Transgender children deserve acceptance, respect and love

When we talk about gender a lot of questions can arise and it is common for some terms to be misinterpreted. In dealing with the transgender nature of their children, for example, many parents feel unprepared for the situation, most of the time for sheer lack of information. But what about you, you know what a trans person is?

A trans person is one who does not identify with his or her biological gender and all the meanings that are attributed to this gender, such as: types of clothing, colors, activities, and behaviors that are socially constructed and seen as typical of the female or male gender. A trans person is therefore a person who transitions from his biological gender to the gender with which he identifies.

Regarding the identification of a trans person in the mental health field, there are several clashes and although some professionals still view the situation as a pathology, many other professionals in the area struggle to end this biased conception and ensure that each person manages their own gender. "An identity stems from the protagonism of each person, not from surgical procedures or adaptations to stereotypes and prejudices," explains psychologist Jaqueline Gomes de Jesus.

Some terms and nomenclatures are used in gender conversations and understanding them is important to understanding and clarifying some things.
Below are explanations of some terms to better understand gender debates:

Cis and trans genres: Cis people are people who identify with the genre assigned to them by biology. Transgender people are people who do not identify with the gender assigned to them by biology and move to the opposite gender. "When we talk about transgender people, we are dealing with a question of gender, expression and gender identity, this debate has nothing to do with sexuality or sexual orientation," says psychologist Jaqueline Gomes de Jesus.

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Biological genus: The biological genus is designated by chromosomes XX for women, XY for men or some different combination for intersex people. From this classification there are social arrangements that differentiate between men and women and people who identify with their biological gender are called cisgenders.

Sexual orientation: Sexual orientation is not at all linked to gender identity and can present distinct variations of combinations between gender and sexuality. Basically, sexual orientation is "the way a person experiences affective-sexual attraction to someone", comments Jaqueline.

Gender Identity: It is the gender with which one identifies. People can identify with their biological genders (cis), can move from one to another, can be non-binary (do not identify with male or female gender) or still do not identify with any gender. "It's the deeply personal, and seemingly paradoxical, recognition of feeling part of a group and at the same time being unique and different from other people," comments Jaqueline.

Gender Expression: Gender expression is an expansion of gender identity, it is the way people will demonstrate their femininity or masculinity. "Each person expresses their way of life as a person of this or that gender, whether or not in accordance with cultural standards," explains Jaqueline.

Importantly, when it comes to human beings, these classifications and terms are only meant to be organized in a subjective manner, meaning that it is not necessary for a person to fit into one category or another. Gender, for example, does not have to be binary, meaning that many people may not identify with the masculine or feminine or even identify with both.

Can I identify signs that my child is transgender?

Gender identity manifestations can occur at any age. "Since children grew up recognizing or not recognizing the cultural standards valued for this or that genre," comments Jaqueline. Therefore, a person still in childhood can identify with the biological gender and all social constructions imposed on it or identify with the opposite gender.

However, denying established standards for a gender does not necessarily mean that the child or adolescent is a trans person."All people grow up being encouraged or repressed to act in accordance with the gender to which they are socially assigned, and when we have children and adolescents who do not conform to this gender apartheid, they tend to be very repressed and under great stress," explains the psychologist. .

Signs may appear, but as stated earlier, they may not mean that the child or adolescent is a trans person. "Parents can know, basically, if their children act according to the recognized behaviors for this or that gender, and they can not be pointed as trans children," explains Jaqueline. Recognition of transgenderity occurs, therefore, from the individual identification of each person.

9 ways to live respectfully with transgender people

Everyone deserves respect, this statement must be taken into account when living with anyone. However, we know that some groups tend to suffer prejudice in various social environments and often within the family environment. Below, with the help of trans woman Izabela Fournier and psychologist Jaqueline, we list ways to live respectfully with transgender people. Check out:

1. Seek to create a safe environment for your child at home;
2. Have empathy for the situation, put yourself in that person's shoes;
3. Do not repress the gender identity of the child or adolescent;
4. Keep in mind that your child has no problem and what the problem is in the way society deals with gender issues;
5. Seek information from readings that enable learning on gender issues;
6. Seek support at school so that the trans person does not suffer repression in this environment;
7. Seek support from knowledgeable mental health professionals who value various ways of experiencing gender;
8. Make contact with other parents who are in the same situation so that they can learn and strengthen themselves together;
9. Remind your child daily how much he / she is loved.

Transgender and family testimonials

Any coexistence between human beings requires respect, acceptance and often some changes in the way of thinking, so that the relationship happens satisfactorily between all parties. It is important to remember that differences exist and we need to learn to live with them as best we can. Check out below amazing stories of love, acceptance and respect between transgender people and their families:

Transgender Children

This video shows testimonials from various parents who talk about how much they love their children and their families despite the differences. The video also shows some statistics about trans people in Brazil.

Transgender, transsexuals and human rights

The video follows reports from 3 transgender women and addresses issues such as acceptance, sexuality, affective and family relationships. One of the main points of the video is to show how support from parents is important to the happiness of anyone.

Our family

The video shows family and friends of two transgender men: Nathan and Bernardo. Family members and friends tell about their relationships and experiences with both of them and talk about the importance of welcoming, loving and respecting transgender people.

A quick search on the internet is enough to find that transgender people are victims of many cases of violence motivated by prejudice on a daily basis. If your son or daughter is a trans person, remember that at least the family space should be a safe and respectful environment for that person. Try to find out about this and ensure that your child has a comfortable, welcoming and loving family environment.

TRANSGENDERS ARE TAKING OUR MEN!!! (April 2024)