ROGD in adolescent boys: webinar and website

[BonfireLady]

As most referrals to GIDS are adolesent girls, and this board is primarily for feminism discussions, understandably a lot of attention is given to the impact of gender identity belief on girls and women.

There are also parents of boys who are on this board and this morning, I came across a couple of interesting links that warranted a thread.

This is a new website that has just been set up:
https://www.rogdboys.org/

Also, Genspect is having a webinar this evening at 5.30pm (UK, BST - they advertised it as 4.30pm GMT):
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LiGIRbIJRnqBO1sMj-5G5w#/registration

It's great to see this getting more recognition and attention. Without therapeutic intervention to understand and address their distress and confusion, this specific cohort of mostly heterosexual, often autistic, boys risks becoming both victims of (where they go on to medical interventions) and perpetrators of harm (where their autistic cognitive processing of "womanhood" is weaponised as anger by the older TRAs).

The link between gaming/anime/avatars etc and the emergence of sexual feelings seems to be a poorly discussed area, where teenage boys are confusing their attraction to the cartoon-like, often highly sexualised characters and thinking of themselves as those characters (and are encouraged to see themselves as "lesbians"). Arguably, it seems to be an early pathway towards autogynophilia.
Hopefully this focus will help to shine more of a light on it.

To add:
I have questioned (via X) the statement that Genspect have made on their webinar page that these boys and young men don't want access to female spaces.
Many do and are very vocal and angry about it.

I have this exact issue, thanks for the information

@LogicLoverLlama I really feel for you ❤️
Have you read Detrans by Dr Az? He's got a much greater understanding of boys than girls (although unfortunately he doesn't really go near the online influence issue), in particular regarding autism. I found lots of it helpful as the mum of an autistic girl but I think on balance, it's a better insight in to boys.

As a parent, I would feel incredibly uncomfortable knowing that it would be helpful to understand more about the link between emerging male libido during adolescence and this whole mess of gender identity. Knowing that there are other parents also facing this complex area would be of help. There will be attacks from all sides emg. some feminists will take a position that the boys are simply a problem, some TRAs will use the deflection idea that it's paedophilic to think about children like this etc etc. This is such an important area to address and these boys and their families need access to support. Once that's got a foundation, hopefully this can be extended to young people in care. These boys and young men are being badly let down.

Bumping this if anyone wants to go today

No I don't know it - one to add to the list, I do think emerging libido is a thing, something that is prompting the changes and claims in my own household

There's an article in a relatively obscure paper, Psycology Today, that has evidence from 2 different studies that show how many young people, given the opportunity to work through their confusions and worries and thinking transitioning is the solution in fact grow out of it.

Not central to this thread / OP but shows that people are questioning the affirmation theory.

Not that theories help mothers of trans identified children in real time of course. Or children whose day to day reality for them is the virtual world.

Clearly, they are also significant for parents, caregivers, and society at large, providing guidance on how to better care for, assist, and support adolescents, especially those prone to gender dissatisfaction.

Undoubtedly, the next crucial question revolves around identifying which adolescents will navigate out of the phase of gender uncertainty and who will persist in their dissatisfaction. While such data is currently lacking, an evidence-based approach holds the promise of transcending ideological debate to a scientific endeavor in developmental psychology

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5063113-healthcare-professionals-should-concentrate-on-gender-non-conforming-individuals-at-early-adolescence-navigating-them-toward-a-healthy-adulthood

As a parent, ... it would be helpful to understand more about the link between emerging male libido during adolescence and this whole mess of gender identity. Knowing that there are other parents also facing this complex area would be of help. There will be attacks from all sides emg. some feminists will take a position that the boys are simply a problem

I think you are being a bit unfair on feminists, well those onf FWR!

I am sure if there was a thread about women whose sons were facing puberty whilst living in a world saturated with the culture of gender identity, wanting the share experiences and ideas it would have many wanting to participate.

At least one of the thread I mentioned in PP and at least 2 here.

Yes, sorry. I should have said that I didn't mean the majority of people on this board. I'm pretty sure I have only ever seen understanding posts on this subject.
Unfortunately though, it is very much a thing beyond this discussion board from what I understand. Dr Az's book explores this side of things.

TBH I'm not sure how I would feel as a parent of an adolesent male (who is in some stage of gender identity related confusion/distress) who is reading this board. I'm imagining that it's difficult at times to think about the balance of supporting your own child while reading about the impact of other adolescents, some maybe a similar age some a little older, in similar situations on women and girls.

(I'm thinking of comments, mostly on X, along the lines of "he just needs to cut out the porn and respect women")

Must admit I hadn't thought in terms of the child/ren being discussed reading threads. Although mostly posts are more about wanting help to do the right thing, can see that if you are the person being discussed it might not feel like that.

Again not wanting to derail this thread but there was a radio programme and incels, and agains some "grow out of it", but it too seems to be a set of ideas that start at the same age, and is intensified by looking to the virtual world as being the real world.

Thank you for this BonfireLady.