Transgender youth
Encyclopedia
Transgender youth are child
ren and adolescents who identify as transgender
and/or transsexual. Because transgender youth are usually dependent on their parents for care, shelter, financial support, and other needs, and because most doctors are reluctant to provide medical treatments to them, transgender youth face different challenges related to their condition when compared to adults. Transgender conditions manifest at different times in life in different individuals. In most cases of gender identity disorder
(GID), the condition is often apparent in early childhood, when such a child may express behavior incongruent with and dissatisfaction related to his, or her assigned gender. However, many of these children experience rejection as a result of their differences and quickly attempt to repress them. Therefore, people who see these children regularly may be unaware that they are unhappy as members of their assigned gender.
According to the DSM-IV
, most children diagnosed with gender identity disorder
will establish an identity as a member of their assigned sex in adolescence or adulthood. However, it is known that many transgender and transsexual youth retain their trans identity in adulthood and the factual accuracy of the DSM, in regard to this matter, has been questioned.
until they feel that it is safe and appropriate to reveal their gender identity
to their parents and other family members and friends. This is probably justifiable, as parents usually have a great deal of influence in their children's lives, and many parents will react negatively to such news. However, some parents are very supportive when such news is broken to them. It may be impossible to predict a parent's reaction to such news, and the process is fraught with tension for many transsexual youths. Additionally, reactions of parents to transsexual children can change over time. For example, parents who initially reacted with negativity and hostility may eventually come around to support their transgender children. And parents who were initially supportive may later develop hostility toward their child's gender identity.
Transgender youths potentially face many hardships in obtaining medical treatment for their condition. Psychiatrists
and endocrinologists are generally reluctant to provide hormone therapy to youths under 16, and obtaining sex reassignment surgery
prior to the age of 18 is almost impossible in most countries. However, the latest revision of the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care
has addressed the needs of transgender children. Currently, the SOC allows for medications for prevention of puberty to be prescribed to these children as soon as the first signs of puberty become apparent.
of childhood is lost at this time, and transsexual youths see changes in their bodies that make them very uncomfortable.
When teens talk to parents about these feelings, how their parents respond makes a tremendous difference in how well the teen thrives. Transgender youths who are rejected by their families have lower self-esteem and are more isolated than youths whose families accept them, according to research by the Family Acceptance Project. They have poorer health and higher rates of depression, suicide, substance abuse problems and HIV infection. Those whose families and caregivers support and accept them fare much better overall.
In addition, many physicians insist that adolescents go through the puberty associated with their chromosomal sex before they prescribe hormones that could have prevented the feminization or masculinization of a transsexual man or transsexual woman, respectively. However, recent guidelines from The Endocrine Society "recommend that adolescents who fulfill readiness and eligibiity criteria for gender reassignment [as detailed in the Standards of Care of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health] initially undergo treatment to suppress pubertal development." They go on to specify that hormone treatment to suppress puberty should begin at the first signs of the physical changes of puberty.
. In some countries, schools are working to accommodate gender identity and expression by eliminating traditional gendered activities.
Families with a young child who may identify as a member of "the opposite" sex and who chooses to alter his or her gender role through dress or behaviors may respect their child's decision, and sometimes, may decide to relocate the child to another area in order to afford the young person the best opportunity to live in their desired gender role among a novel set of peers and community. This helps protect trans children from peer rejection, bullying, and harassment
.
Families who choose to continue living with such a child within an intolerant community which has had previous experience with the child as a member of his/her assigned sex, may face challenging issues. Gwen Araujo
of Newark, California
was a young person who was living as female, when she had been assigned to the male gender at birth. When her trans status was revealed at a party she attended, she became the victim of violent crimes that resulted in her death. Thankfully the Araujo case is an extreme one, however parents should be aware of the social implications of their transgender child living in an unsafe environment.
The film Ma Vie en Rose
(My Life in Pink) (1997) by Alain Berliner
depicts a similar scenario. Ludovic is a young child who is assigned male but who lives as a girl and tries to make others agree with her identification. Ludovic's "gender play" incurs conflict within the family and prejudice from the neighbors; in the end, the family had to relocate to a new community.
The 1999 documentary film Creature, directed by Parris Patton tells the story of Stacey "Hollywood" Dean, a young transsexual woman who grew up in rural North Carolina
. It follows her over four years and includes interviews with her conservative
Christian
parents.
n Socio-legal foundations for transgender youth were only recently established. Foundations were formed with the case 2004 Fam CA 297 ("Re Alex"). Re Alex examined the rights of a 13 year old born female to take hormonal treatment to facilitate “becoming” male. The courts gave the alias of Alex to protect [him]. Debate emerged over if it was the body or the mind that required treatment. Throughout the case a variety of views were expressed, this article attempts to cover a representative variety of the views.
Mr. Flemming put forward argument that if Alex was granted treatment it would follow that if someone deemed themselves to be a horse would society then be required to allow treatment to become a horse.
Associate Professor Jeffreys, a Political Science at the University of Melbourne argument disagrees with Flemming’s argument. Jeffreys argues that Gender Identity Dysphoria is a “fossil” and that there should be no correlation between body shape and right behaviour.
Senior Law Lecturer Millbank from Sydney University supported Jeffreys’ argument. Millbank argued that male roles are not fixed, a community in South Africa as an example. The community in question allows families without sons to give the oldest female the role traditionally assigned to the male. This means he will marry and take on traditional functions of the male.
Catholic Spokesman Mr. Campbell argued along a similar line to Flemming. Campbell claims that for a large number of people this is just a “stage” and will pass. Consistent with his argument he recommends psychotherapy treatment.
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren and adolescents who identify as transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
and/or transsexual. Because transgender youth are usually dependent on their parents for care, shelter, financial support, and other needs, and because most doctors are reluctant to provide medical treatments to them, transgender youth face different challenges related to their condition when compared to adults. Transgender conditions manifest at different times in life in different individuals. In most cases of gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria . It describes the symptoms related to transsexualism, as well as less severe manifestations of gender dysphoria...
(GID), the condition is often apparent in early childhood, when such a child may express behavior incongruent with and dissatisfaction related to his, or her assigned gender. However, many of these children experience rejection as a result of their differences and quickly attempt to repress them. Therefore, people who see these children regularly may be unaware that they are unhappy as members of their assigned gender.
According to the DSM-IV
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
, most children diagnosed with gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria . It describes the symptoms related to transsexualism, as well as less severe manifestations of gender dysphoria...
will establish an identity as a member of their assigned sex in adolescence or adulthood. However, it is known that many transgender and transsexual youth retain their trans identity in adulthood and the factual accuracy of the DSM, in regard to this matter, has been questioned.
Coming out
In many parts of the world, transgender and transsexualism are not widely accepted by the public. Therefore, transgender youths may feel that they need to remain in the closetThe Closet
The Closet may refer to:* The Closet , Chinese film* The Closet , French film* The closet, referring to undisclosed homosexuality- See also :* Closet* Closet * In the closet...
until they feel that it is safe and appropriate to reveal their gender identity
Gender identity
A gender identity is the way in which an individual self-identifies with a gender category, for example, as being either a man or a woman, or in some cases being neither, which can be distinct from biological sex. Basic gender identity is usually formed by age three and is extremely difficult to...
to their parents and other family members and friends. This is probably justifiable, as parents usually have a great deal of influence in their children's lives, and many parents will react negatively to such news. However, some parents are very supportive when such news is broken to them. It may be impossible to predict a parent's reaction to such news, and the process is fraught with tension for many transsexual youths. Additionally, reactions of parents to transsexual children can change over time. For example, parents who initially reacted with negativity and hostility may eventually come around to support their transgender children. And parents who were initially supportive may later develop hostility toward their child's gender identity.
Transgender youths potentially face many hardships in obtaining medical treatment for their condition. Psychiatrists
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and endocrinologists are generally reluctant to provide hormone therapy to youths under 16, and obtaining sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
prior to the age of 18 is almost impossible in most countries. However, the latest revision of the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care
Standards of care for gender identity disorders
The Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People are non-binding protocols outlining the usual treatment for individuals who wish to undergo hormonal or surgical transition to the other sex...
has addressed the needs of transgender children. Currently, the SOC allows for medications for prevention of puberty to be prescribed to these children as soon as the first signs of puberty become apparent.
Puberty
Puberty is a very difficult time for almost all transsexual youths, and many other transgender youths as well. Puberty is often considered to be a difficult time for everyone in many ways. But unlike their peers, who may be excited about bodily changes and thrilled with growing up, transsexual teenagers are appalled by the changes that take place. While their peers may seem to be happy about going through puberty, the changes that they are experiencing do not feel right. The androgynyAndrogyny
Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ, stem ανδρ- and γυνή , referring to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics...
of childhood is lost at this time, and transsexual youths see changes in their bodies that make them very uncomfortable.
When teens talk to parents about these feelings, how their parents respond makes a tremendous difference in how well the teen thrives. Transgender youths who are rejected by their families have lower self-esteem and are more isolated than youths whose families accept them, according to research by the Family Acceptance Project. They have poorer health and higher rates of depression, suicide, substance abuse problems and HIV infection. Those whose families and caregivers support and accept them fare much better overall.
In addition, many physicians insist that adolescents go through the puberty associated with their chromosomal sex before they prescribe hormones that could have prevented the feminization or masculinization of a transsexual man or transsexual woman, respectively. However, recent guidelines from The Endocrine Society "recommend that adolescents who fulfill readiness and eligibiity criteria for gender reassignment [as detailed in the Standards of Care of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health] initially undergo treatment to suppress pubertal development." They go on to specify that hormone treatment to suppress puberty should begin at the first signs of the physical changes of puberty.
Ensuring the child's security
In recent years, some transgender children have received counseling and, in some cases, medical treatment for their condition, as well as the ability to change their gender roleGender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
. In some countries, schools are working to accommodate gender identity and expression by eliminating traditional gendered activities.
Families with a young child who may identify as a member of "the opposite" sex and who chooses to alter his or her gender role through dress or behaviors may respect their child's decision, and sometimes, may decide to relocate the child to another area in order to afford the young person the best opportunity to live in their desired gender role among a novel set of peers and community. This helps protect trans children from peer rejection, bullying, and harassment
Harassment
Harassment covers a wide range of behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behaviour intended to disturb or upset, and it is characteristically repetitive. In the legal sense, it is intentional behaviour which is found threatening or disturbing...
.
Families who choose to continue living with such a child within an intolerant community which has had previous experience with the child as a member of his/her assigned sex, may face challenging issues. Gwen Araujo
Gwen Araujo
Gwen Amber Rose Araujo , born Edward Araujo, Jr., an American teenage pre-operative transgender woman, was murdered in Newark, California, in October 2002. She was killed by four men, with two of whom she had been sexually intimate, who beat and strangled her after discovering she was transgender...
of Newark, California
Newark, California
Newark is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It was incorporated as a city in September 1955. Newark is an enclave, completely surrounded by the city of Fremont. Its population was 42,573 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
was a young person who was living as female, when she had been assigned to the male gender at birth. When her trans status was revealed at a party she attended, she became the victim of violent crimes that resulted in her death. Thankfully the Araujo case is an extreme one, however parents should be aware of the social implications of their transgender child living in an unsafe environment.
The film Ma Vie en Rose
Ma vie en rose
Ma vie en rose is a 1997 Belgian film directed by Alain Berliner. It tells the story of Ludovic , a child who was born male but consistently insists that she is supposed to be a girl...
(My Life in Pink) (1997) by Alain Berliner
Alain Berliner
Alain Berliner is a Belgian director best known for the 1997 film Ma vie en rose, which won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 55th Golden Globe Awards in 1998...
depicts a similar scenario. Ludovic is a young child who is assigned male but who lives as a girl and tries to make others agree with her identification. Ludovic's "gender play" incurs conflict within the family and prejudice from the neighbors; in the end, the family had to relocate to a new community.
The 1999 documentary film Creature, directed by Parris Patton tells the story of Stacey "Hollywood" Dean, a young transsexual woman who grew up in rural North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It follows her over four years and includes interviews with her conservative
Conservative Christianity
Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
parents.
Socio-Legal Perspectives
The AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Socio-legal foundations for transgender youth were only recently established. Foundations were formed with the case 2004 Fam CA 297 ("Re Alex"). Re Alex examined the rights of a 13 year old born female to take hormonal treatment to facilitate “becoming” male. The courts gave the alias of Alex to protect [him]. Debate emerged over if it was the body or the mind that required treatment. Throughout the case a variety of views were expressed, this article attempts to cover a representative variety of the views.
Mr. Flemming put forward argument that if Alex was granted treatment it would follow that if someone deemed themselves to be a horse would society then be required to allow treatment to become a horse.
Associate Professor Jeffreys, a Political Science at the University of Melbourne argument disagrees with Flemming’s argument. Jeffreys argues that Gender Identity Dysphoria is a “fossil” and that there should be no correlation between body shape and right behaviour.
Senior Law Lecturer Millbank from Sydney University supported Jeffreys’ argument. Millbank argued that male roles are not fixed, a community in South Africa as an example. The community in question allows families without sons to give the oldest female the role traditionally assigned to the male. This means he will marry and take on traditional functions of the male.
Catholic Spokesman Mr. Campbell argued along a similar line to Flemming. Campbell claims that for a large number of people this is just a “stage” and will pass. Consistent with his argument he recommends psychotherapy treatment.
Outcomes
Recent research has shown that in carefully selected patients, people who transition young suffer few ill effects, and maintain a higher level of functioning than before transition. Additionally, results of treatment are considered better when it is offered at an earlier age.External links
- Antijen - Support site for transgender youth. Includes sample letters to parents, articles, and links.
- Trans Youth Network National movement based in the UK run by and for transgender youth. Provides information and social support, online support via message boards and runs a network of regional groups.
- Mermaids - A UK based family support group for children and teenagers with gender identity issues. Includes resources for international transgender youth.
- Gender Odyssey Family An annual conference in Seattle, USA for families who are working to navigate the day-to-day realities of raising a gender non-conforming or transgender child. The conference includes special programming for trans teens and youth.
- TransActive- Provides counseling, case management, medical referrals, education, advocacy and support to transgender and gender non-conforming children, youth and their families. We also provide education to schools, social service agencies, health care providers, community groups and others.
- If You Are Concerned About Your Child's Gender Behaviors: A Parent guide. A publication of Children's National Medical Center
- Why Don't you Tell Them I'm a Boy Article on raising a gender non-conforming (transmasculine) child by Florence Dillon.
- Gender SpectrumGender SpectrumGender Spectrum is a Bay Area-based non-profit organization whose mission is to create more gender-sensitive and -inclusive environments for all people, including especially gender non-conforming and transgender youth. Gender Spectrum provides education, resources, and structured training sessions...
- support and information site for families of transgender and gender non-conforming children and teens. - TransFamily - support group for transgender and transsexual people, their parents, partners, children, other family members, friends, and supportive others.
- TransYouth Family Allies- Support and information for families with children 3-18 who's gender expression differs from expectations of their assigned birth sex.
- http://www.sagatucson.org SAGA Youth and Family - Support and advocacy program for transgender and gender-variant children and youth, their families, and their communities.
- ABC News: Understanding Transgender Children
- Helping Your Transgender Teen Resources for Parents of Transgender Teens