The pernicious junk science stalking trans kids

[amanda is cute MK3]

https://thinkprogress.org/transgender-children-desistance-a5caf61fc5c6/  this is by Zack ford

[tracy_j]

An interesting article.

 

A very complex subject as children are very vulnerable and needing guidance at the same time as forming their own personalities and life. As a parent I can see reasons for many of the different approaches. I could say, I guess, I am lucky that it was never really brought up with my children, but it's never too easy whoever they are. Really a case of understanding them and helping / guiding, not pushing,  their individuality to live in society.

 

Tracy

[Cyndee]

Very good read.

 

Thanks

 

C -

[Charlize]

This is an excellent article.  I was surprised and pleased to see Dr Angello quotes.  She is my GT and her book is a good read especially for parents of non gender conforming children.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize 

[Briana]

Very interesting article.  As for the desistance myth - you bet may of us desisted as we grew up.  Getting teased, tormented, ostracized, abused, beaten, discriminated against etc. will stop you from doing most anything. 

[Timber Wolf]

If they had studied me from youth to adulthood, they would have said I desisted. Social pressure caused me to bury it all. But look at me now. I'm girl.

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf?

[amanda is cute MK3]

i liked it and thought others would be interested.  but i was interviewed for the article  

[Jani]

Amanda thank you for sharing your story for this article.  I understand it was hard for you.  Its important for others to read.  

BTW: You look beautiful!

 

Jani.

[Tejana]

Somewhat older thread, but I haven't been around much for awhile, so I just noticed it....

Interesting article from an online news website that is described as, “…an American news website. It is a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action), a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization.” {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThinkProgress]  However, I think that I would prefer to obtain the information that forms my own opinions from what is published in the scientific literature, rather than an agenda-driven popular-culture article.

I do contest that the notion of “gender-desisters” rises to mythological stature.  While the ratio of so-called desisters-to-persisters, may not translate out to 80%, I do think that there are a significant percentage of those (i.e., 5% or greater) who do come to genuinely embrace their natally-assigned gender w/o reservation.  As such, I would urge caution in the medical treatment of children/adolescents who are suspected to be transgender.

Certainly there are always criticisms of methodology attendant in any scientific study; I’ve never seen a study in which the methodology was not criticized by folks whose personally-held opinions were not supported (as well as for other reasons ).  Practically-speaking though, most-if-not-all research studies are subject to some degree of methodological expediency.  However, not to suggest that there are not valid methodological criticisms which can be considered and incorporated  into future studies. 

It seems to me that the % of gender-desisters found in any sample study will be directly-related to the accuracy of diagnoses (i.e., the more kids mis-diagnosed w/ gd/gid, the more so-called desister’s will be found).  Certainly it can be argued that previous studies were flawed from the “get-go” by  a mis-diagnosis which includes non-transgender kids in the research sample; however, I question whether  we can  just assume that transgenderism/transsexualism can be any more accurately diagnosed today, using the DSM-V or any other tool.  Time will tell, but until we are finally told I think it prudent to exercise judicious caution in the medical treatment of children suspected of being tg/ts.

[MarcieMarie12]

I think we are going to get to that point in the near future. But, both APA's, the AMA and various other major medical associations have come out in support of transition, and have warned that conversion therapy often leads to other bad outcomes (suicide, substance abuse, depression). There is a vast body of knowledge in those groups that would be more trustworthy than any one study. Also you really can't study this scientifically in a controlled manner, because as time goes on it will get harder and harder to keep the study participants in the study. Where are they 5 years, 10 years and so forth down the road. You also run into problems having a control group, and the cis-gender population is not a viable control group. You would need other transgender patients who you do not allow to transition (which is unethical).

[VickySGV]

2 hours ago, MarcieMarie12 said:

both APA's, the AMA and various other major medical associations have come out in support of transition, and have warned that conversion therapy often leads to other bad outcomes (suicide, substance abuse, depression).

 

Add in one major Endocrinology association to this one as well. 

 

A huge problem for running a control group where suspected Trans* people / children do not receive therapy or treatment and do develop the problems that my generation has fought on so many fields.  You would be doing harm for not providing treatment to the members of such a control group.  I have seen that conundrum notes in a number of studies that had addressed that problem.  With my growing list of friends that include Youth Transition Specialists in several renowned facilities, there is nothing hasty about their decisions or support plan recommendations, and their facilities also treat the whole family that will be in transition with their children.  I have one friend who spends a great deal of time with  parents only, and a mutual adolescent and pre-adolescent counselor friend who, along with colleagues in her practice, deals with the siblings of Trans* children.