@tarahaelle @ MINIMUM, AAP Docs should inform of iatrogenic risks of Affirmation Model, namely that social transition lends itself to persistence, lends itself to medicalization. Yes, all treatments have risks, all the more reason parents should be informed of all of them. /1
@tarahaelle This is not what is happening. Without mental history of patient, w/o weighing of pros/cons, w/o expertise in area of GD, AAP Docs promote affirmation model only, which is a pyschosocial intervention. /2 forbes.com/sites/tarahael…
@tarahaelle It is one of the hardest decisions a parent can make in navigating care for their #ROGD child and so much depends on the severity of their gender dysphoria, the age of onset, any comorbid diagnoses, and the motivational behaviors behind the reinvention of self. /3
Teen girls are self-IDing themselves as transgender for all sorts of reasons. Some have internalized misogyny and are uncomfortable moving from being “cute kid”, dealing with puberty changes, to trying to fit in as an sex objectified teen girl in our hypersexualized culture. /4
This is a diff from transgender self-id boys, many who seek adoration/sexual attention; girls want to deflect attention. In fact, many adolescent girls hate their bodies, as many adolescent girls do, and feel they “aren’t good at being a girl“ and... /5
...living up to the physical standards, expectations and stereotypes. Some have internalized homophobia, maybe because of how they see lesbians treated in porn which is a click away these days. /6
Some have trauma, such as rape, that they unconsciously think “if I was a boy, I wouldn’t have been raped” and think this will protect them. Many gifted girls are doing this in disproportionate numbers, as well as many girls with ASD. Some girls are doing this in groups. /7
@tarahaelle The affirmation model is not right for everyone. It can make things better, better for an interim, and can make things worse, much worse--esp if it doesn't account for the underlying issues first. It shouldn't be presented as the only option. Thanks. /end
