Children's Social Transition

I really hope that schools will start to take notice of this. There are too many children being let down by setting them up on this conveyor belt.

The Tavistock is not closing, I wish people would stop saying that.
You mean the gender ID clinic within the Tavistock is closing.
There is far far more to the Tavistock than that one clinic.

It is now totally assumed and supported by all professional organisations who work with young people that the correct practice is to use the pronouns young people request and to refer to them as the sex or gender identity they choose.

Imagine if we did this with anorexia? I know it's a much-made comparison, but I think we need to ask the question repeatedly, as body dysphoria and anorexia are so parallel - both demonstrate an extreme example of the mind/body split which is at the heart of these problems.

One aspect never mentioned is the coercion this places on other in the social group to agree that x is a different gender.

Indeed. Children are explicitly taught that it is wrong - disrespectful, unkind and harmful - not to agree that Johnny is now a girl.

It's hard enough for adults to stand up to this sort of coercion, let alone children.

I'm not sure there's much evidence yet about the link between social transitioning & medical. Very limited data been kept as the Cass review has pointed out.
There's some anecdotal evidence that numerous children are seeing this as a "phase" - just as teenagers always have with fads and will move on from it. Trouble is the vulnerable children (those with other mental health challenges, autistic, in care) are getting caught up with the adult activist groups who have cynically targeted vulnerable groups of children and have the capacity to do much harm with their determination to separate children from families & other sources of support.
Sorry if this sounds cynical about these groups, but everything I've said can be evidenced from their actions.

This is a quote from the Transgender Trend link I posted upthread - it's a clinical psychologist talking about working with teenagers and the consequences for them of social affirmation:

Agreeing with young people that they were born in the wrong body and organising their life around that belief is not a low risk thing to do. It’s a serious psychological intervention based on denial and avoidance. Believing their happiness is conditional on denying reality puts young people in a fragile state, dependent on the pretence of others for their psychological wellbeing. Affirmation feels like such a relief, but it’s a seductive illusion. Holding options open and sitting with uncertainty has never felt more difficult, or more important.

Thank you gotosleepffs that makes sense, although I have to admit that of all the trans people I know, only three have gone on to transition medically, but I don't know any trans children. Is there evidence that socially transitioning as a child makes it more likely that they will transition medically?

It can also be extremely detrimental to an adolescent’s mental health where they are using being seen as the opposite sex as a maladaptive coping mechanism (whether through trauma, internalised homophobia etc). Having trusted adults such as teachers affirm their belief that they really are “trans” will only teach a child who hates themselves for whatever reason that they are right to hate themselves. Where a social transition is supported by school staff while the parents are taking a more cautious approach, the child’s sense of security within the family unit (because of the message that the child gets from the school that they are supportive of the child but their parents are not supportive) can be undermined and it can lead to a whole host of mental health issues.

social transition is absolutely not benign.

One aspect never mentioned is the coercion this places on other in the social group to agree that x is a different gender. Politeness and respect must be upheld. But the cheerleading that I hear from some adult figures supporting groups of children is unhelpful. "Hello, everyone, please announce your name and pronouns". I don't think it is fair to assume that all children will go along with these ideas. In the same way adults can refuse pronouns at work, the same should be extended to kids in school. Or at least an alternative, like using names, should be found.

1. It increases the likelihood that a child's present dysphoria will become embedded in the long term, making it less likely that the dysphoria will resolve itself.
2. It increases the likelihood that the child will move onto hormonal or medical transition, both of which are known to be harmful.

Essentially, it makes it harder to change their mind. Because when a girl announces that she is trans/n-b and wishes to be known as Kye, she is made to feel heroic and brave and special. But if she decides she wants to be called Keira again, she feels like a bit of a pratt telling all the whole school and all the teachers.

Totally agree. A good start would be to normalise the idea that NOT agreeing to socially transitioning is a reasonable response and should be a choice. That parents (and educators etc) can sympathise and pay attention and listen to a young person's distress, without agreeing to pretend they are a he or she.

What's wrong with socially transitioning?

A key problem is the concept of a "trans child."

I've read a couple of 'Educational papers' recently (academics or PhD students who are TRAs) and from the outset, they discuss the "needs" of a "trans child."

As soon as the child acquires this label they've been socially transitioned.

This is from the Cass Review Interim Report (p.62):

Social transition – this may not be thought of as an intervention or treatment, because it is not something that happens within health services. However, it is important to view it as an active intervention because it may have significant effects on the child or young person in terms of their psychological functioning.64,65 There are different views on the benefits versus the harms of early social transition. Whatever position one takes, it is important to acknowledge that it is not a neutral act, and better information is needed about outcomes

cass.independent-review.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cass-Review-Interim-Report-Final-Web-Accessible.pdf

I think more widely this nonsensical narrative that anyone can be who they want or that they are who they say they are needs to be done away with as well. Reality denying nonsense

I think a lot depends on the age of the child. I'm not sure choice of pronouns is a bridge I'd want to die on with the average teenager, esp now that the door to medical transition is (please god) closed. Ds' have several female friends who are/were transboys ie took gender neutral names and used "they" for a couple of years, before growing out of it. I suspect active opposition would have had more negative consequences than positive. Then again none were experimenting with binders etc.

Does anyone know what will happen to children already on the transition pathway now? A friend's son ("daughter ") started with hormones earlier this year and I really fear for him. ?Asd, depressed, came out as gay before discovering he was really a girl and his parents have embraced his new identity with frightening enthusiasm. I really fear for him.

You make a really important point MalagaNights. Transgender Trend has two excellent pieces from psychologists about the awful damage done to children's mental health by social affirmation. Essentially it disrupts the body / mind alignment that's such vital aspect of puberty / growing up and leaves these children psychologically adrift for the rest of their lives:

Every parent, teacher and adult who works with children should read these:

www.transgendertrend.com/childhood-social-transition/

www.transgendertrend.com/teenager-says-theyre-transgender/

Socially transitioning children is not and never has been a neutral or supportive action. Feminists have said this all along, and the preliminary findings of the Cass Review have now stated this, too.

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/2022/03/26/the-cass-review-into-gender-identity-services/amp/

I think we need to emphasis that if a young person says I think I'm not a girl - "you're right" is not a neutral statement, it is a powerful intervention that has a profound impact.