A recent study by M. Paz Galupo, Lex Pulice-Farrow, and Louis Lindley looks at the social aspects of gender dysphoria. This social realm is a very real aspect of gender dysphoria for many trans, non-binary, and gender diverse youth, but it’s left out of many definitions of gender dysphoria. We at TYEF are writing this follow-up to our previous blog post to give parents further insight into how their trans child may be experiencing gender dysphoria – both physically and socially.
This wonderful book by Tony Ferraiolo features illustrations by transgender youth where they explain their experiences with gender dysphoria. Check out both the first edition and the second edition.
The distress caused by gender dysphoria is significant and largely caused by a misalignment between the body and mind (or soul) of trans youth. However, according to this study by Galupo et al, gender dysphoric distress also comes from a trans person’s daily social interactions in a society dominated by non trans persons, or “cisnormative”. The study discusses different types of social “external triggers” for gender dysphoria, with one of the biggest triggers being misgendering. As most trans youth can confirm, being viewed by others as the wrong gender can exacerbate gender dysphoria. Misgendering is also a type of “microaggression,” and this can cause trans youth to experience difficult feelings such as anxiety, fear, worry, and even trauma. Ensuring that people involved in your child’s life are consistently using the correct name and pronouns is essential for improving your child’s mental health and alleviating their dysphoria. The social nature of all this shows how dysphoria has both physical (i.e., bodily incongruence) and social aspects.
The study goes on to look at how these external social triggers spark a process of “internal processing.” When trans youth are misgendered in public, many report experiencing “intrusive thoughts” and a “preoccupation with how other people were reading or thinking about their gender.” For trans people, this internal processing often extends to worries about how people have read their gender in past social interactions, as well as anxiety about how they will be perceived in future situations. Such internal turmoil can be jarring and all-encompassing, especially for youth who desire to live “stealth” (i.e., when nobody around them knows they are trans). This internal mental distress is an often-overlooked aspect of gender dysphoria, showing how complex dysphoria can be. So, when your child comes to you with concerns about their gender dysphoria, remember that their distress could be coming from both physical bodily incongruence and deeply uncomfortable social situations. All of these aspects of gender dysphoria involve clinically significant distress, often tied to feelings of extreme anxiety and worry.
The study also looks at how gender dysphoria “interrupt[s] social functioning.” This disturbance can come in a variety of forms for trans youth, such as not talking in public because of worries about one’s voice being gendered incorrectly, or perhaps even refusing to socialize due to fear of discrimination. If your child exhibits these types of difficulties with social interactions, it’s worth considering whether their gender dysphoria may be playing a role. Many of our youth at TYEF have reported that their main concern for returning to school has to do with navigating social situations (this could include worries about discrimination, fear of being gendered incorrectly in public, anticipation of future social interactions going poorly due to internal rumination, and more). So, if your trans child has social anxiety (or other worries about being in public), there is a good chance that this largely stems from the difficulties of interacting with others in a society where most people are not transgender.
This also ties in with another important point: if a trans youth has mental health issues, these may be tied to societal discrimination rather than a potential medical diagnosis. While any young person – including trans youth – may be diagnosed with a range of mental health issues, it’s important to remember that for trans youth these issues almost certainly come from social discrimination or legitimate fear of it. In any case, consulting with a trans youth experienced medical professional is important.
Finally, the study looks at how “the social context for gender dysphoria” often improves as a trans person progresses in their transition. Throughout this process, TYEF trans youth report that people increasingly view them as their true gender, thereby significantly lessening social triggers of gender dysphoria. This points to another important point: the only “cure” for gender dysphoria is transitioning. While dysphoria may not be completely eliminated, in the vast majority of cases it is significantly improved as a child progresses in their gender transition.
So, the next time your child talks to you about their gender dysphoria, remember that they may be experiencing both bodily and social distress. Some of the best ways to help them are consistently affirming their gender through using the correct name and pronouns, encouraging them to dress and act in a way consistent with their gender identity, distancing your child from non-affirming friends or family, and reassuring your child that you love, accept, and support them for who they truly are. Ultimately, trans children just want to be seen and accepted for who they truly are.
See the academic study here.
Authors and date of the study: M. Paz Galupo, Lex Pulice-Farrow, and Louis Lindley, 2019