TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND HORMONES

Hi Tetty:

You seem to know quite a bit about transgender issues so I have a question.  Recently I heard that some people are giving children hormones to transition.  How could that be?  Kids are into fantasy play so much, how could any responsible parent do this?  Thank you for your time.

Priscilla

Hi Priscilla:

Let me give you some perspective so this can make more sense to you.  Giving children/preteens hormones has been controversial both for social and medical reasons.  There are understandable arguments and questions such as yours, given that children are so changeable and affected by many outside influences.  There are medical concerns too, since administering hormones to children before puberty prevents many bodily changes associated with puberty and these changes may be important for the overall health of that person.

Understand Priscilla, that before puberty transsexual children usually have already suffered trauma in being so different than their peers and being “found out” by their families.  By the time puberty hits many trans children have already been very deeply injured.  When puberty comes along a child experiences bodily changes that put that person at much deeper odds with themselves as they watch their bodies develop in ways they experience as shocking and horrifying (I am not exaggerating).  These changes set them even further apart from the world around them.  This is the trauma for transsexual people; not being transsexual per se, but how it affects them in relation to a world that does not validate or accept them.  Additionally, trans teenagers experience the world as becoming more hostile towards them.  This reality can not be not overstated.

If there is a way that parents, teachers and health care professionals can identify transsexual children, imagine the positive benefits possible when this child has the opportunity to grow into who she/he really is, instead of something that will only bring deeper trauma.  A life that is headed towards catastrophe can instead head towards wholeness.

It is true we must be very careful not to go this route if there is a question about a child’s gender.  At the same time we have become sophisticated as health care professionals in our ability to identify these children.  While we should not make this decision lightly, trained and experienced professionals know enough about transsexual children’s experience to make an informed decision.

You question is a good one.  Mainstream society needs to gain access to a lot more information concerning transgender/transsexual people so they are met in this world with more understanding and support.  I hope this clarifies things a bit for you.

Best,

Tetty