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Should Children be Allowed to Transition?

Discussion in 'Gender Identity and Expression' started by actualdust, Feb 20, 2017.

  1. actualdust

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    I've seen a lot of discourse and conflict over this lately, so I'm curious for opinions:

    Do you think children/minors should be legally allowed to medically transition? Why/why not?
     
  2. Daydreamer1

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    Absolutely, it should be an option. Hormone blockers aren't permanent, so if they decide it's not for them, they can stop.
     
  3. pinkclare

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    Absolutely. I believe withholding transition from someone who can benefit from it just because they are underage constitutes child abuse.
     
  4. Natasha Elyssa

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    I really don't see why not. A lot of the argument against it is purely speculation or fear about what could happen. The biggest points I've seen is "Oh they're too young! They don't know anything, they can't mutilate they're bodies! They can't make that kind of decision!" or the classic "They could regret it and want to change back later. They could end up realizing that they aren't really Trans. They could, they could, they could." And you can probably find lots of other claims like "These darn transsexuals are done gone around raping our women and children and now dey wan make our children freaks like derm?! No way hose-eh!" Which I've seen as well.

    But yeah, I would have loved to have been able to transition at a younger age. It probably would've been a lot harder for me in school and stuff, but I would've preferred it over where I am now. At least I'd be transitioned. Heck, I wish I could have transitioned the second I knew for sure I was Trans. I've been identifying as Trans for, like, three years now. I want to transition yesterday. I really wish there was nothing stopping me. But it's all about the what if's and what could happen. Not to mention transphobia. Even supportive parents are skeptical about letting they're children transition, imagine the transphobes' arguments against this.

    I honestly feel that if a child wants to transition, and it is definite that they are trans, they should be allowed to. Heck, it might even improve mental health statistics among trans people. It might also been seen as more of a vital or therapeutic thing, like a treatment for trans kids. Instead of zapping them into submission, perhaps letting them transition and live as who they are on the inside will be better for them. I know that I'd be in a better place if I could have transitioned when I was younger. But yeah, I'm all for it. I think it's great. It certainly would have put me in a better spot. I think children shouldn't be denied the opportunity. To be honest, no one's getting any younger here. If I'm going to transition in my late teens and through my 20s, then why couldn't I have done it when I was 13? This isn't a phase, it didn't go away. It only got stronger. Why stop people from transitioning, especially if they are going to inevitably do it anyway? I have no problem with letting kids transition. Like I said, I'm not getting any younger and I would have loved to have transitioned at a young age. I feel transitioning younger would improve their life later on. Less you have to worry about when you're in college and trying to pay bills. Less strain on yourself later on. And, most importantly, more time living freely as who you truly are.

    I've missed out on huge opportunities and real estate with this, and my transphobic family won't help with any of it. Who knows, maybe they'll make it so parents can't force their kids to not transition. I would kinda like to see that, but I know it would probably never happen. I kinda think of it as child abuse to try and suppress kid's natural feelings and desires. After experiencing abuse for many "reasons" in my life, I think no parent should be allowed to tell they're kids that they can't transition based off of what ifs, could happens, and bigotry. I'm not saying parents should be controlled by the government, arrested, or forced to pay for not openly allowing their kids to transition, but they shouldn't be allowed to tell them no for bogus reasons. I kinda wish I could be open about being Trans and be allowed to transition and have no one tell me no and nobody to stop me, and even have my parents be forced to pay for it and support me. But that's my biased opinion.

    TLDR: Overall, I do think children should be allowed to transition.
     
    #4 Natasha Elyssa, Feb 21, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2017
  5. anthracite

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    I think the way with hormone blockers is a good way, although girls should be able to start HRT sooner than us guys because their puberty starts earlier. I wonder what the rules are like for a name change because the kids should be able to do that soon because a child can't know about the effects it would have for their career if everyone knows that they are trans. They can out themselves as they wish but no earlier than 16.

    Also all the kids who went on blockers did decide for HRT.
     
  6. Mihael

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    The society should change and accept gender non-conformity in all forms, and no, one should not transition medically children, because a lot of people change their mind and self-understanding. Socially? Maybe. I think there is a huge lack of understanding first of all and treating it all... so superficially. In general. I wanted to transition when I was younger, and I changed my mind. Now I think people are dumb to be assholes to trans and gender non-conforming people.
     
  7. onlyhuman33

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    Personally, I do not think young children should be allowed to MEDICALLY transition. YIKES!! There I said it. First of all, children aren't neurologically developed enough to understand things that an adult can. Most of what I am reading are answers based on empathy and personal experiences. And as a trans girl, I can greatly appreciate that. But that form of empathy is something that we as older people have developed over the years. We weren't born with it. My 13-year-old daughter is autistic. She is VERY high functioning. However, she is just autistic enough that other children can't understand that she is autistic. They just see her as strange. So they bully her. Every adult that has had the honor of meeting her thinks she is amazing and one of the coolest people they have ever met (well, who am I to argue <3 <3 <3). See that is because our brains as an adult are much more developed than those of children. Thus, we don't have kids driving, voting, drinking, handling finances or anything else that is considered to be "adult" and has dire consequences.

    I think that if a young child identifies as the gender opposite of their biological gender, then the parent should really do no more that monitor it. Encourage the child to identify however they want to. Even if it means to let them use a different name than the one given to them at birth. If they want to use pronouns of the opposite gender, then fine. What's it going to hurt? Let them have the time and experiences needed to grow into the identity they most feel is them. You can allow your child to transition WITHOUT medication until they are at least 18. If it is an extreme case, and I mean REALLY extreme case, then I do think that the child should be prescribed puberty blockers, otherwise known as Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue, or GnRH analogues or puberty blockers. It is a WAY safer alternative than prescribing a child hormones or other blockers. It kinda buys the child and parents time to let everything develop mentally without putting the child through the physical changes that puberty would otherwise cause. So when the child reaches the reasonable age of 18 or older, they don't have to struggle with the task of undoing what puberty has done.

    I know this is not going to be too popular of a thought on this site with this community. The community that I love so dearly and am a part of. Please know that my ideas are thought out, researched (I did a term paper on transgender issues), and my own personal opinion. An opinion that is not going to be very popular. Please also know that I don't have any anger or hatred on this subject. I am NOT looking for a fight or argument. I'm one of those emotional "I love everyone" type of people, and am NOT a very good debater because I DO get emotional LOL. It took a lot for me to get the courage to even post this unpopular belief.
    So please, I just ask that you read it with an open mind, and if you disagree, that's cool. Just look at it as an opportunity to see a different view. That's all.
     
  8. Mihael

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    Very well explained, onlyhuman :slight_smile: I agree with everything you said about the issue.
     
  9. PrinceVegeta

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    Pretty much this. Yes.
     
  10. Irisviel

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    only if there was an imposed diagnosis procedure that would be constantly improved. So definitely a no to self identification. In fact I'm of that opinion for the adults as well, that is ideally one should get examined by a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist in order to be allowed to transition. With children that's all the more important to be accurate and reliable in choosing the treatment method. But yeah if that was the case then I suppose it would be alright.
     
  11. Aberrance

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    They should be allowed to socially transition to their hearts content but for anything physical they should be properly and thoroughly examined over a long period of time by specialists. Hormone blockers aren't made for long term use, they can affect bone density which is even more worrying in a young child still developing. I'd say unless gender dysphoria has been present for a number of years and they are direct in what they want then physical transition should be a no go until they're an adult and can give proper consent.
     
  12. onlyhuman33

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    Thank you emerry!!! I was so nervous that everyone would get angry at me for saying that. LOL!!!

    Even though they may not have agreed with my comments directly, I am glad to see that others agree that, maybe not for children, at least medically. I really didn't want to be the only one. LOL!!
     
  13. Kasey

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    Children are more aware and intelligent than people think. If a male bodied child keeps saying "I want a pretty dress" or "I'm a girl" then watch for signs. I understand that you can't just say "ok" at the first mention but when it becomes persistent... then something is real. More parents need to see this.
     
  14. anthracite

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    I'd like to add something to onlyhuman:
    What do you mean by extreme cases? See, a lot of FTM pass for tomboys. And what is an extreme case? There are two many trans people who cut themselves, attempt suicide or do drugs. If the chance that the diagnosis is correct is 90% (just an estimate, correct me if I'm wrong) that's 9 kids who will have a happy childhood and teenage years versus 1 who will have a few unhappy years (speaking about hormone blockers only whose effects are entirely reversible). Also you save the FTMs top surgery. Means a lot of pain, scars and occasionally the look is screwed.

    I read you're not up for debate, so if you don't feel like it, I won't mind if you don't answer. I appreciate your point of bone density though.
     
  15. onlyhuman33

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    Hi anthracite,

    Yeah, I really don't want to get into it, because it will just be an ongoing thing, and I don't want to do that. I have followed a lot of your advice on here and really enjoy everything you bring to this site. So yeah, I'm going to politely bow out of this with the utmost amount of respect.

    That being said, I think you did a great job of describing "extreme" as opposed to several temper tantrums putting on a dress. Also, I wasn't the one who mentioned anything about bone density. That was Aberrance.

    Hope this isn't too much of a letdown. But I'm the type of person that hears arguing and walks completely the other way LOL.

    Be well.
     
  16. TransDragon

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    As a teenager I say "H**l F***ing yes." I also believe we should be able to start HRT without a parent's permission. I'm sick of being uncomfortable with my own body and being afraid to come out to far right wing parents.
     
  17. Cailan

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    Several studies have shown that the large majority of prepubescent children who display or voice transgender feelings do *not* continue having those feelings after puberty (when their hormones come in) and end up cis as adults. So no, absolutely prepubescent children should *not* be allowed to medically transition. Most of them aren't actually trans!

    Using hormone blockers for those who are are entering hormonal puberty and are still feeling trans seems entirely sensible. If they can put off the physical effects until they are mature enough to be certain, then yes, they need to be allowed to transition.

    I would put the age at 15-16 for when medical transition should be allowed. By that time I would imagine the young adult would know for certain what gender is right.

    I don't consider teens to be children. I reserve the term "children" for pre-puberty and early puberty - up to the age of 13.
     
  18. jaska

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    nah, I don't think it's a good idea. Children and young teens are still at the age where they are experimenting and coming to know themselves. If say its ok to start puberty blockers if they start going through puberty, like 10 or 11, but HRT should definitely not be given until the person is 15 or 16 at the youngest I think. I know I started T when I was sixteen, but this was after 4 years of brutally questioning myself, talking to doctors and other trans people and thinking VERY honestly about what it will be like transitioning for the rest of my life. It's not something to be taken lightly at all, and kids brains are still developing at that age. If they make the wrong decision, which is more likely the younger they are, they could easily screw their natural puberty.
     
  19. BrookeVL

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    I think 15 is a good cut off. Before then, no. If there's a lot of signs, I suppose there's nothing wrong with puberty blockers.
     
  20. faigh amach

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    Yes I think that minors should be able to transition. Honestly, if we kinda have to choose the schools we go to ( which is somewhat a big deal ) and as teens, pick our future, and for me at least- get involved with bigger things than gender, such as the earth, politics, space, just big things that i'm to tired to remember, then gender shouldn't be a huge issue.
    Although I can see where some people can get at. Because if you change your mind you may not be able to back out of it. So if a kid thinks he/ she is trans, and transitions to male/female but changes their mind, How much could it cost for the family? I'm assuming that the medical work would cost quite a sum. So if they change their mind about it after they transition and wanna change back, that'll cost double.
    So maybe after a certain age, like 15/16. but basically yes. after a certain age.