even saying “that’s not okay” makes a difference.

Trusted Adults: Who They Are and When to Go to Them

Across all of these topics like gender, orientation, disability, faith, family, bullying, there will be moments when you have questions, feel confused, or need support that goes beyond what you can handle alone.

That is what Trusted Adults are for.

Who is a Trusted Adult?

A Trusted Adult is someone older than you who is knowledgeable, honest, and genuinely has your best interests at heart. They might be a parent or guardian, an older sibling or cousin, a grandparent, a teacher, or a school counsellor.

Not every adult will give you the right answers or react in the way you hope. If one Trusted Adult does not respond well, find another. You deserve someone who listens.

When should you go to a Trusted Adult?

Go when you are being bullied or excluded because of who you are. Go when something hurtful happens online. Go when you are struggling with questions about your gender or orientation and do not know where to turn. Go when you see someone else being treated unjustly and do not know what to do.

You do not need to have the full picture figured out before you speak. You can simply say: “Something is happening and I need help understanding it.” That is enough.

Quick Summary: What Diversity Actually Means

About bodies

Bodies grow differently. Disability is not a flaw. There is no perfect teen body. Comments about appearance, skin colour, size, or ability cause real harm.

About gender

Sex and gender are not the same thing. Gender is how someone feels about themselves. Use the name and pronouns people ask you to use. You do not need to understand someone’s gender to respect it.

About sexual orientation

Orientation, who someone is attracted to, is a natural part of who they are. It is not a choice and not a phase. Be calm and kind if someone comes out to you. Never out someone else.

About emotions and learning

People feel and process things differently. Brains work in different ways. Neurodivergent people are not less capable. Exams do not measure everything.

About faith and culture

India is deeply diverse. Respecting someone’s practices does not require understanding them. Caste-based discrimination is wrong and should be reported.

About financial difference

Not everyone has the same access to money, time, or freedom. Plan with awareness. Do not comment on what people have or do not have.

About being different

Being targeted for who you are is not your fault. Bullying, including online, should be reported to a Trusted Adult. You do not have to manage it alone.

About Trusted Adults

For any of the above — questions, confusion, hurt, or injustice, find a Trusted Adult and talk to them. It is always okay to ask for help.

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What’s going on?

Honestly, I’ve been feeling so weird lately because every time Rhea is around, I get this crazy mix of excitement and nerves, so I finally decided to talk to Mira didi about it. She told me it’s totally normal to have a crush—which is such a funny name for it, but I actually really like the feeling! She explained that we’re growing up and starting puberty, which means a lot of changes in our bodies and how we feel.

My mom actually gave me “the talk” yesterday too and mentioned the same thing. She warned me about the typical stuff like pimples, body hair, and body odor, but she didn’t really mention the part about catching feelings or falling for someone, which is honestly the most interesting part of the whole thing!

It’s the hormones dear!

Charu texted me again today. I think she’s actually losing it at that hostel because she’s writing to me every day now. She’s mostly just venting about her skin completely freaking out. She woke up with these massive spots on her chin and is basically terrified to leave her room. Honestly, I totally get it. I feel like I’m constantly checking the mirror for a breakout lately too.

But the worst part is how clumsy I’ve gotten. My legs feel way too long for my body all of a sudden, and I literally tripped over my own feet right in front of Rohan yesterday. He actually caught my arm to steady me, and I swear I just stopped breathing. I’m so worried that I’ll forget how to walk or even speak the next time I see him. My brain is honestly glitching. I guess this is just how things are going to be now.

Got it. Period!

You actually won’t believe the timing, but I had the biggest heart attack at my sister’s party yesterday. I looked down and saw this huge red stain on my dress—I seriously thought I’d sat in something or spilled a drink and was so stressed everyone was staring at me. Then I realized… it was actually my first period.

I was honestly so freaked out and had to have my mom help me deal with it in the bathroom, which was kind of awkward, but she was actually really chill about it. It’s just so weird that it’s finally happening. I’m still kind of processing that this is my life now!

The hair and the bear

So, my birthday party last night was actually really good. But honestly, the wildest part of the weekend was this morning. I was looking in the bathroom mirror and realized I’m starting to grow hair in places I definitely didn’t have it a month ago. I feel like I’m turning into a bear or something overnight.

Also, my voice has gotten way deeper in just the last few days. I seriously thought I just had a sore throat that was taking forever to go away, but then it clicked, this is actually puberty hitting. It’s kind of a weird realization that everything is changing this fast.

It’s not for me!

Well, I mean. I am not so sure about all of this. I mean I don’t feel like a girl or a boy. I never have! And I don’t have these changes happening to me. And I am not sure I even want them!

It’s not a race!

I was scrolling through Instagram today and ended up on Aditi’s new vacation photos. It was honestly kind of a reality check. She looks so much older all of a sudden, and she’s already wearing these actual swimsuits that I definitely couldn’t pull off yet. I ended up looking at myself in the mirror for way too long afterward just wondering when I’m finally going to look like that.

It’s so frustrating because it feels like everyone else got this secret update over the summer and I’m just stuck. I know it’s stupid to compare myself to a photo, but I can’t help feeling like a kid while everyone else is moving on. I’m just waiting for the day I actually wake up and feel like things are starting to change for me, too.

Different For All

None of us are alike, so how can our puberty be? Puberty happens to different people at different times. There is no ‘correct time’ for these changes to take place. It’s completely ok to have signs of puberty early on or later. So, don’t worry if you are experiencing or not experiencing these changes yet.

Build Your Network

Puberty can bring in many changes. Some can be exciting and great, others difficult and challenging. But you don’t have to go through puberty alone. It can be made easier and less stressful by focusing on your strengths and building a support network of trusted adults.

These are a group of people who care about you like your parents, teacher, an elder sibling or grandparents. Trusted adults can guide you by providing you correct information, telling you what to do or share their own experiences. These are the people you can reach out to when you are confused, sad or need advice.

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