Anime

[Redangie17]

Hi there.

First time posting. My 12 yr old grand daughter started watching anime about 6 months ago. She has told us three weeks ago she is Pan sexual and then yesterday she announced she is changing her name to one that reflects her true self (an anime name). Her mother and family have said they will call her the new chosen name - my son ( they are divorced and co parent) has flatly refused to entertain the idea of a 12 yr old changing her name. The sexuality side of it is not an issue. I have spoken to other parents about how have voiced a concern on the effect that the anime culture is having on young and impressionable minds. I'm trying to be empathic and said I will try and use her new chosen name? Anyone else in the same boat places
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Yes. My 13yr old daughter loves anime. Similarly decided to be called another name but as a nickname, her friends use it I don't. She's also exploring her sexuality, I'm fine with that but only if that's actually who she is and it's not just influenced by the anime, Im just letting her get on with it and keeping an eye on what she's watching and reading. I have blocked whattpad because it's (badly) written by fans and what she was reading was inappropriate /worrying eg detailed stuff about self harming and suicidal thoughts and am keeping a close eye on everything else.
They're so easily led at this age!

What anime is she watching?

Thought this might be of interest OP.

https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/anime-and-gender-ideology?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo4NTI2NzY3LCJwb3N0X2lkIjozOTM4MDU2MSwiXyI6InhUS2lHIiwiaWF0IjoxNjI3ODg1OTE0LCJleHAiOjE2Mjc4ODk1MTQsImlzcyI6InB1Yi02NzMwOSIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.rJymikfhRjBUgLxwCKbKqz1KL-FXjiniviRqzwDoLo&fbclid=IwAR21cnCH74TpyRbEJDDAawoo_FTtvPNElBicoLjWvd2dFZvrK54ab-YNExnQ

This is definitely a thing! DS has just finished year 7 at high school (so 11 and 12 year olds) and loads of the girls now have anime names and are identified as transboys. DS says they all still wear skirts etc and anyone suggesting that is odd is called truscum.

17 yo DSS says it mostly fades away around 14-15 years old and rarely goes beyond name/pronoun changes and TikTok cosplay videos.

So long as they’re not wanting to make any bodily changes I’d be inclined to smile, nod, use the preferred name/pronouns and wait for it to pass. Making a stand against it is more likely to result in them digging in and entrenching their position.

Basically, TLDR: trans without dysmorphia and with a side helping of anime seems to be the new androgynous

There are a slew of furries/plushies/trans/pans/demis out in the Twitterverse who draw sexually explicit anime characters for Patreons.

The more sexually explicit, the better. Patreons and Ko-Fi subscribers pay a lot of money for characters with oversized genitals, in fetish or bondage gear or in sexually explicit poses with other characters.

This just seems to be a bit more than just fangirling over a shared love of anime comics, they do seem to be actively grooming youngsters/anime enthusiasts.

Most of the transboys DS knows are into “yaoi”

I might caution the parents to look into any online spaces she's in as kids her age are sadly targeted in many anime fandom spaces (so for me, it's less concerning watching age-appropriate anime, like any other media, it's some of the adult communities that have been built around it that she might be accessing).

The name thing wouldn't bother me, I would push back on the "true self" concept -- as I tell my kids, puberty is a time for comparing ourselves to those around us and figuring things out (I can't remember the talk I watched on this that really rang with me, but it was discussing adolescent brain development and identity trying on asking 'is this me', 'is this me', 'is this me' and separating out what isn't - often from the adults in our lives), but there is 'true self', we're always in flux and our sense of self always has parts of those around us and our environment.

Hi there, nothing wrong with your kid exploring their sexuality, however if this "anime name" is Japanese then they shouldn't be using it. Especially if they aren't Japanese - these names have meanings and using them just because you like them is cultural appropriation, which of course is a big no no.
Also it would probably save them a lot of embarrassing moments in later life if they change their name from an "anime name" to something they are a. Allowed to use and b. Have chosen carefully with a lot of thought.