A study was published that anti-trans activists are using to claim that being transgender is “just a fad.” What does the study claim to have found? Why is the scientific field reacting with skepticism? We report the facts.
A Controversial Study
The study was titled “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria – Parent Reports on 1655 Possible Cases,” and it aimed to examine the concept of Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria. But it became the point of controversy when it was published in March 2023.
The Claims
The study claimed that being transgender was a “social contagion” that could lead adolescents to falsely believe they were transgender.
The ROGD Theory
The study in question, authored by Michael Bailey, posited the theory of “rapid-onset gender dysphoria,” asserting that adolescents were attributing their social problems, feelings, and mental health issues to gender dysphoria due to societal influences.
The False Beliefs
Bailey claimed that this led to a false belief of being transgender among youths.
The Study’s Credibility
However, the study’s credibility came under scrutiny due to concerns regarding its methodology and ethics.
It Was Retracted
The study was then retracted after its publisher cited a violation of editorial policies around consent.
The Concerns
Readers raised questions about the study’s ethics, which prompted further investigation.
Experts Dismissed the Study
As a result, sixty-two medical providers, including the American Psychological Association (APA), have discredited the concept of ROGD as a legitimate clinical diagnosis.
The Claims Were Challenged
In an interview with Scientific American, several experts in the field challenged the notion of a “social contagion” influencing adolescents’ gender identities.
Marci Bowers, President of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, dismissed ROGD as a “fear-based concept that is not supported by studies.”
Potential Harm
Bowers went on to highlight that ROGD was being exploited to propagate anti-trans legislation in the US, emphasizing the harm such legislation inflicts on Trans individuals.
The Introduction
The term “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria” was originally introduced in a 2018 paper by Lisa Littman.
She Conducted a Survey
Littman conducted a survey involving parents of transgender children, aiming to describe a child’s “sudden or rapid onset of gender dysphoria.”
It Was Used by Anti-Trans Groups
This term, however, was later co-opted by anti-trans groups to justify discriminatory laws, prompting Littman to clarify that it is not a formal diagnosis.
Alternative Term
Diane Ehrensaft, Director of Mental Health at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Child and Adolescent Gender Center, argued that the term “Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria” misrepresents the situation and should rather be termed “rapid-onset parental discovery.”
She highlighted that children often confide in their peers before their families due to the fear associated with coming out to their parents.
Talk to Children
Ehrensaft said, “To talk about what children are thinking, feeling, and doing, particularly as they get old enough to have their own minds and narratives, you need to interview them.”
“In some ways, [kids] are far more advanced than I am, as somebody in my 70s, about how they live and understand gender,” she added.
American Scientific Institutions Are Captured by Woke Ideology
Another User wrote, “American scientific institutions, including heretofore respected sources like Scientific American, have been captured by woke ideology. They no longer produce unbiased, research-driven information.”
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The post “Gender Dysphoria Due to Societal Influences” – Controversial Study Presents Transgender Identity as a ‘Social Contagion’ Impacting Adolescents’ Gender Perceptions first appeared on Mama Say What?!
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