National Geographic magazine, known for its iconic covers, is sparking debate on gender with its latest issue.

Avery Jackson, 9, is the first transgender individual to grace the cover of the 128-year-old magazine. The January issue focuses entirely on issues related to gender.

In an interview on 麻豆影视 Channel on Wednesday, National Geographic editor-in-chief Susan Goldberg said the magazine spoke with approximately 80 children from all over the world 鈥渁bout what it meant to be a boy and what it meant to be a girl.鈥�

She added: 鈥淭hey gave us amazing insights into the messages our societies send about gender.鈥�

Goldberg said the magazine tried to highlight how gender has either 鈥渉elped or hindered these children鈥� and added, 鈥渢he gender conversation is very profound, whether everybody wants to recognize that or not.鈥�

Featured alongside Avery鈥檚 cover photo was a quote from the Grade 4 activist: 鈥淭he best thing about being a girl is, now I don鈥檛 have to pretend to be a boy.鈥�

鈥淲e thought that was such a powerful statement, and it also put her kind of at ground zero for this debate going on about gender and this conversation,鈥� Goldberg said.

In an called 鈥淲hy We Put a Transgender Girl on the Cover of National Geographic,鈥� Goldberg pointed to mixed online reaction ranging from praise to some readers so enraged they threatened to cancel their subscription.

To help readers have an 鈥渋ntelligent conversation鈥� about gender issues, the magazine included a glossary of gender-related terms and a guide for parents on ways to speak to children about gender.

鈥淲e really view this whole thing as a way to have a thoughtful conversation about what in fact, is this huge and ongoing topic,鈥� Goldberg told 麻豆影视 Channel.

Other stories apart from Avery鈥檚 featured in the 鈥淕ender Revolution鈥� issue focus on the lives of girls in the developing world, including increased risk of child marriage, sexual assault, female genital mutilation and early pregnancy.

鈥淭he situation for girls in the developing world is really very sobering,鈥� Goldberg said, adding the magazine also put together a separate article that focused on girls living in the Western world.

Another story looks at 鈥渕anhood rituals鈥� from all over the world. Another feature looks at the 鈥渟cience鈥� of gender.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little more complicated than what we all found out in high school biology,鈥� Goldberg said.

The issue of gender will also be examined in an accompanying broadcast documentary called 鈥淕ender Revolution, a Journey with Katie Couric.鈥� The documentary will air on National Geographic on Feb. 6.