Hear Kids' Honest Opinions on Being a Boy or Girl Around the World | National Geographic - General

[video=youtube;2B3ea7IGwLA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B3ea7IGwLA[/video] Avery Jackson, the 9 year old transgendered girl who appears in this video, will also appear on the cover of the [url=http://i.imgur.com/pBQ3T5W.jpg]Janurary 2017[/url] issue.

jesus christ what is it with children and gender identity, like wait until you're an adult ffs

This video was really cool to watch. It's really fascinating talking to kids around this age, because they're really articulate, but they still have these really interesting ideas about the world and work in a totally different way from most adults.

I don't get it? what was the message or purpose of this? and what does transgenderism have to do with it

[QUOTE=Xephio;51562405]I don't get it? what was the message or purpose of this? and what does transgenderism have to do with it[/QUOTE] To show random kids around the globe's opinions on gender? And one of them was transgender? I don't get what's so mysterious here. [editline]21st December 2016[/editline] I thought it was really interesting, especially how they asked kids from cultures that are vastly different from what I know.

That was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. [editline]21st December 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Xephio;51562405]I don't get it? what was the message or purpose of this? and what does transgenderism have to do with it[/QUOTE] yeah whats the point of hearing views from people of different ages, genders and nationalities what a pointless stupid video transgenderism had nothing to do with it

[QUOTE=_Chewgum;51562316]jesus christ what is it with children and gender identity, like wait until you're an adult ffs[/QUOTE] As someone who has dealt with this shit since I was 5-6 years old and who have been dealing with gender dysphoria since onset of puberty I flip you the bird.

[QUOTE=Scot;51562533]That was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. [editline]21st December 2016[/editline] yeah whats the point of hearing views from people of different ages, genders and nationalities what a pointless stupid video transgenderism had nothing to do with it[/QUOTE] "the best part of being a girl is I dont have to pretend to be a girl" says the transgender girl whos also on the cover of the january issue. pretty sure it's saying something about transgenderism also where did i say it's a stupid pointless video, im just having trouble seeing the message behind the subject

[QUOTE=Xephio;51562697]"the best part of being a girl is I dont have to pretend to be a girl" says the transgender girl whos also on the cover of the january issue. pretty sure it's saying something about transgenderism also where did i say it's a stupid pointless video, im just having trouble seeing the message behind the subject[/QUOTE] The trans kid is a tiny part of the video. You're focusing on it for no reason.

[QUOTE=Xephio;51562697]"the best part of being a girl is I dont have to pretend to be a girl" says the transgender girl whos also on the cover of the january issue. pretty sure it's saying something about transgenderism also where did i say it's a stupid pointless video, im just having trouble seeing the message behind the subject[/QUOTE] Well sure that particular girl is a pretty strong example, even visually, of transgender kids. She's apparently quite articulate, and willing to tell the world her thoughts as an example of a fairly new and 'controversial' phenomenon. I dunno about you, but I feel that's interesting enough to cover it in a magazine? But that still doesn't mean the [I]video[/I] is about transgenderism. I'm really not sure I understand your concern? The video is about kids' views on gender and the magazine is a special issue on [I]"Gender Revolution"[/I], apparently.

[QUOTE=Xephio;51562697]"the best part of being a girl is I dont have to pretend to be a girl" says the transgender girl whos also on the cover of the january issue. pretty sure it's saying something about transgenderism also where did i say it's a stupid pointless video, im just having trouble seeing the message behind the subject[/QUOTE] um what that's quite a misquote you've got there she said "Now I don't have to pretend to be a boy", not girl.

[QUOTE=_Chewgum;51562316]jesus christ what is it with children and gender identity, like wait until you're an adult ffs[/QUOTE] I don't get this idea either. Changing your gender identity isn't like a hipster, hobby [I]"I'm just doing it to be cool"[/I] kind of thing. As far as I know, it's a response to a deep identity problem. You can't decide not to feel a certain way just because some guy thinks you're not old enough to feel that way, so this thought seems so crazy to me. How could anyone decide against feeling a certain way just because they're a kid? And then maybe it turns out it was all a phase or something else, but so what?

[QUOTE=_Chewgum;51562316]jesus christ what is it with children and gender identity, like wait until you're an adult ffs[/QUOTE] It's not really that simple. For male-to-female transgender people, waiting to adulthood means you have a much slimmer chance of passing well which is the opposite of what someone who wants to transition would want. You can't really just undo the effects of testosterone. There's hormone blockers, but I'm pretty sure those aren't a perfect solution. Don't know the specifics.

Young kids aren't ready yet to make life altering decisions. Yes, some kids who feel like they are not the proper gender as a child actually are transgender, but it is much much healthier to wait until after adulthood to make a life altering decision.

[QUOTE=The golden;51563063]You know little of which you speak of. Children can very much have gender dysphoria and at their age it's the best time to treat it. Can people please stop saying this and instead actually do some research on hormones, puberty blockers, and the age at which hormone therapy becomes less effective. Would you rather her transition later when her body has been permanently altered by male puberty processes? That's often when the chance of suicide skyrockets. [B] Also hint: Puberty blocking is 100% reversible .[/B]Please don't speak about stuff you know nothing about. (this is directed at everyone)[/QUOTE] For once, I agree with a user with an anime avatar.

I dont know, a lot of these responses dont seem like genuine things that kids would say.

My basic, possibly flawed understanding is this. Kid is debating whether they're transgender. They take hormone blockers and were transgender: Great, now they can transition as cleanly as possible. They take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: Might be some hurdles, but this is fairly reversible. FtM transgenders for instance generally appear a lot smoother because testosterone's effects are really, really strong. They didn't take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: All's well. They didn't take hormone blockers and were transgender: [I]Probable Suicide.[/I]

[QUOTE=Simplemac3;51566039]My basic, possibly flawed understanding is this. Kid is debating whether they're transgender. They take hormone blockers and were transgender: Great, now they can transition as cleanly as possible. They take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: Might be some hurdles, but this is fairly reversible. FtM transgenders for instance generally appear a lot smoother because testosterone's effects are really, really strong. They didn't take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: All's well. They didn't take hormone blockers and were transgender: [I]Probable Suicide.[/I][/QUOTE] This is a very sensationalist and black and white way at looking at the issue. "If you are transgender and don't take hormones you will probably die" isn't exactly true. Yes suicide rates are higher, but isn't that probably because the way society treats transgendered people currently?

[QUOTE=_Chewgum;51562316]jesus christ what is it with children and gender identity, like wait until you're an adult ffs[/QUOTE] Gender Identity is cemented at around 2-3. It's not like transgender children are being given hormones right off the bat. Usually they'll take puberty blockers until they're old enough and are sure this is what they want. Cis people can now quit getting so pissy at children for exploring who they are. [editline]21st December 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Simplemac3;51566039]My basic, possibly flawed understanding is this. Kid is debating whether they're transgender. They take hormone blockers and were transgender: Great, now they can transition as cleanly as possible. They take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: Might be some hurdles, but this is fairly reversible. FtM transgenders for instance generally appear a lot smoother because testosterone's effects are really, really strong. They didn't take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: All's well. They didn't take hormone blockers and were transgender: [I]Probable Suicide.[/I][/QUOTE] Suicide isn't out of the picture, but it's more likely they'll suffer a lifetime of anguish as they go through a horrible transformation that they didn't want.

[QUOTE=matt000024;51566086]This is a very sensationalist and black and white way at looking at the issue. "If you are transgender and don't take hormones you will probably die" isn't exactly true. Yes suicide rates are higher, but isn't that probably because the way society treats transgendered people currently?[/QUOTE] The point is that suicide rates skyrocket when they can't pass, and your chances of passing well get substantially lower if you've fully gone through male pubety. People can end up looking really, really jarring at times, and it's hard to deny. Hormone blockers being at least an [i]option[/i] when a kid shows early interest doesn't really strike me as that bad. Also didn't say kids should be able to chug hormones, just able to take hormone blockers to lessen the effects of male puberty if they're 100% convinced and well educated on it. You can't really reverse the effects of male puberty very well without loads of effort, honestly. That's the big issue with waiting til adulthood because at that point if they are trans, they're fucked over. What I'm trying to say is by my knowledge, it's easier to reverse hormone blockers than puberty.

I don't understand why you need to be transgender just to dress up in some frilly clothes and rock a pretty haircut. I dunno seems like a lot of trouble to go through to get called a different pronoun. Why not just wear a dress and makeup and be like "yep I'm a straight dude I just like to dress like this", I've known a few people like that and they get along fine.

[QUOTE=Qwerty Bastard;51566312]I don't understand why you need to be transgender just to dress up in some frilly clothes and rock a pretty haircut. I dunno seems like a lot of trouble to go through to get called a different pronoun. Why not just wear a dress and makeup and be like "yep I'm a straight dude I just like to dress like this", I've known a few people like that and they get along fine.[/QUOTE] Children of today are very smart, they are so in tune that they are actually more aware of what hormones they are supposed to be receiving, than their own bodies.

[QUOTE=MadPro119;51566336]Children of today are very smart, they are so in tune that they are actually more aware of what hormones they are supposed to be receiving, than their own bodies.[/QUOTE] If a kid really believes they're a girl or a boy or whatever that doesn't match up with their assigned sex, and they know for sure that there is a genuine biological and mental disconnect, then good on 'em for figuring that shit out (and gooder on 'em for figuring it out at seven years old, I was still straining over what my favorite DBZ character was at that age). But I've read about and personally met a few cases (and was an example myself a few years ago) where it's just, "I wanna wear dresses and play with dolls and be girly, so I guess I should just change my entire personality and physiology to make that socially okay," and I dunno, it just seems like a lot of fucking work and mental anguish to put a kid through just because he feels uncomfortable in jeans or whatever. Not saying kids don't have a right to go through with it, I just know that the transition process is long and arduous, it's like committing to a full-body tattoo that takes ten years to apply.

[QUOTE=Simplemac3;51566039]My basic, possibly flawed understanding is this. Kid is debating whether they're transgender. They take hormone blockers and were transgender: Great, now they can transition as cleanly as possible. They take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: Might be some hurdles, but this is fairly reversible. FtM transgenders for instance generally appear a lot smoother because testosterone's effects are really, really strong. They didn't take hormone blockers and weren't transgender: All's well. They didn't take hormone blockers and were transgender: [I]Probable Suicide.[/I][/QUOTE] Suicide among transgenders is all around a lot higher due to a variety of issues, most of which stem from gender identity causing problems with the inflicted and their friends and family. From what I'm aware of, we have come a long way with hormone therapy, but like most things in psychiatry, it's a very tough game of trying to find the right peg for the hole. Sometimes you'll never find the right peg.

wow pink hair gross

[QUOTE=Qwerty Bastard;51566433]If a kid really believes they're a girl or a boy or whatever that doesn't match up with their assigned sex, and they know for sure that there is a genuine biological and mental disconnect[/QUOTE] But feminism taught me the genders are pretty much the same and interchangeable. How does one know his sex is wrong? Like you said, I get wanting to go against defined social norms for genders, but how at that age does one know that their sexual organs are incorrect?

[QUOTE=MadPro119;51566482]But feminism taught me the genders are pretty much the same and interchangeable. How does one know his sex is wrong? Like you said, I get wanting to go against defined social norms for genders, but how at that age does one know that their sexual organs are incorrect?[/QUOTE] I think I may have missed some sarcasm in that last post because I'm confused now.

[QUOTE=Qwerty Bastard;51566497]I think I may have missed some sarcasm in that last post because I'm confused now.[/QUOTE] Yes my first post was sarcastic, the second one was a legitimate question. My quest for knowledge has lead to me to two interesting takes on gender in the past that I have never heard of. The Hijra of South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan are men that dress as women. They are recognized by some governments as a third gender. Relations between males and Hijra are not seen as homosexual. [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijra_(South_Asia)[/url] As well as the Two-Spirit people of indigenous North American tribes. They had a unique role in the culture and often chose to become Two-Spirit at an early age due to some sort of dream or vision. In 1769 Don Pedro Fages wrote this about them [quote]I have submitted substantial evidence that those Indian men who, both here and farther inland, are observed in the dress, clothing and character of women - there being two or three such in each village - pass as sodomites by profession.... They are called joyas, and are held in great esteem.[/quote] [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirit[/url] Thanks to this video [url]https://youtu.be/AoUORx0LeIc[/url] However unfortunately it didn't shed much light on actually determining if one requires a sex change or hormone therapy. That being said, I have nothing against those operations or those who choose to undertake them, I'm just trying to understand.

[QUOTE=_Chewgum;51562316]jesus christ what is it with children and gender identity, like wait until you're an adult ffs[/QUOTE] It's super interesting to hear honest opinions from kids because they don't have decades of conditioning about the "right" things to think and say.

[QUOTE=MadPro119;51567156]Yes my first post was sarcastic, the second one was a legitimate question. My quest for knowledge has lead to me to two interesting takes on gender in the past that I have never heard of. The Hijra of South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan are men that dress as women. They are recognized by some governments as a third gender. Relations between males and Hijra are not seen as homosexual. [URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijra_(South_Asia)[/URL] As well as the Two-Spirit people of indigenous North American tribes. They had a unique role in the culture and often chose to become Two-Spirit at an early age due to some sort of dream or vision. In 1769 Don Pedro Fages wrote this about them [URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirit[/URL] Thanks to this video [URL]https://youtu.be/AoUORx0LeIc[/URL] However unfortunately it didn't shed much light on actually determining if one requires a sex change or hormone therapy. That being said, I have nothing against those operations or those who choose to undertake them, I'm just trying to understand.[/QUOTE] congratulations you have discovered that gender is primarily a sociological construct