I am grateful to the author of this thoughtful, vulnerable essay. As a therapist myself, I agree with what you say regarding the lack of critical thinking in our field. In grad school we are taught very little about this and what is taught is one path only ("gender affirming care") and any research we are instructed to read is outdated (published in 2010) and based on adults. But you aren't allowed to ask questions without being accused of causing your non-binary/trans-identified classmates to feel unsafe. It's crazy. I loved what you described in your capstone project as revealing how complex the "trans" community is. This is one of the reasons I think a blanket automatic "affirming" approach is so ridiculous. As the saying goes, if you've met one "trans" person, you've met one.
These types of articles perfectly demonstrate why the only answer to all of this must be NO.
When an adult walks into a doctor's office and says "I want to be the opposite sex!" the answer can only be NO. Doctors say no to patients all the time, and this is the only thing that will work here. These people are suffering from a symptom due to an underlying problem which is what really needs attention. They don't need to mutilate themselves to live a lie. We are our bodies. There is no way to be something else.
And that is why "trans" people do not exist. That is why "gender dysphoria" or whatever term is now being used doesn't exist. This is a symptom, and we cannot upend society to cater to it.
This very well might be the one, the one article I can send to family members that just might stand a chance of cracking the wall of ignorance without completely alienating me. But it still feels so, so risky.
Simply breathtaking. I am absolutely shocked to read such raw honesty and thoughtfulness. I am in the camp that adults make adult decisions, and children are not adults We should stop trying to "adult" them. I think its also true some people will be harmed by not getting the whole truth (sorry to the post-modernist that take offence to truth). Informed consent means you are informed. When that doesn't happen there should be consequences.
Until now, I thought there was little hope in this space but this personal revelation shared here means there is hope. We need more of this. I have said the moment you make an appointment to see a gender specialist your fate is sealed. It is consumer based non-sense and nuance is a pathetic excuse for not doing the job that involves actual diagnostic exploration - asking why. Thank you for sharing this is vital!!!
Thank you for such an honest, thoughtful, truthful, compassionate, calm and reasonable look at this issue. Many people who err toward hysteria in this area could learn from it.
You are a remarkably brave and sane person, to have gone through all this and to be able to accept where you find yourself with calm. I feel nothing but anger towards the "therapists" and doctors who are pushing girls and young women into medicalisation, and then washing their hands of the outcomes.
This is a fairly similar path to my own, except my first encounter with a psychologist giving me that diagnosis was about 5 years prior. It was still an instant diagnosis even back then and the online spaces sound awfully similar to how they were back then as well.
It is encouraging to hear about people who do reconsider viewpoints when confronted with evidence. I am interested in helping social work as a profession understand a fuller picture of this issue. Let me know if you'd be interested in teaming up in such endeavors.
Sorry for the delayed reply! I have attempted to offer webinars to social work spaces on the filer picture. If teaming up with someone with loved experience I wonder if the free would be better received.
1. How many women die annually because they were BORN that way?
2. How many trans women suffer toxic tampon shock, monthly cramps & bleeding, menopausal mood swings, hot flashes & weight gain, fibroids, mastectomies, hysterectomies, gynecological cancers or die in childbirth?
3. What gender "debate"? There is only human reproductive BIOLOGY.
You should know (if you were able read the article thoroughly) that the data is of low quality, so we'll never know how many trans women have mastectomies, for example, - whether it's similar to the number of biological men who have mastectomies, or biological women... I presume that's what you want to know??? I'm not sure what knowing that data would do for you?
Thank you for writing this. When I started actually paying attention to detransitioners and gender critical voices like Genspect or LGB Alliance NYC, I found out they weren't the frothing-at-the-mouth harridans I had been warned about. In fact, "we" in the "trans community" were much more like that....
I hope you all can pass on the study below. It slays the myth that trans ideology affects only the few. Just extrapolate this study of misreported trans crimes to medicine, economics or any other field.
Presently, and this worsens as each day goes by, the statistical underpinnings of our research are rotting away by the inclusion of false information in many of our most crucial data bases. These data bases are meant to provide a foundation for all research and studies on crime, medicine, education and economics. Without the use of valid statistics all conclusions in these areas become corrupted and meaningless. See article below on crime & justice to realize just how enormous an impact this falsification of data is already having. B.W.
P.S. Transgender identified men have the highest rates of H.I.V. If that figure were included in the data base for women I wonder how would it affect treatment targets and outcomes?
I am grateful to the author of this thoughtful, vulnerable essay. As a therapist myself, I agree with what you say regarding the lack of critical thinking in our field. In grad school we are taught very little about this and what is taught is one path only ("gender affirming care") and any research we are instructed to read is outdated (published in 2010) and based on adults. But you aren't allowed to ask questions without being accused of causing your non-binary/trans-identified classmates to feel unsafe. It's crazy. I loved what you described in your capstone project as revealing how complex the "trans" community is. This is one of the reasons I think a blanket automatic "affirming" approach is so ridiculous. As the saying goes, if you've met one "trans" person, you've met one.
These types of articles perfectly demonstrate why the only answer to all of this must be NO.
When an adult walks into a doctor's office and says "I want to be the opposite sex!" the answer can only be NO. Doctors say no to patients all the time, and this is the only thing that will work here. These people are suffering from a symptom due to an underlying problem which is what really needs attention. They don't need to mutilate themselves to live a lie. We are our bodies. There is no way to be something else.
And that is why "trans" people do not exist. That is why "gender dysphoria" or whatever term is now being used doesn't exist. This is a symptom, and we cannot upend society to cater to it.
This very well might be the one, the one article I can send to family members that just might stand a chance of cracking the wall of ignorance without completely alienating me. But it still feels so, so risky.
This is a very thoughtful essay. We need to hear more voices like yours.
Very well done. It is rare to see an article that gets both the psychological trauma and the effects of the medical interventions right. Bravo!
Simply breathtaking. I am absolutely shocked to read such raw honesty and thoughtfulness. I am in the camp that adults make adult decisions, and children are not adults We should stop trying to "adult" them. I think its also true some people will be harmed by not getting the whole truth (sorry to the post-modernist that take offence to truth). Informed consent means you are informed. When that doesn't happen there should be consequences.
Until now, I thought there was little hope in this space but this personal revelation shared here means there is hope. We need more of this. I have said the moment you make an appointment to see a gender specialist your fate is sealed. It is consumer based non-sense and nuance is a pathetic excuse for not doing the job that involves actual diagnostic exploration - asking why. Thank you for sharing this is vital!!!
Wonderful essay, and I applaud your courage to examine your beliefs.
I hope you find peace and health. Thanks for writing this moving essay.
Thank you for such an honest, thoughtful, truthful, compassionate, calm and reasonable look at this issue. Many people who err toward hysteria in this area could learn from it.
You are a remarkably brave and sane person, to have gone through all this and to be able to accept where you find yourself with calm. I feel nothing but anger towards the "therapists" and doctors who are pushing girls and young women into medicalisation, and then washing their hands of the outcomes.
Lmao cope harder
This is a fairly similar path to my own, except my first encounter with a psychologist giving me that diagnosis was about 5 years prior. It was still an instant diagnosis even back then and the online spaces sound awfully similar to how they were back then as well.
Interesting - thank you for sharing your experience.
It is encouraging to hear about people who do reconsider viewpoints when confronted with evidence. I am interested in helping social work as a profession understand a fuller picture of this issue. Let me know if you'd be interested in teaming up in such endeavors.
What did you have in mind?
I’m also an MSW and would like to help social work become deradicalized about gender transition
Please consider joining the Heterodox Academy Social Work Group
https://heterodoxacademy.org/join-hxcommunity/
Sorry for the delayed reply! I have attempted to offer webinars to social work spaces on the filer picture. If teaming up with someone with loved experience I wonder if the free would be better received.
1. How many women die annually because they were BORN that way?
2. How many trans women suffer toxic tampon shock, monthly cramps & bleeding, menopausal mood swings, hot flashes & weight gain, fibroids, mastectomies, hysterectomies, gynecological cancers or die in childbirth?
3. What gender "debate"? There is only human reproductive BIOLOGY.
You should know (if you were able read the article thoroughly) that the data is of low quality, so we'll never know how many trans women have mastectomies, for example, - whether it's similar to the number of biological men who have mastectomies, or biological women... I presume that's what you want to know??? I'm not sure what knowing that data would do for you?
Yes, because what does it matter women die because they were born that way, do you even know any? 🍏🐍🧙♀️🔥
Thank you for writing this. When I started actually paying attention to detransitioners and gender critical voices like Genspect or LGB Alliance NYC, I found out they weren't the frothing-at-the-mouth harridans I had been warned about. In fact, "we" in the "trans community" were much more like that....
I hope you all can pass on the study below. It slays the myth that trans ideology affects only the few. Just extrapolate this study of misreported trans crimes to medicine, economics or any other field.
Presently, and this worsens as each day goes by, the statistical underpinnings of our research are rotting away by the inclusion of false information in many of our most crucial data bases. These data bases are meant to provide a foundation for all research and studies on crime, medicine, education and economics. Without the use of valid statistics all conclusions in these areas become corrupted and meaningless. See article below on crime & justice to realize just how enormous an impact this falsification of data is already having. B.W.
P.S. Transgender identified men have the highest rates of H.I.V. If that figure were included in the data base for women I wonder how would it affect treatment targets and outcomes?
https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/accuracy-criminal-statistics-matters