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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

It’s all a bit ‘cringe’

121 replies

lnks · 02/05/2025 01:36

Has anyone else with teenagers noticed how they seem to think the whole trans movement is just a bit ‘cringe’ — as my 15yo DD would put it?
They’re just not taken in by it at all. If anything, they see it as attention-seeking and I can see my dd and her friend’s inwardly eye roll when they’re talking about it. It gives me hope for the future generations

OP posts:
BottleBlondeMachiavelli · 02/05/2025 01:50

Yes, I think the situation in schools is calming down. It’s the millennials that are captured.

soupycustard · 02/05/2025 02:16

I so hope you're right.
Unfortunately my teen DD is still very invested in it all.

HerNextDoorAgain · 02/05/2025 02:22

Yes, early teens I know are seeing it a cringe and attention seeking.

Hoardasurass · 02/05/2025 07:02

@lnks it's the same with most of my DS's cohort, but it was bound to happen the moment being trans became so mainstream that even teachers and parents are trans. You can't stick it to the man by being trans if the man is trans.

CatOnAHotRadiator · 02/05/2025 07:08

It’s not made an appearance at all in year 8/9 at my daughter’s school. All the rainbows and trans business seems to be working its way up and out. Not that we had much to start with. It’s a rural school with a large number of farm kids. They know what male and female is!!

TangenitalContrivance · 02/05/2025 07:08

My 14 year old girl thinks it’s all bollocks. My 12 year old autistic son, harder to call.

but my general feedback from the 14 is that everyone thinks it’s crap but they can’t stand up and be counted.

Brainworm · 02/05/2025 07:08

Things have been moving on for a while now whereby it’s reached the point that younger teenagers are relegating trans ideology as evidence of how they are the cool one and that those before them didn’t have a clue. I’m waiting to see what will replace it.

ArabellaScott · 02/05/2025 07:13

It's been cringe for a while. I get the impression the fervent pushing by some determined teachers of 'Get over it' posters and relentless PSHE classes on identity was what did for it, tbh.

The teens I know seem pretty relaxed about homosexuality/bisexuality, but they have really had enough of the rainbow cult.

ArabellaScott · 02/05/2025 07:15

The impression I get is that a very small group of the more vulnerable (and posher) kids are left in the rainbow identity group. Undoubtedly these are children who need support and understanding, and I hope they get it from sensible adults rather than earnest trans allies.

MangoSplit · 02/05/2025 07:16

Yes, I think previously the trans kids were cool and different, but now it's the opposite - they're seen as a bit weird at my DC's school.

It's still big at universities though.

Igneococcus · 02/05/2025 07:18

My youngest is 17. When he was in S1/2 (Scotland, not sure what that is in the English system) he said "all the girls are trans or nonbinary and hang out in one big group", I asked him after the court ruling what the trans/NBs are making of this and he looked at me like I had gone mad because "nobody is trans anymore, mum"

GoodVibesHere · 02/05/2025 07:23

MangoSplit · 02/05/2025 07:16

Yes, I think previously the trans kids were cool and different, but now it's the opposite - they're seen as a bit weird at my DC's school.

It's still big at universities though.

Yes, this.

ICanTellYouMissMe · 02/05/2025 07:23

Yep. My teenage daughter got called homophobic by a teacher when she rolled her eyes at the kids who are given a special room at lunchtimes where they can be their true animal selves and walk around on all fours with tails and ears on.

She won the argument that being a furry isn’t the same as being gay so it’s not homophobia <proud>

PedigreeSort · 02/05/2025 07:25

BottleBlondeMachiavelli · 02/05/2025 01:50

Yes, I think the situation in schools is calming down. It’s the millennials that are captured.

Argh no don't tar us all with that brush! Firm millennial here (1991) and I have ALWAYS been TWAM (however this did cause a massive argument with my sibling around 4 years ago who is 1993...soooo)

Punzel · 02/05/2025 07:26

Regarded as completely hilarious by the boys at my sons all boys grammar ( top twenty school etc). It has absolutely no traction.

napody · 02/05/2025 07:43

Yeah I'm noticing this.

But less positively there's a big resurgence of very specific brands and styles: started with white fox and Nike, or perhaps it started with every teenage girl (apart from the gender non conforming ones) having very long hair. I can see a link between that and young people who don't conform to gender stereotypes thinking they must be trans.

So I think it's less an increase in critical thinking, more just that very narrow conformity is returning in a big way.

I don't think shaming young people for being different is anything to be celebrated. Yes it's good they're less likely to be fed ideology, but they need kindness and acceptance for their quirks in its place and I don't see much sign of that 😒

napody · 02/05/2025 07:44

Punzel · 02/05/2025 07:26

Regarded as completely hilarious by the boys at my sons all boys grammar ( top twenty school etc). It has absolutely no traction.

And do you think that's a good thing or just a very clear sign that toxic masculinity and misogyny is on the rise (and it was bloody everywhere in the first place!)

Geneticsbunny · 02/05/2025 07:48

I don't think that it's the same for gay kids because at that age it is still all being sloshed into the same bucket and so if you come out as gay, you have to also agree with the extreme end of the gender stuff too.

Toseland · 02/05/2025 07:49

It's very much seen as attention seeking amongst the boys in year 9 here and it's roundly mocked in private.
A boy who said he's trans was recently expelled for physically attacking and bullying kids who look a bit different!

TeenToTwenties · 02/05/2025 07:50

napody · 02/05/2025 07:43

Yeah I'm noticing this.

But less positively there's a big resurgence of very specific brands and styles: started with white fox and Nike, or perhaps it started with every teenage girl (apart from the gender non conforming ones) having very long hair. I can see a link between that and young people who don't conform to gender stereotypes thinking they must be trans.

So I think it's less an increase in critical thinking, more just that very narrow conformity is returning in a big way.

I don't think shaming young people for being different is anything to be celebrated. Yes it's good they're less likely to be fed ideology, but they need kindness and acceptance for their quirks in its place and I don't see much sign of that 😒

Edited

At least wearing White Fox hoodies doesn't send the kids on a path to medical intervention!

Maybe the backlash will be ultra conformity in other ways for a while and only then a new recognition that gender stereotypes are nonsense.

CuttedPearPie · 02/05/2025 07:51

I don't think millennials are particularly captured, we're in our 30s. It's the generation below in their 20s (Z) who are massively captured. Glad to hear Gen Alpha are waking up.

napody · 02/05/2025 07:55

TeenToTwenties · 02/05/2025 07:50

At least wearing White Fox hoodies doesn't send the kids on a path to medical intervention!

Maybe the backlash will be ultra conformity in other ways for a while and only then a new recognition that gender stereotypes are nonsense.

Show quote history

I think you're seriously underestimating how damaging some kind of 'cleansing' phase of ultra conformity would be for the actual children growing up in it.

It's not an either/or. I'm glad there's now clarity on the information they will be given: that people cannot change sex. Bit I think we need to be really careful to keep the 'acceptance of difference' part- that's what it was about for young teens, the vast majority of whom desisted (as comments above support) and didn't get put on any kind of medical pathway.

I'm fully GC as my posting history shows, but we need to consider how harmful a backlash could be. JKR and everyone need to take a break from celebrating at some point (though I know it feels good!) And to get back to that 'dress how you want' message she started with!

Punzel · 02/05/2025 08:00

napody · 02/05/2025 07:44

And do you think that's a good thing or just a very clear sign that toxic masculinity and misogyny is on the rise (and it was bloody everywhere in the first place!)

Show quote history

Why on earth would young teens thinking that the idea of being trans is ridiculous be a sign or rising misogyny and toxic masculinity?
Wholesale adherence to the TWAW philosophy is misogynistic and toxic if you ask me.

Igneococcus · 02/05/2025 08:01

I've said it before on MN, in my experience it's the kids that were teenagers when lockdown started that were most affected by this. Lots of time alone at home spent on the internet. dd was 14 when lockdown started (20 now and 3rd year university) and there are several kids from her year on hormones and crowdfunding for surgeries.

CatOnAHotRadiator · 02/05/2025 08:07

napody · 02/05/2025 07:55

I think you're seriously underestimating how damaging some kind of 'cleansing' phase of ultra conformity would be for the actual children growing up in it.

It's not an either/or. I'm glad there's now clarity on the information they will be given: that people cannot change sex. Bit I think we need to be really careful to keep the 'acceptance of difference' part- that's what it was about for young teens, the vast majority of whom desisted (as comments above support) and didn't get put on any kind of medical pathway.

I'm fully GC as my posting history shows, but we need to consider how harmful a backlash could be. JKR and everyone need to take a break from celebrating at some point (though I know it feels good!) And to get back to that 'dress how you want' message she started with!

Show quote history

the Kids I know are already really good at this. They’re very accepting of people being who they are and dressing how they please. All issues have been around unacceptable behaviour. Her group don’t tolerate drinking, vaping, or bullying behaviour. But otherwise it’s cool. If lots of kids are heading this way then they are doing something right!