A comprehensive Dutch study shows that the vast majority of children and adolescents grow out of their perceived “gender confusion” naturally over the years and have no long-term need for surgery, sex hormones, or puberty blockers.
In the Western world, many politicians in recent years have promoted or even introduced laws that make it easier for minors to undergo gender manipulation treatments of various kinds – despite warnings that many young people later regret it because they suffer from mental illness rather than actually being “born the wrong sex”.
Recently published research in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, which followed 2,772 adolescents into early adulthood, shows that in the vast majority of cases, “gender confusion” is temporary and passes into adulthood. According to the study, 11% of young people were “dissatisfied” with their gender when they were 11 years old – a figure that dropped to 4% by the time they reached the age range of 24-26.
“Gender non-contentedness, while being relatively common during early adolescence, in general decreases with age and appears to be associated with a poorer self-concept and mental health throughout development”, note medical researchers at the University of Groningen.
Identity doubts are normal
In the study, children were divided into three groups based on their response to the statement “I want to be the opposite sex”. Participants were given three options: ‘never’, ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’.
The majority, or 78%, said they were not dissatisfied with their biological sex, 19% experienced a decrease in “gender dissatisfaction” over the course of the study, and only 2% experienced an increase in gender dissatisfaction.
Most of the participants who expressed increased gender dissatisfaction were women. Those whose gender dissatisfaction changed over the course of the study were also more likely to have lower self-esteem during adolescence than those who were not dissatisfied.
“The results of the current study may help young people realize that it is normal to have some doubts about their identity and gender identity during this age period, and that it is also relatively common”, they add.
Call for caution
The researchers also urged health care providers to be cautious in treating gender dysphoric adolescents, viewing them primarily as “individuals with intense gender dysphoric feelings, and to have a broader view of the developmental pattern of the general population and of children receiving adolescent psychiatric care”.
MAJOR DUTCH STUDY queried youngsters six times during their lives, from 10 to 26 years old. 78% never had gender discontentment (gender dysphoria). 19% did, but it went away naturally. Only 2% had increasing gender discontentment. These results strongly oppose rushing to… pic.twitter.com/3NDl6O7QSL
— Dr. Michael Guillén (@DrMGuillen) April 5, 2024
The study’s findings have received widespread attention on social media, with entrepreneur Elon Musk writing on X that “I’m cool with adults doing whatever they want, so long as it doesn’t harm others, but kids need to be protected at all costs”.
I’m cool with adults doing whatever they want, so long as it doesn’t harm others, but kids need to be protected at all costs https://t.co/DBgwyvUovs
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 4, 2024
Current issue in Sweden
The issue is also hotly debated in Sweden, where Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is pushing to liberalize the law to make it easier for minors to change their legal gender and to simplify the process for gender reassignment surgery in adulthood.
However, large parts of his own party are opposed to such a change, and members of parliament describe how they feel pressured to support the bill for fear of losing their positions.
– Speak out and stop the Gender Identity Act, Christian Sonesson, a Moderate councillor in Staffanstorp, recently declared.
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