Trans+Youth+Perspective+in+the+United+States

=Trans Youth Perspective in the United States = toc

Introduction
Gender variant/trans children exhibit behavior and emotions beyond children who dislike gendered clothing, toys and activities. They exhibit an ongoing aversion to behaviors that have been assigned by society via gender role (i.e. avoidance of rough play for natal males or aversion to female type clothing for natal females). Gender is a complicated social construct, with physiological foundation but mostly a system of rules and customs associated with traditional roles assigned to males and females. Families, parents and trans youth often experience stigma, isolation and emotional stress (Perrin, Menvielle, &Tuerk, n.d.). Gender variant/trans youth may or may not meet the criteria for [|Gender Identity Disorder], a disorder that is described as feelings of strong, persistent feelings of identification with the opposite gender and discomfort with one’s own assigned sex (Psychology Today, 2014). Due to the vast spectrum that is assumed with gender variance, especially in children, there are many options for parents and youth to pursue regarding transition to the youth’s identified gender presentation.

Developmental Milestones
By the age of two or three, children can identity that they are boys or girls and can apply gender labels and can assign toys to being gender specific. By age four or five, children have learned the social stereotypes about how girls and boys behave (Perrin, Menvielle, &Tuerk, n.d.). By the age of five to seven years, children can understand gender consistency and stability; specifically that one gender is still that gender even if they dress in other, or opposite ways (Brill & Pepper, 2008). The onset of gender variant or transgender behavior typically is seen by age three (Perrin, Menvielle & Tuerk, n.d.). The experience of puberty by transgender youth is often one that increases the discomfort of a body that they’re not ready to embrace and these changes may increase risk of depression, self-neglect and self-destructive behaviors. Due to the effects of hormones during puberty, the physical changes confirm for the child that they are experiencing the wrong puberty (Brill & Pepper, 2008). Dating is a normal part of adolescence and parents should communicate that their trans youth not involve themselves in sexual relationships without caution due the fact that they may reveal their trans status without talking to their partners first. This may cause the youth to become involved in an unsafe situation, or pregnancy for female to male trans youth (Brill & Pepper, 2008). Transgender youth can have any sexual orientation, even though society implies a close connection between gender and sexual orientation. Their biological anatomy does not dictate their sexual attraction and should be based on the youth’s identified gender presentation. Due to the impact that going through puberty may have on transgender youth, parents may decide with their child to delay puberty through GnRh therapy, or puberty inhibitors. Parents should seek out a medical professional who specializes in gender identity and who is well informed in the [|Tanner Stages] of puberty. There are side effects to delaying puberty including a shorter stature than their peers and temporary differences in cognitive development. Without the delay of puberty, transgender youth may experience two puberties if they decide to pursue hormonal therapy later in age. Parents should consult their insurance companies as hormonal treatment may or may not be covered and can be expensive.

Transition
Parents of trans youth may experience shock, denial, ambivalence and anger but with support will eventually becoming accepting of their child’s identified gender. Therapy assists with all the components of transition to their child’s identified gender by providing support. Parents may have to answer the following questions: How/when should we tell the family, friends and school? What does transition mean? How do we know our child’s ready? What about puberty? How do we support and bolster self esteem? Sharing with families, friends and schools can be a process for parents of trans youth and various options are possible. Some families may choose to live in “stealth” or just live without any discussion once the child begins presenting in their identified gender by dressing differently, playing with different toys or growing/cutting hair. They may tell the people who need to know: physicians, school. They may also choose to share with everyone immediately once the child begins presenting in their identified gender in a more obvious manner (Pearson, 2013). When disclosure occurs in the school environment, parents may encounter resistance and resources are available for support for legal matters.

Trans Youth in Society
While the experience of every trans youth is different, there are some consistencies in treatment of trans youth in school. Ninety percent of trans youth have heard derogatory remarks regarding their presentation, ninety percent hear negative remarks about gender presentations in general and one third have heard school staff have make negative remarks about gender presentation. Trans students feel unsafe in school because of personal characteristics (gender expression and sexual orientation). Almost all have experience some type of verbal harassment and half have experienced physical harassment, some of which has lead to physical assault. These factors directly impact the students’ abilities at school, leading to class and school absence. This withdrawal from school lowers grade point averages and the desire to go to college as well as overall educational aspirations. Less than half of trans youth reported that they had a LGBT specific club or organization at school and that reduces the amount of support they experience. Transgender youth also report underrepresentation of LGBT figures and histories, which may alienate the student from identification with important figures. Research finds that schools that have LGBT organizations are able to support gender variant and transgender students (Greytak, Kosciw & Diaz, 2009). In addition to school support, families can reach out to organizations that specialize in trans youth issues like [|TransYouth Family Allies], [|Trans Youth Equality Foundation] and the [|Trans Youth Support Network]. There are also countless resources, including channels on YouTube like the [|Trans Youth Channel]. ==

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References
Brill, S. & Pepper, R. (2008). //The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals//. San Francisico: Cleiss Press Inc.

Greytak, E.A., Kosciw, J.G. & Diaz, E.M. (2009). //Harsh realities: The experience of transgender youth in our nation’s schools//. Retrieved from http://static.squarespace.com/static/530651b5e4b0b4d1ce2d7a88/t/5317bc2 6e4b0ab76f9004ff9/1394064422904/GLSEN_2009_Harsh_Realities.pdf.

Pearson, K. (2013). //Difference isn’t wrong…It just is//. Retrieved from http://www.imatyfa.org/resources/parents/difference-isnt-wrong/.

Perrin, E.C., Menvielle, E.J., Tuerk, C. (n.d.). //To the beat of a different drummer: The gender variant child//. Retrieved from http://www.imatyfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/to-the-beat-of-a-different-drummer-6-20071.pdf.

Psychology Today. (2014). //Gender Identity Disorder//. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/ conditions/gender-identity-disorder.