Policies recognizing gender-neutrality and non-binary identities are needed in youth development programs to create a truly inclusive program and a sense of belonging for all youth. This study explored if and how written statewide policies regarding gender- neutrality can most effectively serve members, agents, and volunteers of the 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study. The context of this study was the 4-H program in one state (agents and administrators as participants) and 4-H programs around the United States (administrators as participants).Preliminary qualitative and quantitative data from my research study indicated that agents in the state under study recognized an immediate need for written policies regarding gender neutrality, but the administrators did not. Agents working with youth expressed concerns about professional development, guidance, and written guidelines, but administrators had not produced any over several years. Administrators indicated that they were handling issues as they came up and had made the program inclusive. The lack of members identifying or known as transgender, non-binary, or gender-questioning contradicted the administrators’ statements of a welcome and inclusive environment. A notable disconnect existed between what county agents indicated was needed and wanted, and what administrators stated should be provided. Based on data and analysis, I recommended a statewide written policy was necessary to create a truly inclusive, equal opportunity 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study.
","abstract_html":"<p>Policies recognizing gender-neutrality and non-binary identities are needed in youth development programs to create a truly inclusive program and a sense of belonging for all youth. This study explored if and how written statewide policies regarding gender- neutrality can most effectively serve members, agents, and volunteers of the 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study. The context of this study was the 4-H program in one state (agents and administrators as participants) and 4-H programs around the United States (administrators as participants).Preliminary qualitative and quantitative data from my research study indicated that agents in the state under study recognized an immediate need for written policies regarding gender neutrality, but the administrators did not. Agents working with youth expressed concerns about professional development, guidance, and written guidelines, but administrators had not produced any over several years. Administrators indicated that they were handling issues as they came up and had made the program inclusive. The lack of members identifying or known as transgender, non-binary, or gender-questioning contradicted the administrators’ statements of a welcome and inclusive environment. A notable disconnect existed between what county agents indicated was needed and wanted, and what administrators stated should be provided. Based on data and analysis, I recommended a statewide written policy was necessary to create a truly inclusive, equal opportunity 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Moores, Nancy Ann"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ed.D. Doctor of Education","degree_level":"Dissertation - Public Access","degree_discipline":"Higher Education Leadership","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Lorrie Butler","Dr. Carla Sparks"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2022,"date_issued":"2022-04-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2022-04-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:05Z","subjects":["Gender Neutrality","Youth Development","Transgender","Belonging","Inclusive","Equity","Gender Equity in Education"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/677","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Lorrie Butler","Dr. Carla Sparks"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Moores, Nancy Ann"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2022-07-05T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Higher Education Leadership"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation - Public Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Gender Neutrality","Youth Development","Transgender","Belonging","Inclusive","Equity","Gender Equity in Education"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/677"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Policies recognizing gender-neutrality and non-binary identities are needed in youth development programs to create a truly inclusive program and a sense of belonging for all youth. This study explored if and how written statewide policies regarding gender- neutrality can most effectively serve members, agents, and volunteers of the 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study. The context of this study was the 4-H program in one state (agents and administrators as participants) and 4-H programs around the United States (administrators as participants).Preliminary qualitative and quantitative data from my research study indicated that agents in the state under study recognized an immediate need for written policies regarding gender neutrality, but the administrators did not. Agents working with youth expressed concerns about professional development, guidance, and written guidelines, but administrators had not produced any over several years. Administrators indicated that they were handling issues as they came up and had made the program inclusive. The lack of members identifying or known as transgender, non-binary, or gender-questioning contradicted the administrators’ statements of a welcome and inclusive environment. A notable disconnect existed between what county agents indicated was needed and wanted, and what administrators stated should be provided. Based on data and analysis, I recommended a statewide written policy was necessary to create a truly inclusive, equal opportunity 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Need for a Gender Neutrality Policy in One State's 4-H Program"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Lorrie Butler","Dr. Carla Sparks"],"dc:creator":["Moores, Nancy Ann"],"dc:date.available":["2022-07-05T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Policies recognizing gender-neutrality and non-binary identities are needed in youth development programs to create a truly inclusive program and a sense of belonging for all youth. This study explored if and how written statewide policies regarding gender- neutrality can most effectively serve members, agents, and volunteers of the 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study. The context of this study was the 4-H program in one state (agents and administrators as participants) and 4-H programs around the United States (administrators as participants).Preliminary qualitative and quantitative data from my research study indicated that agents in the state under study recognized an immediate need for written policies regarding gender neutrality, but the administrators did not. Agents working with youth expressed concerns about professional development, guidance, and written guidelines, but administrators had not produced any over several years. Administrators indicated that they were handling issues as they came up and had made the program inclusive. The lack of members identifying or known as transgender, non-binary, or gender-questioning contradicted the administrators’ statements of a welcome and inclusive environment. A notable disconnect existed between what county agents indicated was needed and wanted, and what administrators stated should be provided. Based on data and analysis, I recommended a statewide written policy was necessary to create a truly inclusive, equal opportunity 4-H Youth Development Program in the state under study.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/677"],"dc:subject":["Gender Neutrality","Youth Development","Transgender","Belonging","Inclusive","Equity","Gender Equity in Education"],"dc:title":["The Need for a Gender Neutrality Policy in One State's 4-H Program"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Higher Education Leadership"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation - Public Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ed.D. Doctor of Education"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:21:05Z"}