gender neutral upbringing

The number of children being referred to the UK's leading gender identity assessment clinic is increasing to as many as 50 a week with more on waiting lists. It feels it is time for gender neutral upbringing for the wellbeing of all children.

Gender Dysphoria is where “a person experiences discomfort or distress because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity”. Official figures from the Tavistock Centre in London show that 2,016 children were referred to them in 2016-17, with about 800 being treated with puberty blockers. It's more likely to persist into adulthood when it’s still being reported by a child over 12.

The rise of children being referred could be due to the increasing awareness and acceptance of gender dysphoria, which can only be a positive step.

I just wish it was called 'sex dysphoria'. Gender stereotypes cause such misconceptions of what it means to be female or male that we need to break away from the label. I imagine many of the children referred are questioning gender stereotypes rather than knowing they are in the wrong body.

If upbringing was gender neutral then children wouldn't have the burden of their behaviour not fitting a socially constructed norm, while those who do change sex wouldn't feel so stigmatised, and would not have to fit into another gender box but rather be themselves.

I don't mean just for children who are gender questioning but for all children. I previously wrote about research results that clearly show gender is damaging. Paloma Faith has announced she is bringing her child up as gender neutral. This does not mean the child is not allowed to like anything traditionally for that gender. It means as an adult she is deciding not to enforce her own taught behaviours onto her child. The behaviours where as soon as we know a child is male or female we choose different physical contact, wording, toys, clothes, colours and expectations, and enforce these onto the child.

Gender neutral essentially means allowing children to be who they are without being controlled or behaviours changed because of their sex. This really needs to go beyond the home and into schools, as Sweden has begun to do.

We may well be coming into a time of learning the extent of those born as the wrong sex. It is positive that so many children and individuals are feeling empowered to become their true selves. Gender neutral upbringing is a way of supporting those not only questioning their sex and transitioning but all children so that they are not cajoled into becoming a label.

#caregiving #education #genderneutral #Identity