The following are common myths and misconceptions about transgender teens and transgender people in general.
#1: Transgender teens are just experimenting/ confused/ trying to get a rise out of people.
Archive for 2012
Transgender Teens, Part 3: Myths and Misconceptions
Teens and Black Out Parties
I was watching the news this week and took note of a dangerous new trend called “black out” parties. These are parties where teens and college students dress in neon colors and go dance. They can be held in warehouse spaces or empty buildings that can be rented for the evening and are usually promoted as light shows with dancing. Often the advertising for the party states it is alcohol-free. This simple description doesn’t sound so harmful, however, what struck me was the report of how many teens are using the parties as a way to access alcohol and drugs. Read full post »
Transgender Teens, Part 2: Defining Gender Further
Go into any U.S. toy store. There are toys for boys, and toys for girls. Go to a clothing store, and there is a women’s and a men’s section. Go to a university, and there are fraternities for boys and sororities for girls. Our society is based on two genders, and since there are two biological sexes (see my prior post in which I clarify that this is a great simplification), that’s the way it is everywhere. Right?
In fact, there are numerous societies and cultures in which gender is not binary (male or female). On almost every continent there are examples of biological men taking on a feminine gender, or biological women taking on a masculine gender, or a class of people recognized as both genders, or something else completely different. This is a fascinating interactive map that takes us across the world looking at the way different societies interpret gender (the Bugi of Indonesia recognize five genders!) We’re not just talking small, isolated tribes; people have recognized more than two genders in Italian, Indian, and Native American societies.
More on birth control: Part 4 long term option placement and removal
This is the 4th in a series of video posts on birth control with Dr. Amies-Oelschlager. Here she discusses the placement and removal of long term, reversible, contraceptive options for teens.
Transgender Teens, Part 1: The Basics of Sex and Gender
When I first started writing the blog series on “Parenting LGB Teens,” a lot of people asked, “Where’s the T?” T, in this acronym, stands for transgender, and I decided to keep it for a separate series. Our knowledge of transgender health, challenges and treatment is relatively new, and many people are less familiar with transgender issues than with gay/lesbian/bisexual issues. This series will focus on transgender issues in general, and transgender adolescents in particular.
Before we discuss transgender, we have to discuss gender. And to discuss gender, we have to discuss biological sex.
More on birth control: Part 3 long term options
This is the third in a series of videos where we discuss reversible, long term birth control options with Dr. Amies-Oelschlager. See our previous post on teens and birth control for written details.
Related Posts
More on birth control Part 1 Plan B
More on birth control: Part 2 Short Term Options
Parenting Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Teens, Part 7: Useful Resources
There is a world of wonderful resources out there for parents and families of LGB teens, and for LGB teens themselves. I’ve linked to some of them from my posts, but I wanted to give a few more. They all support transgender teens as well, which is convenient, since next week I will be starting on the series “Transgender Teens.” Read full post »
More on birth control: Part 2 Short Term Options
We’ve had previous posts on contraception or birth control in teens, but now we’re going to break down the options. This is the second in a series of 4 video blogs where we discuss contraception in a bit more detail with Dr. Amies-Oelschlager.
Related Posts
Parenting Gay, Lesbian, & Bisexual Teens, Part 6: Advice from Religious Leaders
In my last post, I promised you advice from religious experts. I am so grateful that four Seattle religious leaders took time out of their busy schedules to give views and advice on different aspects of the spiritual and religious questions that arise when LGB teens come out to their parents. I can’t thank them enough for the wisdom and hope of their words, and I hope you find these videos as fascinating and inspiring as I did!
More on birth control: Part 1 Plan B
We discussed Plan B in a previous post on emergency contraception. In this 1st post from our series of video blogs with Dr. Amies-Oelschlager. Listen while we talk about Plan B in more detail.
Related Posts
More on birth control: Part 2 Short Term Options
More on birth control: Part 3 Long Term Options
