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Given increased media attention, I think it’s time for a thread about “de-transition.” It’s a heterogeneous term, not synonymous with regret, and requires some nuanced discussion. 
(1/x) #transgender #trans #medtwitter
(1/x) #transgender #trans #medtwitter
Gender "de-transition" is not synonymous with transition regret. For instance, one may choose to stop gender-affirming hormones but not regret taking them, feeling this experience was important for coming to better understand their gender identity (Turban et al. JAMA Peds 2018)
Some folks may go back to presenting as their sex assigned at birth because of harassment in their communities or pressure from their families, without their gender identity actually changing (Turban & Keuroghlian JAACAP 2018)
"De-transition" is a heterogeneous term and could involve various domains (medical de-transition, social de-transition, legal de-transition, among others). None of these are necessarily synonymous with regret or a change in identity, and it's important to keep this in mind.
"De-transition" can be thought of as due to internal factors (e.g., my gender identity changed) or external factors (e.g., I was harassed at my job so much I had to start presenting as my sex assigned at birth there). But this is more complicated than it may seem at first glance.
The minority stress model explains distal factors (discrimination based on gender identity, rejection from family) can lead to internal factors (internalized transphobia). The same framework can be applied to how external factors may influence internal factors in "de-transition"
For example, if a #trans person entered a trans exclusionary radical feminist group (or a religious community) that tells them being transgender is misogynistic or evil, they may internalize some of these messages. These external factors may start to look like internal factors.
As we move forward, we need to be more thoughtful and deliberate about the heterogeneity of "de-transition," the distinction between "de-transition" and regret, internal and external factors, and how external factors can drive what appear to be internal factors.
Also, this is clearly just one online post, but an interesting conceptual read about the insidious way in which external factors can lead to supposed internal factors in the context of "de-transition" https://medium.com/an-injustice/detransition-as-conversion-therapy-a-survivor-speaks-out-7abd4a9782fa
