aspergers and gender dysmorphia

Hi, I'm new to this community but I too have a daughter ( 18) who wishes to transition to male and who has changed her name by deed poll. She has been identifying as male since 16 years old. As you will guess straightaway from my non use of male pronouns, I do not feel that transition is right for her, primarily because this was SUDDEN ONSET gender dysphoria, seemingly after many hours spent on Tumblr and YouTube, watching transition videos. The amount of young children and teens identifying as transgender has increased exponentially over the past few years, and girls wishing to be boys now far outnumber boys wishing to be girls. So, there has got to be something else going on here with teen girls / young people - and I do honestly feel that there is a degree of social contagion going on here. We need to be very careful when Aspergers and a desire for friendship or fitting in are in the mix. These are powerful drivers in the teen years.

My daughter used to pose happily in bikinis and makeup on Facebook, until she changed friendship group..a couple of whom were non binary / trans. There is a lot of cheer leading on social media for those who come out as trans, and we should be wary of this influence on young people. 

I have lately read a number of accounts by female detransistioners, many of whom cite a change in ideological opinions about sex / gender which allowed them to start to feel comfortable with their bodies. I think it would be valid for girls to explore internal misogyny or body confidence or social anxiety issues as well as gender counselling. However, I feel that in the rush to affirm a transgender identity, other underlying issues will not be treated. 

I know that we are beginning to realise that girls on the spectrum are underdiagnosed, and we have much more to learn about autism in females. Even more reason that we should take care when prescribing them testosterone, without knowing how this will affect their experience of autism.

I am just a mum, without great medical knowledge or understanding of autism. I need to educate myself more,  but as a parent, I also need to listen to my gut instinct. 

I feel isolated and unable to have a voice about all this, because of accusations of bigotry or transphobia or that I am invalidating others. I don't want to upset anyone, I don't want anyone to be hurt, but I do want to do the right thing by my child, whatever that may eventually be, and being able to debate these issues would help.

Hi, I'm new to this community but I too have a daughter ( 18) who wishes to transition to male and who has changed her name by deed poll. She has been identifying as male since 16 years old. As you will guess straightaway from my non use of male pronouns, I do not feel that transition is right for her, primarily because this was SUDDEN ONSET gender dysphoria, seemingly after many hours spent on Tumblr and YouTube, watching transition videos. The amount of young children and teens identifying as transgender has increased exponentially over the past few years, and girls wishing to be boys now far outnumber boys wishing to be girls. So, there has got to be something else going on here with teen girls / young people - and I do honestly feel that there is a degree of social contagion going on here. We need to be very careful when Aspergers and a desire for friendship or fitting in are in the mix. These are powerful drivers in the teen years.

My daughter used to pose happily in bikinis and makeup on Facebook, until she changed friendship group..a couple of whom were non binary / trans. There is a lot of cheer leading on social media for those who come out as trans, and we should be wary of this influence on young people. 

I have lately read a number of accounts by female detransistioners, many of whom cite a change in ideological opinions about sex / gender which allowed them to start to feel comfortable with their bodies. I think it would be valid for girls to explore internal misogyny or body confidence or social anxiety issues as well as gender counselling. However, I feel that in the rush to affirm a transgender identity, other underlying issues will not be treated. 

I know that we are beginning to realise that girls on the spectrum are underdiagnosed, and we have much more to learn about autism in females. Even more reason that we should take care when prescribing them testosterone, without knowing how this will affect their experience of autism.

I am just a mum, without great medical knowledge or understanding of autism. I need to educate myself more,  but as a parent, I also need to listen to my gut instinct. 

I feel isolated and unable to have a voice about all this, because of accusations of bigotry or transphobia or that I am invalidating others. I don't want to upset anyone, I don't want anyone to be hurt, but I do want to do the right thing by my child, whatever that may eventually be, and being able to debate these issues would help.