The study draws upon reports from parents with children struggling with Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD).
QUICK FACTS:
- A study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior analyzed 1,655 reports of adolescents and young adults (AYA) experiencing Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD), which the study describes as a “socially contagious” phenomenon that has drastically increased in the last decade.
- The study, titled “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria: Parent Reports on 1655 Possible Cases,” used information provided by parents surveyed through the organization ‘Parents of Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD) Kids.’
- The reported AYAs first experienced gender dysphoria between the ages of 11 and 21, 75% of whom were biological females.
- The study notes that AYAs with pre-existing mental health conditions were more likely to socially and medically transition to meet their gender identity.
- “Parents reported that they had often felt pressured by clinicians to affirm their AYA child’s new gender and support their transition,” the study authors write, adding that the child’s mental well-being “deteriorated considerably” after he or she socially transitioned.
- “Social transitioning” refers to an individual taking steps to live as their non-biological gender, such as legally changing their name, pronouns, dressing as the desired gender, exhibiting mannerisms and a tone of voice more indicative of the other gender, etc.
FROM THE STUDY:
- The average age for developing mental health problems was 10.5 years, with one of the first symptoms being anxiety.
- 51.8% of parents surveyed answered “yes” when asked if they were pressured from a “gender clinic or specialist” to transition their child.
- The study suggests that a child’s social group has a profound impact on their feelings of gender dysphoria.
- When asked if youths were friends with others who also experienced transgender feelings, 55.4% of parents said “yes.”
- “Having friends come out as transgender contemporaneously was significantly related to the likelihood of social transition,” the study explained.
- The study’s conclusion that AYAs with pre-existing mental health issues are more greatly correlated to social and medical gender transition than those with positive mental wellness is troubling, as “youth with mental health issues may be especially likely to lack judgment necessary to make these important, and in the case of medical transition permanent, decisions.”
BACKGROUND:
- Television network “Cartoon Network” celebrated Transgender Day of Visibility by teaching children to use pronouns corresponding with gender identity.
- “Addressing someone using their pronouns and name shows that you RESPECT them as their authentic self!” the channel tweeted, followed by a heart emoji. “We celebrate the journey of our trans and gender-non-conforming friends on this #TransgenderDayofVisibility!”
- The channel released a one-minute video featuring Cartoon Network characters introducing themselves with their name and pronouns.
