Quick Notes:

Why do people seek to ​change genders​? What drives a person to ​curate​ a brand new identity? In this episode, Sasha and Stella look beyond a literal understanding of​​ transitioning and explore the​ psychological power and vulnerability of attempting transformation​​.

Links:

Hacsi Horvath on Erin Brewer

Queer in the Crib

Gender Dysphoria is not One Thing

Extended Notes:

• Why do people want to transition?
• Let’s clear up some misconceptions today about trans people.
• Why do little children between the ages of three and five have gender dysphoria?
• Which comes first? Gender nonconformity, then sexuality, or is it the other way around?
• People can just tell when a child is developing gender-nonconforming traits.
• What makes a child become gender-nonconforming in the first place? Stella offers some of her insights.
• There is an instinctive grab for attention when siblings come along and this might create thoughts/feelings of, “If I were the other gender I’d get more attention like the way my brothers (or sisters) are getting.”
• It’s very hard to parent a strong-willed child, but they tend to do great things if you can handle the storm.
• It can be hard as a parent. The desire to save face when your child is rebelling can be very difficult to manage.
• Why would a child in their teenage years be looking to transition?
• Perhaps the desire to be a different gender, someone other than you, helps teens feel more in control of their developing bodies.
• Teens constantly being asked “What are you?” by adults adds an extra layer of pressure to their identity.
• How can a more sensitive and non-aggressive boy get the attention of the girls?
• When a guy reveals he’s trans or transitioning, all of sudden he’s getting more attention from the girls than ever before.
• Why don’t you hear more about transvestism anymore?
• Do children just need to “suck it up”?
• Adults really underestimate the mental toll puberty can have on children.
• Some children don’t even explore the option of transitioning into another gender because they didn’t even realize that they could.
• We tell children they can be anything they wish! Well, how stressful is that for a child who doesn’t even know who they are?
• What do you do when a young child is influenced by social media?
• There are so many options to pick an identity or gender pronoun. It’s stressful for a child to pick “who” they are.
• The more accepted transgender identities become, the more people will be asking masculine women when they plan to transition. That’s exhausting and insulting.
• What does it really mean to be a “woman” or to be a “man”?
• We want excitement. For some people, it’s exciting to call yourself a different pronoun. It’s new, it’s different, it makes you stand out.
• Even if you change your gender, you still wake up the same person on the inside.
• Sasha believes there should be a mandate for psychological exploration before taking a big decision like a gender change.

This podcast is partially sponsored by ReIME, Rethink Identity Medicine Ethics:

Rethinkime.org

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