A community learning space for parents, caregivers, and educators who want to raise children who celebrate femininity — in all its forms.
About This Program
We Are Family is an evidence-informed parenting program designed to help families understand and respond to femmephobia — the cultural stigma and devaluing of femininity that shapes children's experiences from a very early age.
Through workshops, a companion workbook, and community-shared examples, this program gives you the language, knowledge, and practical tools to create an environment where every child can thrive — regardless of how they express their gender.
This program was developed by Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin, Dr. Toni Serafini, Dr. Karen L. Blair, & Dr. Nancie Im-Bolter at St. Jerome’s University and Trent University, with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
What's Inside
Interactive Workbook
Explore the companion workbook online — with reflective activities, community-shared examples, and QR-linked pages.
Workbook Activities
Each QR code in the printed workbook connects you to a community page — explore others' examples and add your own.
Upcoming Workshops
Join a facilitated session — online or in person — to work through the program with a community of parents and caregivers.
How to Use This Program
This program is designed to be flexible — work through it at your own pace, alone, with a partner, or in a group.
- Get the workbook — Beyond Sugar & Spice: A Parenting Workbook for Valuing Femininity in All Children is the hands-on companion to this program, with reflective activities, examples, and QR codes that connect you to this site.
- Read and reflect — Work through the workbook at your own pace. Each section combines research, reflection prompts, and practical exercises.
- Share and explore — Use the QR codes in your workbook to contribute your examples and read what others across the community have shared.
- Join a workshop — For a guided experience, attend one of our facilitated sessions online or in your community.
About the Artwork
Visual artwork featured in this program was created by Cindy Zhang, a multidisciplinary illustrator and forensic biology graduate from Trent University. Cindy's work brings together science, story, and emotion — capturing the heart of what it means to grow, question, and connect. Their illustrations in the We Are Family Parenting Workbook help bring complex ideas to life in playful, accessible ways — reflecting the joy and depth of parenting conversations that make space for every child to thrive.
With Thanks
The development and offering of the We Are Family Parenting Program was made possible with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Psychological Association, the AMTD Foundation, Trent University, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
© We Are Family, 2026
