Summarised by Centrist
Considering the mad dash to get adolescents on hormone blockers and scheduled for gender surgeries, a major study out of the Netherlands revealing that most kids outgrow their gender confusion issues is a major wake up call.
A study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, spanning 15 years and encompassing over 2700 participants, showed that 11% of adolescents expressed gender non-contentedness, which decreased to 4% by age 25.
Those increasingly uncomfortable with their gender were more likely to be female. They tended to exhibit a lower overall self-worth, more behavioural and emotional problems, and a non-heterosexual orientation.
The study’s implications affirm the normalcy of questioning one’s identity during adolescence. Patrick Brown, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, says the fact that individuals become more content with their gender identity over time implies that exercising prudence and caution, rather than rushing into permanent surgeries or hormone therapies, may be the most suitable approach for teenagers grappling with their identities and navigating their place in the world.
