to find CBBC's 'Just a Girl' programme re a transgender child inappropriate?

[PatButchersEarring]

..totally prepared to be told I am being U on this one, but...

My 7 year old daughter is currently watching 'Just a Girl' on CBBC. This seems to be a dramatisation about a pre-teen, transgender girl- so born a born, but living as a girl. Also either currently or looking into taking hormone blockers.

AIBU to think this is an inappropriate topic for a young age group?

[IfartInYourGeneralDirection]

If you think it's inappropriate then turn it off

[LivGood]

Yes turn it off.

[Balletgirlmum]

7 is probably too young to understand things like hormone treatment & sexuality etc but Many CBBC programmes are aimed at 10-14 year olds.

You need to excercise your parental duties & monitor your child's TV watching.

[Balletgirlmum]

It used to be quite clear in the days before digital & a dedicated which programmes were aimed at the younger group & which were for the older group.

[Rosae]

Sounds good. Informative and would potentially help inclusion if she comes across someone in that situation in real life. I've not seen it so could be inappropriate for other reasons but not for the one stated any more than if said transgender girl had two dads.

[insancerre]

You are the adult, you can decided what she watches

Personally, I think programmes like that are great as it allows children to ask questions and be better informed about other people

[harderandharder2breathe]

You're the adult. Turn it off if you don't like it.

For an older child it would be very good.

[quicklydecides]

I wouldn't let my children watch it anyway.

[NickiFury]

Yes I do think it's inappropriate and I wouldn't let her watch it.

[GreatFuckability]

I know a child who recently came out as transgender in primary school, I think its the perfect age to show children its normal and to teach then tolerance.

[DragonitesRule]

It's not something I'd let my 7 yr old watch but is something I'd encourage my 10 & 12 yr olds to watch to give us a spring board to discuss it. The programme would make this easier than jumping in dry IYKWIM

It's up to you to monitor your own children's watching depending on your view point in th same way I wouldn't let my kids play call of duty. However when it's an age appropriate time I would say it's a good thing.

[WhooooAmI24601]

I'd be ok with the DCs watching that. They'd possibly ask a few questions, I'd answer honestly, they'd think nothing more of it. It's statistically likely that later during their teens friends or teens they know will go through this. The more open we are from a young age the more they learn that it's nothing to be ashamed/scared of.

[BombadierFritz]

is that the one with all the lazy stereotypes in it?

[WhooooAmI24601]

As an aside, I'm probably very biased because the DCs cousin, 5, has decided he identifies as a girl. Last time we met up he wore a dress; DS2 is the same age as him and they spent the afternoon running around the park and DS2 didn't mention the dress or the wanting to be known by a girls name. Children just go with stuff and transgender is just like everything else; the more tolerance they see the more tolerance they have.

[Alconleigh]

We really really need less "a boy wants to wear a dress / play with a doll and is therefore a girl" bollocks and a lot more "boys and girls can wear anything and play with anything they want". If we lived in a society where it was acceptable for any men to go full Izzard, there would be a lot less of this nonsense.

[yorkshapudding]

Inappropriate for it to be on TV at all or inappropriate for your 7 year old?

If the former, YABU. There is nothing wrong with offering parents the option of watching a child-friendly depiction of life as a trans person which can then be used to aid discussion, promote tolerance or encourage the DC to ask questions. Not showing something on television doesn't make it go away.

If the latter, that's up to you as a parent surely? If you personally feel that your child is too young or not emotionally mature enough for a particular programme then you know where the 'off ' switch is.

[IzzyIsBusy]

Turn it off.
Very inappropriate programme.

[Prawnofthepatriarchy]

I'd turn it off. Don't think it's remotely suitable for a 7 year old. I'd complain about it too. Showing this sort of thing normalizes something I consider child abuse. See Youth Trans Critical Professionals.

All children enjoy playing with a range of things. To start suggesting that little children can be transgender when they're far too young to actually have a gender is reckless and damaging. A small boy who is told that he can become a girl (rather than playing with stereotypically girls stuff like many boys do) may take this as meaning that sex changes are possible, that some time in the future he'll wake up with a girl's body.

The business of transitioning children is an ethical nightmare. I suspect it will end in a flurry of court cases and scandal, as has happened before with bizarre ideas about children. But in the meantime thousands of children will have been damaged, some severely.

[IBelieveTheEarthIsFlat]

Totally agree Alconleigh. Living as a female at preteen age is nuts. And bloody child abuse IMO. Let him wear a dress and play with what he wants and stop bloody defining the poor child

[Buttfucknowhere]

alconleigh yes! Totally agree.

[mrsfuzzy]

more gender bolls [bangs head against wall] let them be kids ffs and play/dress how they want ! everyone works it out in the end as they get older.

[sonlypuppyfat]

Show them it normal? I'm sorry we must have different definitions of normal

[Ninasimoneinthemorning]

I agree with alcon and prawn

I'd turn it off and complain why people are having to ram it down our children's throats now is ridiculous.

[user1471098628]

Pre-teen on hormones? So if, when like 90% of children who experience the feelings he does he realises he is in fact happy with his body, he's going to be sterile?

I "wanted to be a boy" when I was a pre-teen and teen. Turns out I don't. I just needed stronger role models showing me what women CAN do.