To think that the majority of trans people are neurodivergent

[SlipperSliders]

...and I sort of think it's a form of neurodivergence in itself.

By the way I'm trans affirmative.

I don't think I've met a trans person who I thought was neurotypical.

Exactly. It’s a homophobic slur being appropriated by straight people for their own benefit - claiming a victim hood and oppression that isn’t theirs.

@HermioneWeasley that's really interesting and I did not realise that. Thankyou

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/gGM1Dbzt1XD5nSut/

I find this very moving and sad.

What has caused the sudden explosion of people "identifying as trans" though? If there's a genetic or otherwise biological aspect then why now? What's different now with genetics and biology that wasn't happening 50 years ago?

so-people can describe themselves how they like 1001%

BUT

they can't police how other people describe them'
right?

@AstonUniversityPotholeDepartment

These are my genuine questions:

because I see young autistic women being persuaded the secret to their unhappiness is hormonal and surgical body modification, including hysterectomies.

Where do you see that? Who is doing the persuading? And how?

that young women with disabilities being encouraged to sterilise themselves is a good thing.

Who is encouraging them? And how do you know that?

I would be really grateful to hear your answers.

Exactly this

Mmm... I am in possibly an unusual position for this forum, in that I know a lot of trans people younger than me, and a fair number of my age or older.

Of the older ones (40's and up)... I'd say around 50/50 split between those clearly ND (not mentally ill...) and those not.

Of the young uns - every single one identifies as ASD. Most have also some form of mental health issues they publically discuss.

I do think theres something in that. Whilst I do believe a small number of people are genuinely born with a male brain in a female body/vice versa... I do not believe the numbers we're seeing now, are that.

I think it's a response to having a ND brain in a world that doesn't really suit that, in a world that increasingly demands us to be switched on, tuned in, doing a million things at once with zero let up from social pressure... to find our niche, be our authentic selves, find a solution and a label for everyfuckinthing...

And why can't we tell adolescents:

'It is NORMAL that you don't know who you are or where you fit in yet. It is NORMAL that you don't really like your body or feel comfortable in it. It is NORMAL that social situations are sometimes bloody awkward and hard work... this is adolescence. It isn't forever and it doesn't mean you wish you were born with or without various body parts.'

And why can't we tell adolescents:

'It is NORMAL that you don't know who you are or where you fit in yet. It is NORMAL that you don't really like your body or feel comfortable in it. It is NORMAL that social situations are sometimes bloody awkward and hard work... this is adolescence. It isn't forever and it doesn't mean you wish you were born with or without various body parts.'

It's also normal for teenage girls to be horrified by their developing body and wish it wasn't happening. I remember that feeling well.

I work with disabled kids and you’d be stunned at the number of these kids with a trans sibling.

I think some of those trans siblings are screaming out for attention and care they’re seeing their disabled sibling get.

it’s terribly sad and I can’t help but think those trans siblings have had to sacrifice an awful lot, be forced to be carers and accept mum and dad won’t be able to attend to their needs like they should.

Where do you see that? Who is doing the persuading? And how?

Mermaids and Stonewall where very active in the 'if your not comfortable in your body you must be trans' (paraphrased) towards teenagers.

A lot of professionals would disagree. Certainly the NHS uses the term to to refer to neurological disorders and not mental illness.

As the latter is something that may be temporary and can be recovered from I don't think it's helpful to equate the two.

Gosh that's so sad. On multiple levels.

Less so horrified at the changing body.

more horrified at the response my changing body had on the men around me. It was grotesque and if I could’ve stopped puberty to stop that I would.

I’ve worked with many ND people.

Half of them are as you describe and would absolutely be caught up in the trans movement because they’re so desperate to fit in to societal norms.

If a girl likes to play football and wants to be a mechanic when she grows up, it would be very easy for her to be swayed into thinking she should have been born a boy.

But the other half are completely the opposite and struggle to understand the concept at all.
They think if you’re a boy, you’re a boy. End of.

They do not care if they want to wear pink or play with cars because they’re not wrapped up in trying to be cool or to fit in.

I found less diagnosed ND teens wanting to be trans than I did in mainstream who weren’t diagnosed as ND (although some possibly were).

I definitely think there is a vulnerability element to it and many ND children are vulnerable.

So I don’t know if it’s a ND issue it just a vulnerability issue.

The more vulnerable you are, the more you’re going to look for somewhere to fit in and be accepted.
They’ll now do this by going on the internet where the trans movement is very in your face.

Wow, are you actually suggesting that ND people can't have responsible jobs?! That someone can't be aaw student or a nurse or a bank manager? What an appalling thing to say.

Excellent point

Yes that's a really good point you make. I wondered if people have historically felt this way but never felt they could be ' out there's because of societal rejection, no means to access any medical support. It was less accepted so hidden potentially.

A bit like there are now suddenly huge numbers of ND people popping up. I believe they have always been there and they absolutely are ND. I don't buy this everyone's buying a diagnosis crap. People hid it where they could.

@PianPianPiano I'm glad it's not just me they picked up on that. It's really fucking offensive isn't it?

@DreamTheMoors I don't think you know what being neurodivergent is.

Absolutely!!

I hated my body because I was a tomboy and wanted to run around playing football with my boobs bouncing everywhere.

I remember thinking I was born in the wrong body and shaving all of my hair off and binding my chest.
This was 20 years ago.

I am not anti trans but I am so glad that this wasn’t as big as it is now (we had the odd Hayley off corrie story but it was less idolised), as I absolutely love my body and love being a female now but I could have easily been led down the wrong path.

What’s an enby?

I work with Sen children and all of the EHCP requests we receive for trans children they either have ASD or severe mental health issues. Obviously this is skewed as I only see those applying for an EHCNA but in my experience, of the children who are trans, there is a link.

But the flip side of the coin would be this could also be said about some ND?

Start here.

https://4w.pub/autism-puberty-gender-dysphoria-view-from-an-autistic-desisted-woman