Should we introduce children to the concept of transgender people? The answer is yes according to an article published in the December 2010 issue of the peer-reviewed Graduate Journal of Social Science.
The article by Natacha Kennedy and Mark Hellen, entitled "Transgender Children: More Than a Theoretical Challenge," was developed from a paper presented at the November 2009 conference "Transgender Studies & Theories: Building Up the Field in a Nordic Context" held at Linkoping University in Sweden.
Critics will cry that introducing all children to the concept of transgender people will cause children to "become transgender." But the authors found that schooling has little impact on gender identity development in children. In fact, children who develop a transgender identity seem to do so in spite of often unwitting but nevertheless pervasive efforts by schools to enforce gender conformity.
Kennedy and Hellen believe that school efforts do have a consequence, however. Transgender children learn very quickly that being transgender is "not acceptable," and so they conceal their identity, even from family members, to avoid suffering socially. As a result of fearfully suppressing their identity for such a long period, "many of these children achieve well below their abilities at school, leave school early, are more likely to self-harm or attempt suicide, and more likely to suffer from mental health issues in early adulthood."
By having schools introduce the concept of transgender people to all children, the authors assert, transgender children will "feel they are not alone and that their gender identity is as valid as any other." This will, in turn, greatly diminish the damaging consequences currently observed as these children mature.
Most studies have been based on direct observations of transgender children. In this case, the researchers instead surveyed transgender adults about their childhoods and then correlated their results with other research. One of the interesting results is a conclusion that there are many more children who conceal their non-conforming gender identities through childhood -- so-called "non-apparent" children -- than those who clearly identify as transgender as children.
Children themselves were not queried for the study because "there are ethical difficulties associated with obtaining data from children who may not be 'out' to their parents." Additionally, the authors felt asking children to participate in any study could result in an unrepresentative sample skewed toward "apparent" transgender children.
The authors found that roughly three-quarters of transgender people were aware of being transgender before leaving elementary school, and there was "an average delay of 7.5 years between becoming aware of one's transgender or gender variant nature, and learning any words with which to describe it." This means "many transgender children go through most, if not all, of their time in compulsory education knowing their gender identity is different from that expected of them."
On the strength of this finding, the authors argue:
If a school system tried to coerce any other group of individuals to become people they are not, to regard an inner core of their identities as illegitimate, and prevent them from expressing their identities freely, particularly from a very young age, it would be characterized as barbaric. ... The [resulting] internalization of self-hatred, guilt, self-doubt and low self-esteem in childhood affects transgender people throughout their lives. Any education system, or indeed society, which allows this state of affairs to continue is neither fully inclusive nor fully humane.
That's harsh criticism certain to draw the attention of educators. Also likely to speak up are mental health professionals, who have traditionally landed on the side of "it's usually just a phase" in their work regarding transgender children. Regardless, the article opens a new chapter in the dialogue about transgender children, one that is certain to lead to greater progress for all transgender people.
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We teach our children the definition of hatred and bigotry in school. I would think about the time we teach them about the differences between a male and a female would be an ideal time to teach them about transgender individuals. To intentionally avoid the topic makes children assume that there is something wrong with it.
Either way, studies have already proven that you cannot make a child a gender they are not. Look up the man in the story "As Nature Made Him"; they already PURPOSEFULLY tried to raise a boy as a girl, and it did not work. It wasn't the first (failed) attempt, either. Teaching kids about transgender people CERTAINLY will not affect their sense of gender.
The faster we teach kids to accept people who are different (especially since these differences don't harm anyone), the sooner violence fueled by ignorance can wane... and hopefully end.
Thank you for being a reasonable voice of support for trans issues. I wish more people spoke out in support...
It is fact of life for s segment of our population, and most people realize very ealry in their life that the sex they were given at conception is not the one they really should be. My personal (and only) experience is with a friend's child who was adamant she was a boy as early a 6 years old. Upon reaching puberty she took to taping her breasts and wearing oversize sweatshirts to hide her developing curves.
The child underwent two years of extensive psychotherapy, and was signed off on her top half surgery when she turned 16. With the help of hormones, she is now effectively a boy -but for the lack of a penis that is.
That kid went through hell in school, and it took a lot of fortitude on her mother's part to help him through the process, especially after he obtained a corrected birth certificate and started using the boys' restrooms and was ostracized from both male and female locker rooms. Teachers refused to discuss the change, students taunted and teased, other parents pushed for the child to be expelled. Ultimately, my friend found an different, alternative, progressive (and very expensive) private school and the rest is history...for now.
Bottom line is, we (the adults) shape them (the children) and define the kind of society we will become. Talk is important. It demystifies the "unknown". Let's do more of it.
Support and education should rule the day, not superstition and ignorance.
Grow up and learn to tolerate the difference within us all. Learn to accept there are differences and to understand them.
There are good Americans I know but start becoming a Country and show leadership and getting on rather than them against us - R vs D.
Transgender and Transsexual numbers are growing day by day and it starts at CONCEPTION not age 10 - 14.
Guess I will never get a Green card now huh?
Hormones play an incredibly important role in the sexual differentiation of the fetus, and that isn't a controversial statement. It's basic physiology.
And, just to complete the set, "extremely rare" is a rhetorical cop out.
My 10 & 8 year hold daughters, as well as their young cousins have transgender people in their immediate family. They are growing up in a world with these issues but at least at home and with their family all they see is love from their aunt or from their mom respectively. They don't see a "concept"
I had my first transgender friend when I was twelve.