May 24, 2022·edited May 24, 2022Liked by Handwaving Freakoutery
Probably the most thoughtful piece I've seen on the subject in quite a while. Everyone has a strong opinion on it, but almost no one actually comprehends it. For most, the need transgender people experience is literally unthinkable.
As a point of clarity, I'm MTF trans. I've had a long-standing interest in understanding the psychology of the condition and how our current set of social pressures may be influencing what's going on.
I understand where a lot of people are coming from on the puberty blocker subject. I have a deep skepticism that children somehow have a deep understanding of their gender. I didn't sort it out proper till my late 20s, and I know that reality is not quite solid for children till they hit high school. The pressure applied by our current treatment systems is a recipe for harm.
EDIT: It's been a while since I've looked at the stats, but before the faddish nonsense took hold the ratio of MTF to FTM was roughly 5 to one. Be extremely skeptical of girls in social circles deciding they need to be male. they're particularly susceptible to social pressuring.
As always quite an analysis. I see the same thing but have not quantified as you have. It seems obvious the numbers are reflecting FTM transtrenders. Hopefully they think long and hard about top surgery but twitter and tic-toc allow them to post their scars, alas. But the decrease in T-levels also seems to have created many more fem boys than I recall who seem to disdain surgery; many are more likely gay. They are also featured on twitter. They are also more often on fan video channels hoping to make a buck from their femaleness, often aided by hormones. Not at all sure what hormones do to the futures of these young people but they ought to be somewhat reversible unlike puberty blockers.
Probably the most thoughtful piece I've seen on the subject in quite a while. Everyone has a strong opinion on it, but almost no one actually comprehends it. For most, the need transgender people experience is literally unthinkable.
As a point of clarity, I'm MTF trans. I've had a long-standing interest in understanding the psychology of the condition and how our current set of social pressures may be influencing what's going on.
I understand where a lot of people are coming from on the puberty blocker subject. I have a deep skepticism that children somehow have a deep understanding of their gender. I didn't sort it out proper till my late 20s, and I know that reality is not quite solid for children till they hit high school. The pressure applied by our current treatment systems is a recipe for harm.
EDIT: It's been a while since I've looked at the stats, but before the faddish nonsense took hold the ratio of MTF to FTM was roughly 5 to one. Be extremely skeptical of girls in social circles deciding they need to be male. they're particularly susceptible to social pressuring.
As always quite an analysis. I see the same thing but have not quantified as you have. It seems obvious the numbers are reflecting FTM transtrenders. Hopefully they think long and hard about top surgery but twitter and tic-toc allow them to post their scars, alas. But the decrease in T-levels also seems to have created many more fem boys than I recall who seem to disdain surgery; many are more likely gay. They are also featured on twitter. They are also more often on fan video channels hoping to make a buck from their femaleness, often aided by hormones. Not at all sure what hormones do to the futures of these young people but they ought to be somewhat reversible unlike puberty blockers.
This https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2021-056082/186992/Gender-Identity-5-Years-After-Social-Transition study was quite odd in that it shows wealthy parents seemingly wanting a opposite sexed child if I understand the paper. I simply can't accept that a six year old has any real concept of gender. But as you note the parents both discussing their trans child, I wonder.
Have you followed Abigail Shrier, who writes The Truth Fairy on Substack, and is the Author of Irreversible Damage?