In This Paper, I Will Discuss Transgender Children, Specifically

Internal conflict is something that the transgender community knows all too well. Feeling as though you are living in the wrong body can do serious damage to the way that someone sees themselves. One of the hardest time for transgender teens is puberty. Researchers have said that “This is a particularly hard age, since the body begins to change and adapt gender specific features (breasts, changes in genitals, menses, etc..). Transgender individuals have reported “I was disgusted by (hair, breasts…etc)” (Ami B. Kaplan, 2014). It already puts a child or teen under great stress to see themselves living life as a gender they feel is completely wrong, but, as puberty begins to hit and they see this body changing it only increases that self-hatred that slowly builds. Even though transitioning can be the best decision a transgender person might make, it can still be just as difficult to finalize this. Many transgender youth have said that they have “Fears about finding a partner, feelings about having to experience surgeries, hormones, (and for MTF transsexuals) facial hair removal and voice changes, and fears about violence and prejudice when one is read transgender”(Ami B. Kaplan, 2014). Even when the option to transition arises, doubt may still linger. Some transgender youth that have gone through with transitioning face many issues emotionally such as “Disappointment that transitioning didn’t solve all problems, level of satisfaction with appearance, level of satisfaction

Attempting suicide is an epidemic in the United States; especially when 41% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide compared 1.6% of the general population (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). Due to this, the question of whether or not transgender youth have a harder, more straining adolescence than their cisgender counterparts rises. Although adolescence can be hard on everyone, experiences such as a school environment, puberty, laws that guarantee protection, family and social acceptance of transgender youth are harder than those of their cisgender counterparts (harder does not necessarily mean correlate with strenuous, the use of harder is aiming more towards different, costly, and possibly more confusing). The revolution for transgender lives is just beginning, change is happening. But in order for change to occur, adequate information on the material needs to be discussed and terminology must be defined and questions must be answered. Questions such as: what do the terms transgender and cisgender actually mean? Why is it important to know the difference between the two terms? What is the difference between transsexual and transgender?

Over the past years there has been many phases of the struggle of being transgendered especially those of color. Transgender women of color have higher rates of murder and homelessness. Several states don’t even offer no legal protection in employment, health care, housing and other areas where these people face discrimination. We must realize the current phase which is equal rights, and we need to address the views of the public and make a change. Several people look at transgenders differently especially in cultures. Different individuals have a broad range of different beliefs about gender, not to mention that different cultures have their own way of defining feminine and masculine. Whether we view someone as transgender it really just depends

In her article A Boy’s Life, Hanna Rosin gives us a glimpse at what some of these transgender children go through. As she follows the life of Brandon (later called Bridget), she unveils a range of hurdles that kids like him and his parents must overcome. Problems like social rejection, gender identification, and the anxiety that all of this creates becomes the usual for a family like Brandon’s. But even so, all of this is minimal in comparison to the huge decision that the parents must make in behalf of the child. In the article, Rosin reveals to us that scientists have come up with a way to prevent a kid’s development into

There has been an increasing number of cases in the United States involving transgender children going through gender social transition. Transgender people are individuals who have a gender identity that does not correspond with their sex at birth (Olson, Durwood, DeMeules, & McLaughlin, 2016), and these individuals may undergo several forms of transition. Gender social transition can be defined as the situation in which individuals make changes in their social life by expressing themselves and live according to the gender that they identify with, instead of their sex at birth. These life changes may include using a different name, using different pronouns, changing physical appearances on the surface level (e.g., clothing, hairstyle), and even using a bathroom that aligns with the person’s identity. However, these changes do not include any medical or hormonal intervention. Thus, making it purely social intervention. This phenomenon also appears amongst children, which raised debates among the people, including the scientific community. Existing psychological literature have studied children who experience gender dysphoria (GD), defined as a sense of discomfort that resulted from from incongruence between gender identity and assigned sex (Steensma, 2013). The term was historically known as gender identity disorder (GID). The psychology community have explored the topic on whether or not parents should allow their children to go through gender social transition, and the

“One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them” this quote written by Aldous Huxley accurately describes the impact parents have on their children. When parents aid their transgender children in transitioning into the opposite sex they are committing child abuse; changing sex is unsafe, indecent, and permanent. Over the course of a month, I have been a slave to the library. I have read over 30 articles on transgenderism; The basis of my opinion comes from well-sifted through research. The definition of child abuse is the mistreatment of a child by physical, sexual, or emotional ill-treatment or neglect, especially by those responsible for his or her welfare. Parents of transgender kids are neglecting what they need

The LGBT society have always been on the lower end of the scale when it comes to respect and fairness. As humans we should see each other for the person we are and the actions that are condoned by oneself, not by who we choose to have intimate relations with. Since some of our leaders such as our president can’t see past someone sexualtity, and instead see their bravery and courage we have implemented a ban on our fellow trans from joining our military. Kids go through plenty of struggles in school, but being a trans kid you are taking the biggest step in your life at a very earlier age, which is finding who you are. Most trans don't have the strength yet and the confidence at such a young age to be who they want to be, but when they do most aren’t accepted with opens arm in society it’s more of a wall that is painted with judgement and violence. The transgender community have had to deal with many social injustices, but in the 21st century there is hope for change.

The experience of growing up LGBTQ+ alone is one of difficulty in much of western society; however, this becomes even more so when a person is transgender. This stems from many origins. It is, of course, possibly the most argued that being transgender is a choice. People argue that if someone can change their sex, they should be able to change their race or age. Many people say this out of jest, but some say it in seriousness, not understanding what people who are transgender are truly experiencing. None of us ever will if we ourselves are not transgender. In the film Growing Up Trans, we see parents who vary in their levels of support for their children. For many parents, especially those who hold their religious faith close to

Grossman, Arnold H. Anthony R. D’Augelli. “Transgender Youth: Invisible and Vulnerable.” Journal of Homosexuality. Vol. 51, No. 1 (2006): pages 111-128. Web. 25 June 2015. Arnold H. Grossman, a professor of Applied Psychology at New York University, and Anthony R. D’Augelli, professor of Human Development at Pennsylvania State University, did a study of Transgender youth from ages 15 to 21. The study was designed to determine the factors that affect the youth, who either identify as transgender or their gender does not fit the normal gender descriptions. Focus groups were used as nonthreatening environment to examine the youths’ social and emotional experiences. The study not only provided insight on their emotional and social experiences but

Transsexuals rank lowest in overall wellbeing (Gates). SIRS researcher writes, “The American Psychiatric Association uses the term ‘gender dysphonia’ as the medical diagnosis for people who feel their birth-assigned sex and their gender identity do not match.” Civilians need a better understanding that transgender people need better protection. People against transsexuals believe that transgender are “ghastly” and are having an “identity crisis.” Transsexuals need protection in the workplace, public facilities, and in athletics/sports.

In Trauma in Transgender Populations: Risk, Resilience and Clinical Care Mizock and Lewis explains factors that put the transgender population at risk such as working in the sex industry or being targets of hate crimes. (Mizock & Lewis, 2011, p. 336). This article also sheds light on some strategies and types of resources that can build resilience in transgender people. Mizock and Lewis gave a thorough description of what it means to be transgender, transsexual, transman etc. as these terms can often be misused and misapplied to this population. This article highlights some common traumatic experiences shared among the transgender population and how transphobia is contributing to this problem. (Mizock & Lewis, 2011, p.336). I feel this

Transgender people have certainly pioneered through the journey of acceptance and individuality. For many, this transition can take a toll on them and the people around them. Mentally, this can

For a person who is transgender, gender dysphoria sets in at a young age. The individual is uncomfortable and displeased with their biological sex because it does not match their gender identity. This is compounded with societal norms that use symbolic interactionism to show what the gender expression should look like. The pressure from family, friends, and society can cause discomfort and disappointment with the biological sex they are born, which results in anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. The dysphoria often is a promoter to make the individual change their body and gender expression to be more in line with what is felt to be their gender identity. "A lot of the trauma that gender dysphoric children particularly experience is the lack of validation, the kind of ongoing, 'No, you 're not what you say you are; you are what the

In a lot of places around the world more and more people are coming out as “Transgender.” The term transgender means that the person’s gender identity does not correspond with the gender they were assigned as having at birth. From personally having a transgender boyfriend I have since realized that these people experience a lot of discrimination in and from society. Many people simply just do not understand what the term transgender means and they see it as someone just “wants to be a man” or “wants to be a woman.” While there may be people who present it this way, it is more so that the individual just “feels” different, and “feels” as if they are “in the wrong body.” Some people experience this feeling at a young age as my boyfriend did in his elementary age. We live in a world who put these people down for being who they truly are, and no human being wants or needs that.

At the same time, others believe that allowing these children with underdeveloped minds to so drastically change their lives in such a long term way is unacceptable and can even be constituted as child abuse. Opposition to such transgendering practices arise from scientific facts and concerns that “the transgendering of children damages bone health, it alters height, it leads, in girls to early hysterectomies at 18 years” (Jeffreys). Given these facts, opponents of transgenderism have made the decision that such drastic measures are simply too volumetric in their harm to the child. They believe if a child wishes to be assigned to a different orientation of gender, they must wait until they are 18 years of age in order to develop fully and have