Date

12-11-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Laura Rolen

Keywords

detransition, transgender, gender dysphoria, gender transition, social media

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Until recently, sex change surgery was rarely performed and on adults only; however, the discovery of cross-sex hormones, advances in plastic surgery, and the Dutch protocol contributed to the use of a treatment regimen for children consisting of puberty blockers (GnRHa), cross-sex hormones, and sex reassignment surgery, known as gender-affirmative treatment (GAT). A growing number of individuals, who opted to undergo the transition process, are detransitioning by ceasing hormone therapy or requesting corrective/reconstructive surgery. Their lived experiences are relatively unknown because most detransitioners drop out of treatment, are silenced by trans activists, and are not acknowledged by medical organizations. This study used the unobtrusive method of collecting anonymous data from a social media website which were then coded, categorized, condensed into themes, and analyzed in a qualitative study to help identify the medical and psychological needs of detransitioners. Data consisted of 200 comments obtained from detransitioners, unsolicited and unedited, unless necessary to maintain anonymity, exposing the unfortunate results of medical transition on children and adolescents and the difficulty of detransitioners finding competent medical care. Results revealed four major themes: Coercion, Influence, and Misinformation; Serious Health Problems; How Transitioners are Failed by Others; and Self-Blame. Despite recent research and the UK Cass Review showing no evidence exists to support prescribing hormones to children, exposing questionable medical treatment, and European countries reevaluating the treatment of gender dysphoric children, the “trans” individuals dictating the standards of care in the U.S. staunchly continue to ignore the science, promote the ideology, support gender-transition in children, and ignore the detransitioners.

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