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The Dangers of Social Transition

Social transition is a term used to describe the process where an individual decides to change their social identity. It often includes a change of name, a change of pronouns, and a change in clothes, hairstyle, grooming, and mannerisms. It often involves the person “coming out” as transgender. Social transition is a powerful psychosocial intervention. It requires the participation of other people to affirm a self-declared identity. Schools should never unilaterally implement the social transition of a student without parents’ knowledge or consent. Many studies have highlighted the risk that social transition can increase the likelihood of the persistence of a transgender identity, and that it can interfere with healthy identity development. 

 

In our experience facilitating a child’s social transition makes is more difficult for that child to desist or detransition. Social transition can concretize what would have been a passing identity. It can be embarrassing and difficult for a child to publicly announce they’ve changed their mind. And we know that kids change their minds all the time. We have the responsibility as parents to speak truthfully to and about our child. The truth is that no one is born in the wrong body and people cannot change sex. We do not believe it is helpful to anyone to pretend otherwise. 

Research on Social Transition:

  • Brief Guidance on Social Transition, Genspect.

    • There is no quality long-term peer-reviewed evidence about the impact of social transition.

  • Correcting the Record on Social Transition.

    • Some children transitioned early barely realize that they are the opposite sex and develop a sense of reality unrooted in their biological sex and loaded with unrealistic expectations.

    • Researchers and clinicians treating youth have expressed concern that social transition can lock in a temporary phase of identity development and make accepting one’s sex and coming to terms with one’s body more difficult

    • A 2022 study by researchers who intended to show that “trans kids know who they are” and rarely change their minds inadvertently showed that “transition” itself perpetuates the persistence of a transgender identity.

    • The social transitioning of children interferes with the natural process of desistance and increases the chances of unnecessary, harmful medicalization.

  • Social contagion, the psychiatric symptom pool and non-suicidal self-injury

    • ​"There is evidence that social contagion plays a role in shaping the clinical presentation of some psychiatric symptoms, particularly affecting features that vary over time and culture. Some symptoms can increase so rapidly in prevalence that they become ‘epidemic’. The mechanism involves a spread through peers and/or the media."

  • Not social transition status, but peer relations and family functioning predict psychological functioning in a German clinical sample of children with Gender Dysphoria

    • "​A multiple linear regression analysis examined the impact of the social transition status on psychological functioning, controlled for gender, age, socioeconomic status (SES), PPR and GFF. Parents reported significantly higher scores for all CBCL scales in comparison to the German age-equivalent norm population. Peer problems and worse family functioning were significantly associated with impaired psychological functioning, whilst the degree of social transition did not significantly predict the outcome. Therefore, claims that gender affirmation through transitioning socially is beneficial for children with GD could not be supported from the present results. Instead, the study highlights the importance of individual social support provided by peers and family, independent of exploring additional possibilities of gender transition during counseling."

  • Impact of social transition in relation to gender for children and adolescents: a systematic review 

    • ​"Eleven studies were included (children (n=8) and adolescents (n=3)) and most were of low quality. The majority were from the US, featured community samples and cross-sectional analyses. Different comparator groups were used, and outcomes related to mental health and gender identity reported. Overall studies consistently reported no difference in mental health outcomes for children who socially transitioned across all comparators. Studies found mixed evidence for adolescents who socially transitioned."

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