Transgender Children

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Transgender Representation in the Media

Today’s society can be characterized as accepting, inquisitive and deeply rooted in pop culture. Any form of entertainment seeks to represent all members of the human race, or so we believe. According to the statistics, trans people make up an estimated 0.5 percent of the U.S. population. Transgender advocates reiterate that their small numbers should mean that their representation in pop culture is more important, not less. In 2012, there was no transgender representation in any of the 210 films distributed in American movie theaters. That misrepresentation, or lack of representation of the transgender community is decades behind the amount of media representation of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community. A GLAAD study found that in the last 10 years, more than half of trans characters depicted on television were portrayed in a negative light. More positive trans representation in the media would greatly impact those children and young adults who are confused or struggling to come to terms with their identity.

How to Show Support for Transgender Children

After consistent, persistent and incessant behavior from the child it is in their best interest to begin and facilitate their “gender journey” into their desired gender. The first course of action is to avoid and seek to prevent actions from others that could make the child feel invalidated, condemned or ridiculed for their gender identity. It is imperative that you do as much research as possible on the transgender. An important step to supporting them is to honor the name that the trans child would like to be called, this shows that you recognize and respect their decisions unfailingly. community, in order to gain insight and better facilitate this journey into this new community your child has become a part of. Researching the transgender community is also beneficial because you are equipped with knowledge in case your child has any questions about their own gender identity journey. The primary socialization agent young children have is their interaction with peers in the classroom. It is essential that transgender children are provided with an environment where they feel safe. Because there are no official policies or training programs put in place for teachers to support transgender students, nearly 90% of primary and secondary school teachers do not know how to adequately create a safe environment for transgender children. Getting rid of “boy-girl” seating plans in classrooms, recognizing and efficiently terminating trans-phobic language, and honoring the child’s gender are examples of support that can be demonstrated in classrooms. Lastly, hormone therapy could also be a beneficial step in your child’s gender identity journey. Although it has become common in transgender adults, hormone therapy is not suggested for transgender children. Hormone therapy is the first procedure in the process of physically changing your body into the desired sex. Doctors and psychologists both agree to, at the very minimum, wait until the child has reached puberty before having discussions about hormone therapy.

Supporting Transgender Children Produces Mental Health Benefits

It is imperative that we find new ways to stop overt discrimination against the transgender community. A study published by the American Journal of Public Health found that 6% of transgender youth attempted suicide in 2015. Multiple studies show that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals are more likely to experience mental health problems than heterosexuals due to the manifestation of prejudice and social stigma plague the LGBT community. Although studies such as these two and many others have played an important role in calling attention to the mental health needs of this community, there is so much work to be done. One example of the mental health benefits support can have on transgender children who are supported in their gender transition is that these children showed no increased depressive problems compared to controls and only minimal elevations in anxiety. Studies that tested the suicide attempt rates in transgender youth showed a 10% decrease when the youth’s gender identity was widely accepted by family and peers. The development of programs in schools that prevent bullying and teach transgender youth how to cope with difficult times also greatly reduces the mental stress put on transgender youth.

Concluding Statements

In conclusion, the transgender community is underrepresented, highly discriminated against, and largely misunderstood in regard with most of society.

With an informed and an open mind, other members of society can become advocates for the rights of the transgender community. Coming out to the world as a transgender child is such a brave feat. We must learn how to support and make these children feel safe, it could ultimately save many lives.