Trans Kids Demographics

[TokyoGhoul]

Hi does anyone know of any data on the demographics of trans identifying kids?

I know the data on boys and girls, but is there anything on socioeconomic status and ethinicity?

From my own expereince I suspect this is largely a white middle class university educated family phenonmenon, but I might be wrong on this and just applying my own bias/ experience.

Is it more common in private and grammar shools?

Thanks for pointing me any direction on data or thoughts on this hypothesis.

I think it's more likely that amongst communities where gender roles are rigid, homosexual children are unlikely to be welcomed. However, if they're prepared to jump from one gender role 'box' to another, the idea of rigid gender roles isn't being challenged and the children may be accepted in their 'new' gender.

If the community is also tolerant of gendered violence (emotional, physical, sexual) there will also be a higher number of girls seeking to identify out of abuse.

Blimey all right calm down!

I am actively seeking information to challenge my stated bias based from my personal experience so I'm not sure why you are so aggressive.

LAC are over represented within the LAC cohort, that doesn't mean most trans children are LAC. They are persunably still a small group within the trans group?

Also this is not suprising at all due to associated comorbidity with mental health needs from trauma and family dysfunction.

My hypothesis about white university educated liberal types is tht they operate in a micro-culture where having a trans child signals alignment with the values within that social group and therefore buys some status.
I've definitely seen this, and so wondered if this is the predominat demographic? or a signifcant one?
Or are all children equally vulnerable and these types of parents just more likely to affirm?
And the ones who are looked after as the social workers are all captured!

I also wonedrde if children from religious groups are less likely to be trans?
Are some ethnic groups less likely?

Thanks to everyone who has shared articles etc. I'm going to have a read later.

I'm now thinking I need to specify my query to: are white uni edcuated types more likely to affirm, rather than focus on which kids identify?

It's the social status it confers on some types of parents that I've noticed.

I agree with this, motivations may be slightly different as well, one group trying to escape from oppression, the other identifying into their own definition of oppression.

Of all the trans kids i know, none of the parents think it's a positive thing that their child is transitioning.

I've yet to meet a parent who considers their child, so unhappy in their bodies and with themselves that they would medicate and try to change themselves, to be making the right choice. Of the parents I know, we are all supporting our kids even though we disagree with gender theory - whether by using pronouns and new names, paying for private therapy or in some cases funding private hormone treatment even though the parents think it's detrimental to their child's health.

We would prefer therapy (not "conversion therapy" to talk them out of being gay/ lesbian) to address the roots of their unhappiness (often ASD in the kids i know).

I don't know this idea of "socal status" you're talking about - what we parents mostly feel is intense unhappiness and impotence that our kids are so unhappy and have bought into this cult. There are no bragging rights in the circles I know (of trans-parents and parents who are 100% sympathetic and agree with us). No one I know in real life believes that transitioning is the right choice for any child/ young adult.

Apologies if this has been mentioned before, but Hannah Barnes book could be a good source of data. She mentions children from various backgrounds as being prominent such as ADS, incare, etc

see these reviews from a thread with her name:
This review by Sarah Ditum is excellent and very moving:

unherd.com/2023/02/the-tragedy-of-becoming-a-woman/

Another good one from Suzanne Moore:

suzannemoore.substack.com/p/a-review-of-time-to-think-the-book

Equally, I read somewhere that incare and native Americans are prevalent in the latest cohorts.

Yep.

I was an awkward nerdy teen, totally uninterested in hair, make up and - most of all - boys. I refused to wear skirts or otherwise show my legs for years and years.

If I could have explained away my utter disinterest in sex and relationships by saying I was trans or NB, I would have jumped at it. I knew I was different. I thought it was because I was a smart kid in a sink comprehensive. It wasn’t that.

Now I’m parenting autistic kids it breaks my heart when I see parents posting in support groups about what to do about their girls who identify as boys. I keep trying to gently plant the seed that gender non-conformity is so common in autism (due to sensory and social-communication issues) and NOT a question of autistic people being innately more likely to be “queer” or trans.

The problem is, all autism orgs seem to have been captured, and peddle the myth that autistic people are more like to be special glitter rainbow people.

There will be a difference in who makes it into the figures. I think children who already have social workers, CAMHS, mental health disorders will have their identities recognised medically. These are also the kids who are most vulnerable to the real problems.

However, at my DCs primary school, only one of seven had approached anyone official for puberty blockers or support (of the "look how cool we are" variety of parents). One clearly hated growing boobs. The other 5 were attention seeking PITA, who loved catching people out using wrong pronouns. No distress at being misgendered, total glee at the drama of it. These kids are unlikely to persist to adulthood, I'd have thought and unlikely to be going to a GIC but very likely to tell anyone who'll listen how long the waiting lists are and the injustice of it all.

Unless there are terms to differentiate those who are latching on to this as a sort of trauma response (at homophobia, ASD feeling of not fitting in, puberty coming early, sexual harassment etc) and those who are shouting the loudest but not actually suffering, it's going to be hard to understand the bigger picture or to help anyone appropriately.

@Jellycats4life it was only when I actually had a boyfriend that I discovered what all those weird body parts were for and that they were actually amazing.

OK so he was a weird creepy groomer and I didn't have another relationship for 10 years but I had absolutely no idea I was sexual for ages.

I understand that is your experience but I do know parents who 'celebrate' their child's Trans identity and who talk about it with pride, and who want to educate others to be 'allies'.

The people I know like this are from within a narrow social strata: white, professional middle class, and who already have 'social justice' as a core part of their identity.

I was interested if this is a common demographic in this phenomenon.
Maybe it's not common, but it does exist.

Maybe tokyo it is the ‘social justice as a core part of their identity’ that really makes a difference in the people you know. I suspect it also depends on the issues that they are focusing their attention on as well.

I also don’t know any parent with a child that has a trans identity that is ‘celebrating’ that identity. They are all hugely concerned about their children’s mental health and as they approach 17 or 18, whether their child will start medical processes outside of the mental health therapy they receive.

Oh I'm not doubting your assertion that such parents exist. I'm just stating that from my mostly white, middle class, professional, tertiary educated, traditionally left wing, environmentally conscious, community volunteering, charity donating, do-gooder, etc etc bubble - my circle disagrees with gender theory. Just my experience.

(Do we fall under the term of "social justice"? that's just not a term I personally would use.)

As Hellofabore says, our main concerns are the mental welfare of our children and side & long term effects of medical transitioning.

If it's of any interest, we're not in London (Home Counties) and we parents are all over 40, mothers and fathers.

Our children mostly fall in the ASD or neuro diverse group. That's our common factor.

UsefulChocReindeer

Yes. I agree. In my group of friends with children with trans identities, you have described most of them and their children’s diversity. Except for the ‘white’ category.