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  Case: Don't Hold Hands
Ade and Elsa are two 7th grade girls from Indonesia who joined our school couple months ago. I teach them Physical Science. They have well-developed English skills. Although they have an accent, they can communicate with teachers and fellow students. I am very sensitive to the needs of newly-arrived immigrant students, so I paid close attention when I heard rumors from other students about them. Students started spreading that Ade and Elsa were in a lesbian relationship. Apparently Ade and Elsa heard about the rumors; they came to me in tears. I asked them to tell me what was going on. What I found out was very interesting. Ade and Elsa have known each other since they were small children and they have always been best friends. Their families decided to move to the US together. Their fathers applied for jobs in the same company. They both received offers and moved together. Ade and Elsa were excited about going to the same school in US and continuing their friendship. In Indonesia, same-gender friends holding hands is very common and indicates friendship. When children at our school saw Ade and Elsa holding hands they thought that Ade and Elsa were in a lesbian relationship. I have to do something about this. I see two options before me: I will explain to the children in my classes that friends holding hands in some cultures is completely normal, or I will tell Ade and Elsa to not hold hands to avoid these rumors. The second option seems culturally insensitive, but if Ade and Elsa continue holding hands, rumors will continue even if I explain to my students the cultural side of their friendship. What should I do? If you have an original solution to this issue, please advice.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I would start by talking to girls about why the rumors are being spread and I would be very careful to let them know they haven't done anything wrong but it is just the way many Americans see things. I wouldn't tell them to stop holding hands because that is a decision for them to make.

I would also ask them what they would like for me to do. I would offer to have a discussion with the entire class about the different ways people show friendship in different cultures. From what is said the the case study it sounds like there is a fairly large immigrant population so maybe some other immigrant students would be willing to talk about the things that are different in their culture (but I would NOT force anyone to share or put anyone on the spot).

I think I would also go to the principal about it and look into the possibility of having a school assembly concerning this because just talking to your one class about other cultures won't do much to change the whole student population's views. I think something needs to be done on a much larger scale.