Thread by @FierceMum

New government guidance is rumoured to include barriers to social transition at school.

As a researcher with multiple evidence-based peer reviewed publications on childhood social transition, here’s what you need to know: 1/

Existing published evidence is overwhelming that social transition is critical for trans children’s mental health, well-being, confidence and happiness.

There is literally zero published research indicating any harm. 2/

A study with 73 socially transitioned trans children aged 3 to 12 years found they had high levels of mental health, with levels of depression similar to cis children (Olson et al., 2016). 3/

A follow-up study on 116 socially transitioned trans children aged 6 to 14 years found high levels of mental health and self-worth in socially transitioned trans children 4/

It concluded “these findings are in striking contrast to previous work with children who had not socially transitioned, which found very high rates of depression and anxiety” (Durwood et al., 2017, p. 1). 5/

I have published multiple peer reviewed articles on social transition. Evidence that is of direct relevance to the topic currently being debated in the media.

I actually listened to trans children & their families.

Let me tell you what I found 6/

My first article, centres trans children’s voices, hearing first-hand what childhood social transition meant to them:

“Euphoria”: Trans children and experiences of prepubertal social transition 7/

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/fa…

Before social transition trans children remember correcting assumptions, becoming distressed, struggling alone, reaching crisis, or growing withdrawn and frustrated.

Trans children experienced harm waiting for their families and schools to accept them. 8/

After social transition trans children describe a weight being lifted, emphasising the link between social transition and well-being.

A child commented "It made me feel joyful. And happy." 9/

This article notes the pain where a child's identity was rejected at school.

"Before he transitioned, he was coming home from school angry. And literally overnight, when we agreed that date [for social transition at school], he changed. He was happier, the anger had gone." 10/

It also captures how much it means to a child, when their school is willing to respect their identity.

"And [child]’s reaction was to burst out crying, she just burst, burst out crying, leaning into me, that first bit of acceptance from outside of the family". 11/

My second article focuses on the experiences and reflections of parents of trans children.

“I never wanted her to feel shame”: parent reflections on supporting a transgender child. 12/

tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

In this article, parents share being overwhelmed by fears about social transition, describing a loss of control and loss of security, and reaching a point where their child’s distress was so acute they felt support for social transition was their only viable option. 13/

These same parents then reflect upon and evaluate what social transition meant for their child.

Every single parent recognised the important benefits of social transition, with social transition seen as protective for their child’s happiness and well-being. 14/

These parents weigh up the risks of transition (finding none of any significance) against the risks of rejection (which they see as a significant risk to their child).

Interviewees share experience-based advice for other parents to affirm & support their child at every step. 15/

A third article focuses on the delays that are put in front of trans children, even within families who have, at some point, become supportive and affirming.

“I Was Losing That Sense of Her Being Happy”—Trans Children and Delaying Social Transition. 16/

tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

This article specifically examines ‘delayed transition’, an approach also named ‘watchful waiting’, the approach supposedly recommended by our prime minister. 17/

Parents, lacking in knowledge or awareness of trans people, found many reasons to delay support for their child.

Ignorance, negative assumptions. Fears about safety, family reaction or social judgement.

Entrenched forces discourage parents from supporting a trans child 18/

Parents recall dismissing their child’s identity for months or years.

Parents recall being discouraged from support by guidance they later learnt to be misinformation (including harmful guidance against social transition from the NHS). 19/

Parents recalled putting restrictions on affirmation (only in the home), trying delay tactics before letting their child live their truth at school.

Parents put hurdles up in front of their child, and stalled or delayed support, pushing trans possibilities into the future. 20/

The research then examines parental perspectives and reflections of the impacts of these delays.

All parents who delayed support described the distress and harm their child carried, whilst they ‘watchfully waited’ or delayed a child’s transition.

One parent said:

"Waiting is only a positive thing if stuff isn’t happening while you’re waiting. If time is marching on & life is continuing in the background while you are ‘watchful waiting’. It’s not a neutral option to just pause, because the rest of the world doesn’t". 22/

The parent continued:

"And, and actually I think it was reversed. I think she had been living her life on pause. And allowing her to socially transition was like pressing play, and allowing her to fully participate in life as who she was." 23/

Parents described these harms, and reflected upon the contribution of their own fears, worries, ignorance or prejudice which delayed them supporting their child.

Parents felt that prolonged delay was harmful. 24/

Parents noted that a majority of younger trans children had experienced home-based delays on support & affirmation for a long time before raising the topic with their school.

Parents felt that further delay, at the point of asking for school support, would be cruel. 25/

One parent felt that their family had followed a watchful waiting approach.

"we did delay, because she told us at eight and she partially socially transitioned at 10, and she didn't fully transition (at school) until age 11". 26/

The parent described the impact:

"but what happened was, I watched my child’s happiness and mental health fall off a cliff. So, I wouldn’t recommend that at all. Because I saw the impact that that had on my own young person". 27/

This study highlights the support parents may need to overcome cisnormative barriers to supportiveness, and the distress, frustration and trauma that trans children may experience, even within affirming families. 28/

This research sits alongside wider research that highlights the huge delays that trans children carry within their own heads, before they speak to their parent or to any other person. 29/

https://twitter.com/natachakennedy/status/1680117232427204608

For me the term ‘watchful waiting’ is a misnomer.
'Delayed transition' is a more accurate term, that captures the reality that denying transition is an active not passive intervention in a child’s life. 30/

An alternative term is ‘prolonged rejection’.

This captures the emotional impact of 'watchful waiting' on a child.

There is nothing benign about letting a child think they are unacceptable. There is nothing neutral in telling them (indirectly) that who they are is wrong. 31/

Those advocating for ‘watchful waiting’ are advocating for ‘prolonged rejection’ of trans children.

They are advocating for shame, for depression, for low self-esteem.

They are denying trans children a chance at a happy childhood. 32/

As shown in my research and the wider literature, trans children who are supported at home and at school have good mental health.

Trans children only get one childhood, and they shouldn’t have to spend it being rejected. 33/

Trans children are important and valuable and need support, at home and at school.

Schools need to better support trans children, including support, without barriers, for social transition. 34/

For more of my research on trans children's experiences at school, see this recent thread. 35/

https://twitter.com/FierceMum/status/1670899933908434946

Transphobes, or those who are ignorant and misinformed about trans children are bringing in policies that will cause immense harm to vulnerable trans children.

We need to stick up for trans pupils in our schools. 36/

We need to call out these policies that are based on prejudice, that go against existing evidence.

Existing literature is unanimous that social transition is critical for trans children’s mental health and well-being.

Trans children should have happy childhoods. End 37/37