G&STC Blog Roundup: 8 Blogs About Gender
Gender is a complicated and personal thing. No one has the same experience of their gender as the next person! That can make understanding gender and its complexities difficult, especially if you don’t have any guidance on where to start.
Whether you’re taking time to explore your own gender + your relationship to it, or you’re looking for ways to support a trans or gender expansive loved one, this list is a great jumping off point. Below we put together 8 of our favorite blogs on gender:
A Brief Guide to They/Them Pronouns: Their Significance & How to Use Them
“When thinking about the topic of pronouns as a whole, it is important to check assumptions at the door. While you might have previously heard of people who are non-binary or genderqueer using they/them pronouns, pronouns are not necessarily an indicator of someone’s identity. Instead, selecting pronouns is a personal decision each person gets to make based on what feels most comfortable and affirming for them.”
What is “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria,” and What Does it Have to Do with My Trans Child?
“Before delving into what Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria is, it’s important to lay out what it is not. ROGD is not a mental health diagnosis, nor is it a subset of Gender Dysphoria as it exists in the DSM 5. In fact, it is an idea that has not been proven to exist at all. Dr. Lisa Littman, a physician, coined this term in her 2018 study to describe “sudden” gender dysphoria beginning during or after puberty in a teen or young adult. ROGD has been used to question the validity of youth coming out as trans if they had not experienced documented dysphoria as young children and describes trans identity as a social contagion. Because of the traction this idea has gained among a wide array of anti-trans circles and the harm it is capable of causing, it is important to deconstruct ROGD and re-center the voices of trans youth themselves”
Trans & Struggling with Food and Eating in Quarantine?
“Even with the reality of underdiagnosis, the recognized prevalence of eating disorders is dangerously high among trans folks. A 2018 national survey conducted by The Trevor Project and the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) revealed that 71% of straight, trans respondents had been diagnosed with an eating disorder. Those of a gender other than trans male, trans female, or gender nonconforming (GNC) reported a 60% rate of diagnosis. Given that eating disorders are among the most fatal of mental health struggles, these rates are devastating and dangerous.”
How To Support Your Newly Out Trans Partner
“This is an exciting time in your partner's life! They are coming home to themselves and sharing their vulnerable truths with the world around them. Celebrate this news by thanking them for trusting you enough to tell you. Coming out is often represented as a negative experience filled with pain, broken trust, or relationships ending as a result. Flipping that narrative all the way around and deciding to honor your partner is affirming in and of itself.”
“Don’t assume you know anyone’s pronouns simply by looking at them. If you don’t already know someone’s pronouns, take the time to ask them. Another way to be an ally is to normalize the sharing of pronouns. When you introduce yourself to someone, you can say “Hi, my name is [NAME] and my pronouns are [PRONOUNS]. It’s nice to meet you!” This way, the burden of disclosing pronouns is not solely placed on trans folks. Put your pronouns in your email signature and in your bio on social media sites. If you’re meeting someone for the first time, you can introduce yourself with your pronouns and ask about theirs. Reminder: don’t just do this for people who you think “look” trans or nonbinary (Side note: Keep in mind that there is not one way that trans people look and this sentiment is based on a cisgender ideal.)”
Six Tips for Therapists to Be More Queer and Trans Inclusive in Their Practice
“Finding a welcoming & inclusive therapy environment can be a difficult process, but for queer folks there is an added challenge. Not only do queer folks need to find a provider who can best serve and support them, they also have the added stress of finding a therapist who is familiar with queer and trans issues & educated on inclusivity.
If you’re looking to be a safe & inclusive space for your queer and trans clients, here are six tips you can use in your practice to make sure your environment is affirming.”
Labels and Language: The Webster Dictionary Adds Cisgender and Genderqueer
“While sometimes harmful and limiting, labels can also be connecting and liberating. Language can help us better understand ourselves, connect us to others with shared experiences and can help us feel a sense of belonging.”
Introduction to Nonbinary Genders
“There’s often a misunderstanding of nonbinary as a sort of secret third gender. There’s the idea that you can be male, female, or nonbinary. However, this idea flattens the experience of being nonbinary to one thing–usually a thin, white, androgynous looking person. But that’s not the experience of every nonbinary person! Some nonbinary people express their gender through an androgynous sort of style and presentation, other’s might not, and this can also change from day to day or within a day.”
BLOG AUTHORS ALL HOLD POSITIONS AT THE GENDER & SEXUALITY THERAPY CENTER (G&STC). FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR THERAPISTS AND SERVICES PLEASE CONTACT US.