1. No category

TRANSGENDER
CHILDREN:
BEYOND THE MYTHS
Prepared by:
Julie Temple Newhook, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University
A Learning
Opportunity
for
Professionals
who work with
Young
Children
MYTH#1: “HUMAN BEINGS ONLY
COME IN PINK AND BLUE”
Gender Identity:
an individual's deeply felt internal
and individual experience of gender 1 : a core aspect of an
individual’s sense of self. 2 Researchers do not know the
exact origins of gender identity, but it appears to have a
strong biological component, most likely located in the
brain. 3 , 4 , 5
Some people identify as women
or girls, some as men or boys, others
somewhere in between, as a combination
of genders, or as no gender.
Gender diversity is
normal and healthy. 2,3,5,6
MYTH #2: “YOU ARE DEFINED BY
YOUR CHROMOSOMES”
In fact, biologists have been arguing for
decades that sex itself is a
spectrum . 7
A 2015 review of the biological basis
for sex asked, “Should sex be assigned
by anatomy, hormones, cells or
chromosomes, and what should be done if they clash?”
The conclusion was that
deciding factor.
gender identity
is the
“In other words, if you want to know whether someone is
male or female, it may be best just to ask.” 8
MYTH #3:
“BEING TRANSGENDER IS A DISORDER”
Transgender:
a term to describe a person whose gender
identity differs from what others expect of their assigned sex. 1
Some Aboriginal people use the term “two-spirited.”
Transgender children may also be called gender creative,
gender diverse, gender independent, gender non-conforming,
or gender variant. 4
Once pathologized as a mental disorder, we now
know that being transgender or gender diverse
Is simply a normal part of human diversity. 2 , 4 , 6
Transgender people existed throughout
history and live today in all parts of the world . 9
Researchers estimate that 1 in 300 people are transgender. 1 0
DR. DIANE EHRENSAFT
Dr. Diane Ehrensaft, clinical psychologist, talks about the
origins of gender diversity.
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/teenager/sexuality/
transgender/where-gender-non-conformity-comes?qtmore_videos=1#qt-more_videos
MYTH #4: “KIDS ARE TOO YOUNG TO
REALLY KNOW WHO THEY ARE”
Transgender people have long
described awareness of their gender
identities from a very young age. 1 1
Now, current research confirms that
children become aware of their
gender identity by the age of
3 to 5 years. 12
It is often at this age that young
transgender children try to express
their sense of discomfort with their
assigned gender. 3 , 4
MYTH #5: “IT’S JUST A PHASE!”
YES, it could be. It is very common for children to
experiment with gender occasionally in play or dress, or to
go through a phase of resisting gender-stereotyped
expectations.
Researchers estimate that for 2-8% of children, gender
diversity is more than a phase: they regularly express their
gender differently from how others expect. 1 3 Most of these
children would not be considered transgender: kids who
simply enjoy play or dress different from gender
stereotypes usually continue to identify with their assigned
gender. However, these children may still need support to
express themselves freely. 2 , 3 , 4
“BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A
CHILD IS TRANSGENDER?”
There is no way to know
for certain
how any child will identify
as an adult. 5
However, a child
may be considered
transgender
when they
insistently,
consistently,
persistently
identify as a
gender other than
how they were
assigned
at birth. 3 , 4
MYTH #6:
“THOSE KIDS ARE JUST CONFUSED”
Transgender identity is NOT
confusion, or pretending, or simply
wanting a perceived advantage of
another gender.
Psychological research shows that
transgender children’s gender
identity is just as consistent
and deeply held as that of
cisgender children.
This research has found that on
both self-reported and subconscious
measures of gender identity,
transgender girls are indistinguishable
from cisgender girls, and transgender
boys are indistinguishable from
cisgender boys. 1 2
DR. KRISTINA OLSON
“Sometimes we hear from parents that the parent says, ‘Well, you
could just be a boy who likes to wear dresses,’ and the kid says,
‘No, it’s not the dress. I am a girl.’ …That seems to be the crucial
difference between a boy who likes a girly things and a boy who is
saying, ‘I am a girl.'” In other words, not every kid who explores or
experiments with gender is necessarily transgender, but when they
do assert a gender identity, it’s a very authentic experience.”
Dr. Kristina Olson
Psychological Scientist
Director,
Social Cognitive Development
Lab
University of Washington
htt p:/ / kuow. org/post/when-do ki ds-know-th ey-re-transgenderyounger-you d-think
MYTH #7: “YOU SHOULDN’T
ENCOURAGE KIDS TO BE DIFFERENT”
Interventions that try to force children to deny their gender
identity are now considered harmful, unethical, and an abuse of
power and authority. 2 , 9
Recent research shows that genderdiverse children who are
pressured to conform have higher
rates of behavioural and emotional
health problems than those who are
supported and affirmed. 1 3
A provincial study in Ontario
revealed that the majority (57%) of
transgender youth who lacked parental support had attempted
suicide in the previous year. 1 4 Strong support from parents
reduced attempted suicide rates by 93% . 1 4
MYTH #8: “KIDS ARE TOO YOUNG TO
TRANSITION… WHAT IF THEY REGRET IT?”
Social Transition:
Changing pronouns,
name, clothing or appearance to better fit
a child’s gender identity. Social transition
can greatly improve a transgender child’s
emotional well-being. 3 , 5 , 6
A small number of children who socially
transition may later decide to revert to
their assigned gender. However, if these
children are supported, this second
transition need not cause undue distress,
but can be accepted as part of the journey
of clarifying the child’s gender identity. 1 6
Ultimately, there are no guarantees as to
how a child will identify as they grow, but
by listening to them, we can understand
how to best support them for what they
need right now. 6
Children do best if they are loved and suppor4ed for who they are, not for who we ex8ected them to be. MYTH #9: “BUT I’VE NEVER MET A
TRANSGENDER CHILD!”
You may have worked with young
children for a long time without recognizing
a transgender child.
Transgender children are an
population. 1 7
invisible
Because of the lack of awareness of gender
diversity in our society, transgender kids
may not recognize their gender identity
until later in life. Even when children are
aware of their gender diversity, they may
hide their identities from their schools,
communities, and even their families. 4 , 1 8
AND IF YOU STILL THINK YOU’VE
NEVER MET A TRANSGENDER CHILD…
MAY I PLEASE INTRODUCE…
With gratitude to members of Canadian Parents of Gender Creative Kids/
Parents des enfants transgenres canadiens, and their wonderful children!
Sofia, 5
Mathieu, 2
Ben, 11
Emery, 4
Sarah, 3½
Rylan d, 6
¡  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHCqnux2fk
BEYOND MYTHS: HOW CAN WE SUPPORT
CHILDREN’S GENDER DIVERSITY?
ALL children benefit from reducing gender stereotypes. 2
¡  Respect every child’s gender identity. Ask children’s preferred
pronouns and name, and use them.
¡  Support parents in affirming their child’s gender identity and
supporting their child’s gender expression.
¡  Use gender-inclusive language and avoid dividing children by
gender, e.g. into groups of girls and boys.
¡  Avoid gender stereotyping – e.g clothes are just clothes, not
“boy’s clothes” and “girl’s clothes”
¡  Stand up to transphobia, homophobia, and sexism .
FINAL WORDS
On December 28 t h , 2014, 17-year old Leelah Alcorn, of Ohio,
wrote a suicide note. She revealed that her parents had refused
to recognize her as a girl, and she did not believe her life could
ever be worth living. After posting her note, she walked onto a
highway and brutally ended her life in the path of a tractor trailer.
Her final words were
“Fix society. Please.” 1 9
RESOURCES
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
CHILDREN’S GENDER DIVERSITY
Gender Creative Kids Canada http://www.gendercreativekids.ca
Rainbow Health Ontario http://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca
Gender Spectrum (U.S.) http://www.genderspectrum.org
Supporting Transgender and Gender Creative Youth (2014),
by E. Meyer and A. Pullen Sansfaçon
The Transgender Child (2008), by S. Brill & R. Pepper
Gender Born, Gender Made (2011), by D. Ehrensaft
CHILDREN’S BOOKS CELEBRATING
GENDER DIVERSITY
J a c o b ' s N e w D re s s
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I Am Jazz
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1 0 , 0 0 0 D re s s e s
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Th e B o y w h o c r i e d Fa b u l o u s
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M y Pr i n c e s s B o y
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I t ' s O k a y t o B e D i ff e re n t
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B e W h o Yo u A re
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W h e n Kat h y i s Ke i t h
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PARENT SUPPORT GROUP
National, confidential, bilingual on-line peer
support group for parents of gender diverse/
transgender children and youth
For more information, e-mail
[email protected] or visit
https://www.facebook.com/
canadianparentsofgendercreativekids
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For their thoughtful reviews and encouragement,
many thanks to Rob Sinnott, Cara Lewis, and members of
Canadian Parents of Gender Creative Kids/
Parents des enfants transgenres canadiens
Gender Creative Kids Canada
and
Parents of Gender Creative Kids – Newfoundland and
Labrador
REFERENCES
1 Ontario Human Rights Commission. (2014). Gender identity and
gender expression (brochure).
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/gender-identity-and-gender-expressionbrochure
2 Canadian Association of Social Workers/Canadian Association for
Social Work Education. (2015). Joint Statement on the Affirmation
of Gender Diverse Children and Youth.
http://www.casw-acts.ca/en/joint-statement-affirmation-genderdiverse-children-and-youth
3 Brill, S. & Pepper, R. (2008). The Transgender Child: A Handbook
for Families and Professionals. San Francisco, CA: Cleis Press Inc.
4 Ehrensaft, D. (2011). Gender Born, Gender Made: Raising Healthy
Gender Non-Conforming Children. New York: The Experiment.
REFERENCES
5 Erickson-Schroth, L., Gilbert, M.A., & Smith, T.E. (2014). Sex and
gender development. In Erickson-Schroth, L. (Ed.) Trans Bodies, Trans
Selves. (pp. 80-101). New York: Oxford University Press.
6 Pyne, J. Rainbow Health Ontario. (2014). Fact Sheet: Supporting
Gender Independent Children and Their Families.
http://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/admin/contentEngine/
contentDocuments/Gender_Independent_Children_final.pdf
7 Heggie, V. (2015). Nature and sex redefined – we have never been
binary. The Guardian. Feb. 19 t h , 2015.
http://www.theguardian.com/science/the-h-word/2015/feb/19/
nature-sex-redefined-we-have-never-been-binary
8 Ainsworth, C. (2015). Sex redefined. Nature. 518. doi:
10.1038/518288a
REFERENCES
9 WPATH (2011). Standards of care: For the health of transsexual,
transgender and gender non-conforming people. 7th edition.
World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
10 Gates, G. (2011). How many people are LGBT? Los Angeles:
UCLA School of Law, Williams Institute. http://
www3.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/pdf/How-many-people-areLGBT-Final.pdf
11 Manning, K., Pullen Sansfaçon, A., and Meyer, E. (2014).
Introduction. (pp.1-12) In E. Meyer and A. Pullen Sansfaçon (Eds.),
Supporting Transgender and Gender Creative Youth (pp. 111-127).
New York: Peter Lang Publishing.
12 Olson, K. (2015). Transgender kids show consistent gender
identity across measures. Association for Psychological Science.
[News Release]. http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/
news/releases/transgender-kids-show-consistent-gender-identityacross-measures.html
REFERENCES
13 Moller, B., Schrier, H., Li, A. and Romer, G. (2009). Gender identity
disorder in children and adolescents. Current Problems in Pediatric
and Adolescent Health Care. 39(5): 117-143.
14 Hill, D.B., Menvielle, E.J., Sica, K.M. & Johnson, A. (2010). An
affirmative intervention for families with gender variant children:
Parental ratings of child mental health and gender. Journal of Sex &
Marital Therapy. 36(1): 6-23.
15 Travers, R., Bauer, G., Pyne, J., Bradley, K., Gale, L. &
Papadimitriou, M. (2012). Impacts of strong parental support for
trans youth: A report prepared for Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
and Delisle Youth Services.
http://transpulseproject.ca/research/impacts-of-strong-parentalsupport-for-trans-youth/
16 Edward-Leepers, L. and Spack, N.P. (2012). Psychological
evaluation and medical treatment of transgender youth in an
interdisciplinary “Gender Management Service” (GeMS) in a major
pediatric center. Journal of Homosexuality, 59(3): 321-336.
REFERENCES
17 Hellen, M. (2009) Transgender children in schools. Liminalis:
Journal for Sex/Gender Emancipation and Resistance. 81-99.
18 Susset, Françoise. (2014). Between a rock and a hard place:
The experience of parents of gender non-conforming boys. In E.
Meyer and A. Pullen Sansfaçon (Eds.), Supporting Transgender
and Gender Creative Youth (pp. 111-127). New York: Peter Lang
Publishing.
19 Pyne, J. (2015). “Fix Society. Please.” Now Toronto.
https://nowtoronto.com/news/leelah-alcorn-fix-society-not-transpeople/