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I view gender dysphoria in children as a reaction to the oppressive nature of societal gender contructs imposed on boys and girls.
I am opposed to the view that children are born with a gender or in the wrong body. There is no credible evidence to support these beliefs. 1/
I am opposed to the view that children are born with a gender or in the wrong body. There is no credible evidence to support these beliefs. 1/
Rather than encouraging children to internalise these contructs through accepting that gender is natural and inevitable, I think we should teach children to understand the construction of gender and see it for the oppressive and destructive force that it is. 2/
Thus rather than affirm a child in another corrosive socially constructed gender, it would be surely better to encourage critical thinking in those suffering from dysphoria. About gender, and how it fosters and maintains oppressive power relations. 3/
Teaching the child that there is nothing wrong with them, and that instead it is society that is "sick" is really what gender affirmation should be about.
"You are great, it is society making you sick"
How affirming would that approach be? 4/
"You are great, it is society making you sick"
How affirming would that approach be? 4/
That is why I cannot support the approach of Mermaids from a political/ethical perpective. Rather than liberate children from gender oppression, it further embeds them in a construct which is truly damaging and destructive to the developing child. 5/
The gender affirmative approach of Mermaids et al makes the child responsible for reacting perfectly naturally to injustices and unfairness in society.
It sends the message out that it is the child, and not society that needs to be fixed. /end
It sends the message out that it is the child, and not society that needs to be fixed. /end
