Gender Ideology Impacts Everyone
The impacts of this ideology are far-reaching and affect us all, not just women.
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As a licensed therapist, I have been taken aback by the rapid spread and radicalization of gender affirmative therapy over the past half-decade. After a hiatus from my profession due to a physical disability, I was stunned by the changes that had taken place upon my return. My perspective on gender ideology is not motivated by political considerations.
The ongoing trans wave is a central issue for feminists for two key reasons. Firstly, it is impacting adolescent girls on a scale that is both startling and concerning. Secondly, transgender women (i.e., men) are encroaching upon women's spaces, causing general discomfort and unease in addition to the more serious threats to our safety.
While these facts are beyond dispute, it is important to recognize that the trans issue extends beyond the realm of women's concerns. Indeed, it is a broad and more complex issue. It affects us all.
A male detranistioner named Abel Garcia had a very poignant tweet on 11/14/22:
Unfortunately, there are a few feminists that only care about girls and women being hurt, they could care less about boys and men being hurt by this ideology. We all need to understand that this ideology targets everyone & we need to protect & help everyone hurt by it.
Another male detransitioner named Ritchie Herron, who is also known by the handle “Tulip” on Twitter, has recently sparked a contentious debate among feminists. The root of this debate stems from Herron’s appeal for assistance for young boys who may have become ensnared by trans ideology.
I see a lot of rallying calls to protect women and girls, but why not boys too? Aren’t all children worthy of protection?
The threat to young males and boys has been overshadowed for too long. Your fury for what’s happening to young women and girls should apply to them too. If no one stands for them, I will. And I’ll still be standing alongside women and girls.
Both of these men, and countless more, have told horrific stories about how they were victims of medical malpractice under the guise of “gender affirming care.” These men warrant our empathetic attention and the amplification of their voices.
While the plight of male detransitioners has been a topic of growing concern, there are others who suffer silently. Consider the parents who find themselves estranged from their children as a result of the cult-like mentality that this ideology instills. Gender activists imbue their followers with a belief system that casts even the most well-meaning family members and friends who dare to question its precepts as bigots and transphobes.
My inbox is inundated with heart-wrenching messages from parents who are grappling with an array of intense emotions—from grief to fear to anger—as they face the reality that their beloved child has shunned them. Such parents, mothers and fathers alike, are left to contend with the alienation that arises when a powerful ideology severs the close bonds of family.
Here is recent message I received from an anonymous parent:
My daughter is 20. She began injecting male hormones at 18. I do not pretend to agree. Our relationship has suffered. I can’t sleep well. I can’t do much of anything well. I don’t know how to help her. What to say. What not to say. My life is a wreck and I feel like I’m holding my breath every day. I can’t save her. I want to. I can’t find help. She’s not going to be ok.
And let’s not forget about siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and other family members who lost a family member because a cultish ideology told them to sever ties with their families.
Another overlooked group are the other children caught in the crossfire, the ones not on board the “trans train” but nevertheless find themselves subjected to a kind of speech policing that can upend close relationships. They may be left behind as their peers embrace “glitter families” and unconventional gender identities. Additionally, there are children who already struggle to fit in and lack the insight or confidence to stand up to uncomfortable lies. The spread of gender ideology throughout our culture can be devastating for all children (and adults too).
As someone who has led teen therapy groups, I have seen this dynamic unfold firsthand. I have seen how the so-called “pronoun game” can be just as damaging to the children who are not trans-identified as it is to those who are. Some children may enjoy the feeling of “doing the right thing,” but this can leave them feeling empty and disconnected from their peers, since their actions are often superficial. Others may not feel comfortable with these linguistic demands, but feel compelled to go along with it anyway as a result of peer pressure. In either case, all of these children face an extra obstacle when it comes to creating genuine connections with each other. (I never encouraged pronouns when I worked there, but I didn’t fight the kids who insisted on using them either.)
And what about humanity? As a society, we cannot afford to overlook the potential consequences of a generation growing up with fractured identities, shattered trust, and physical disabilities. We must recognize that the impacts of these issues are far-reaching and affect us all. The cliche “The children are our future” has been replaced with a dangerous mentality that disregards the potential harm caused to them by blindly embracing the radical trans agenda.
This is not just a women’s issue, but a humanity issue. We all have a stake in the future of our society, and we must act accordingly.
Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience. She is located in the Bay Area of California. Due to personal experience with our flawed mental health system, Pamela has dedicated herself to educating parents on how to properly navigate it.
You can find in depth classes on how to navigate the mental health system on her website: The Truthful Therapist: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health
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The transgender ideology attempts to compel speech for society as a whole. You must affirm their untrue beliefs or else be castigated. You *must* use the pronouns. This should be reason enough to oppose it, on moral grounds alone. It is not just speech policing--"don't say that," as in don't say racial slurs--it is compelled speech, as in "you must say this thing, even if you don't believe it." Anyone who cares about free speech should find this abhorrent and beyond the pale. I know free speech has become a bit of a meme these days, but a lot of people still at least pretend to care about it.
While your article is well taken and I don't disagree with anything in it, it does strike me how centered the conversation is around emotional concerns. The most effective counter-argument to transgenderism does appear to be invoking sympathy for those it impacts negatively, particularly women. But in a sane world, it would be enough for people to simply point out that it is a delusional denial of reality, and this would destroy the ideology even if no one were actually harmed by it.
As a colleague in the psychology field, I think that this essay is extremely thoughtful, very well reasoned, and precisely on target. I could not agree more. Sincerely, Frederick