“Psychology Works ” Fact Sheet: Gender Dysphoria in Children

What is gender diversity? Most people experience little doubt about their gender, seeing themselves as either male or female. For most individuals, their natal or assigned sex is congruent with their physical body and their gender identity. It is important to note, however, that many people question the idea that male and female exist on a binary or are fixed opposites. Theorists have suggested that it may be more appropriate to think of gender as lying on a continuum or having multiple categories. Others have proposed a position of gender transcendence, arguing that traits, behaviours, and roles should be divorced from gender altogether. It is important to remember that the idea of two opposite sexes may be a recent, Western idea. Recorded history includes many descriptions of people, from a range of cultures, who did not fit into the simple categories of male or female. In some cases these people were highly regarded and viewed as holy or as blessings to their families by virtue of their insight into both female and male worlds. Many terms have been offered to describe children and youth who challenge gender norms, including gender diverse, gender fluid, gender creative, and gender independent. There is an increasing shift by many to view childhood gender nonconformity and gender variance as part of human diversity and not a reflection of pathology or disorder (e.g., Pyne, 2014). Being gender non-conforming is not a mental healt