Transgender Children

[peregrinerose 0]

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ok, let me correct my statement: I can't wrap my mind around a child that young being aware that they are transgender.

As a little girl, you were probably acutely aware that you were a girl, it is your nature. These kids, though perhaps in a 'boy' body feel just as acutely that they are a girl (or the reverse for the girls who feel they are boys). They probably don't label it as transgender, all they know is that they are being forced into a societal slot that they don't fit into from a psychological perspective, they feel wrong.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[narcimund 0]

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I didnt get it anywhere, I just know that i started becoming attracted to men and being boy crazy per se around the time of puberty. Up until then, I could have cared less about boys and it was all about competing in rodeos and hanging out with my girl friends....

You and others have that experience. Don't think it's universal though.

I had strong and consistent feelings before puberty which were definite indicators that I was homosexual. Children can feel romantic and sexual (or perhaps "semi-sexual") feelings long before puberty. My orientation was to other boys in a way that was different from my little straight friends' orientations.

I didn't know about the homosexual/heterosexual context then, so I didn't understand that it categorized me, but looking back, it's obvious I was gay as early as 6 -- and I only stop then because I don't have many memories before that age.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[sartre 0]

That's what I was wondering...do you realize these things at such an early age? Interesting. Of course, I was probably about that age when I had my first crush-Little Joe on "Bonanza".

[ChrisL 2]

Gender identity may well be hard wired from birth, BUT we as a culture assign roles to those genders with regard to how one should play, what one should wear etc.

Until a child is old enough to learn these culturally determined roles and intellectually understand that girls wear dresses and boys wear pants and girls play with barbie dolls and boys play with trucks etc

You simply cant convince me that a 2 year old boy, hard wired with a female gender identity, is going to have a desire to wear a dress instead of pants
That stuff is defined by our culture and requires a certain level of intellectual sophistication and understanding before conflicts can arise out of that child being forced into male gender roles.

6 years old? Maybe. 2 or 3? Gimme a break. That boy may well be wired to feel female, but he isnt going to notice any problems until he is old enough to understand our cultures normal gender roles.

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My mighty steed

[peregrinerose 0]

Kids that young really do have a sense of gender. They may not be verbalizing it yet, but they are learning constantly from birth, socializing from day one. Just because they may not be able to form coherent thoughts on the subject or have a conversation about it with you doesn't mean that they aren't perceiving social gender roles.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[freeflybella 0]

I agree.

Dateline is still a TV show. They do still have to tell a story for ratings.

The unsnapping of the overalls detail might have been a red herring in the overall story.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[sartre 0]

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You simply cant convince me that a 2 year old boy, hard wired with a female gender identity, is going to have a desire to wear a dress instead of pants

I understand your point, and I agree with the concept. But the reality is, even at the age of 2, my daughter had very definate opinions about what she wanted to wear. I doubt it had anything to do with her gender identity, but she certainly had certain colors/outfits that she put up a fuss about wearing. (Of course, I could barely keep her in clothes...she preferred to strip down and run around in her diaper. Maybe an indicator of how she'll be when she's an elderly lady? )