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Learn about gender diversity and support strategies for adolescents facing gender-related challenges. Explore bullying, self-harm, societal barricades, and positive affirmations. Empower adolescents to embrace their identity and navigate obstacles effectively.
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Trans Adolescents Trauma: Bullies, Blades & Barricades Dr Elizabeth Riley, PhD, MA(Couns), BSc
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What is gender diversity? • Inclusive term • People whose gender identity or expression is not represented by the gender assigned to them at birth • People who consider themselves trans IT IS NOT : • Having an intersex condition • Being lesbian, gay or bisexual
GENDER ROLES Feminine Masculine
Riley, E. (2017). Bullies, blades, and barricades: Practical considerations for working with adolescents expressing concerns regarding gender and identity,International Journal of Transgenderism, 19(2), 203-211.DOI: 10.1080/15532739.2017.1386150
Gender BULLYING • Harassment, verbal attacks, marginalization or threatening, micro-aggression • Aim to enforce gender conformity. • Not limited to school or peer environments • May be present in adolescents’ homes, in local communities, schools, in professional services or via media.
Gender BULLYING • Media: jokes, humiliation & hostility towards for sensationalism/entertainment • Parents: punish, threaten, coerce. Deny choice of self-expression, appearance, activities or friends. Support social transition but refuse to use correct name/pronouns • School staff: Deny a right to preferred name, pronouns, bathroom • Pressure to ‘pass’ • Professionals: Pathologise trans youth as mentally ill, misgender, ‘a phase’, encourage parents to restrict expression, enforce conformity
Blades • Dangers to physical well-being • Whether threatened or implemented by themselves or others • Victimization, violence or rejection • Self-harming behaviors due to negative beliefs, fear or frustration.
Blades • Self-inflicted harm: cutting, substance use, restricted eating, lack of self care, attempted suicide • Negativity/violence; attitudes; personal beliefs • Shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, frustration, depression • Concern for parents, feelings of responsibility
Barricades • Limitations imposed on GD adolescents • Denial of rights • Curbing potential or restricting access to activities or services • Religious, cultural, financial, geographical • Barriers preventing self-expression and gender identity may stem from negative experiences, rejection, pubertal changes, imposed limitations, dependence upon school, home or legal environments, or other spheres of influence.
Barricades • Discouraging responses from family/professionals • Restrictions placed by parents/families/schools • Fears – rejection, judged, misunderstood, inability to trust, outted • Shame – being different, stigmatized, family • Discriminatory policies, social/cultural pressure • Service personnel attitudes • Stigma, ignorance Withdrawal, Mental Health issues
On The Bright Side! Affirmation : • Significantly and dramatically improves social ability, mental health, physical outcomes. • Improves communication • Increases self-confidence & day-to-day functioning • Encourages autonomy & ownership of their process
Dr Elizabeth Riley • dreriley@peoplesmart.net.au • 0412 880 376 • www.peoplesmart.net.au