A commentary on “Top 10 Signs your Child is NOT a Transgender” By Sherrie D. Larch

This is my commentary on “Top 10 Signs your Child is NOT a Transgender” http://www.donotlink.com/b96v  another blog and video from the blogger Dirt also known as dirtywhiteboi67. Dirt’s blogs usually have some form of transphobia and internalized homophobia and this blog is no different. She is trying to simplify gender into various things that it truly is not, though some of the things she mentions may be a sign your child is a gender nonconformist, a gender rebel, it does not always mean that they identify as a transgender boy or girl. Dirt like most of the Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists are so busy trying to eradicate gender identity they ignore the fact that the transgender umbrella is rich in diversity and with many ways of identifying and expressing one’s gender. Dirt’s blog is trying to confuse the reader into believing that parents are automatically going to transition their children if they show the least bit of a difference in gender identity and expression. Most parents are smarter than this and if they do need more information there are many outlets including professionals that deal with gender identity and support groups to help them understand and help their gender non-conformist children. Dirt lists ten things she thinks people use to determine gender identity but they really do not.   

 

Dirt states: (1) Your child dislikes the clothing specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers clothing specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: Just because a child likes so-called opposite gender clothing (and really should clothing be gendered?) does not mean that the child feels like the opposite gender and most parents would realize this fact.

1. A child may feel comfortable in the clothes of the opposite gender because it fits their style or activities.   

2. A child may relate better to the opposite gender (still identifying as their biological sex but wanting to dress and do things like those they relate to or look up to.)  

3. A child might be a gender nonconformist that has a different gender identity or expression. A child could be a masculine girl, feminine boy, gender fluid or feeling genderless. All of these are normal gender identities and expressions and none require transition just understanding.   

4. A child might be a transgender girl or boy and this might be some of the outward signs that a child does identify differently than their biological sex.  

 

Dirt States: 2) Your child dislikes most colours specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers colours specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: Most of society, including parents, know a child’s favorite color or colors has really nothing to do with gender identity, maybe some children use different colors choices to express their gender expression because certain colors are associated with masculinity and femininity. But to say that color choices are part of an individual’s over all gender identity is wrong. A macho cisgender man can have a liking for pink and a very feminine little cisgender girl can rock out in black.  Dirt fails completely on this one. 

       Dirt States: 3) Your child dislikes toys/playthings specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers toys/playthings specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: Like clothing, toy choices can mean many things. The child may just like the toys because they fit their interests and activities and it may be an indication that a child has a different gender identity or expression. But toy choices are usually just toy choice. 

     Dirt states: 4) Your child dislikes games specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers games specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: Sports and physical activities are not an indication of any one’s gender identity. I do not know where Dirt gets her information that parents were transitioning their children over sports, they gave her the wrong information. Though, a child’s interests may be an indication of their gender identity and expression, alone they are just likes and dislikes.

       Dirt states: 5) Your child dislikes peers specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers peers specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: No one has ever said a child had to have only friends that were of the same biological sex or they were transgender children. This statement is ridiculous and just plain wrong. Dirt fails completely here.  

      Dirt states: 6) Your child dislikes fairytale roles specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers fairytale roles specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: A child may identify with any character in a story, no matter the biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. This may or may not indicate a child’s biological sex, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. Parents are not going to transition a child over fictional characters, unless they are as confused as Dirt.  

        Dirt states: 7) Your child dislikes books/films/characters specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers books/films/characters specified for the opposite sex.  

Fact: Same as the fairytales; a child may like any type of story and identify with any character in a story, no matter the biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.  This may or may not indicate a child’s biological sex, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. Parents are not going to transition a child over fictional characters, unless they are as confused as Dirt.

 

       Dirt states: 8) Your child dislikes learning materials specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers learning materials specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: This one is confusing because unless you live in a country with segregation of the biological sexes or are a member of a religious institution that separates the biological sexes, people are getting the same educational materials.  This one is a total fail because it does not make any sense.

      Dirt states: 9) Your child dislikes future careers possibilities specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers future career possibilities specified for the opposite sex.

Fact: An individual’s career goals and future careers have nothing to do with their biological sex, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. People choose careers because of many factors but their gender identity has nothing to do with it. Most parents living on earth know this.

      Dirt states: 10) Your child dislikes the limits specified for their sex & lacking alternatives prefers the limits specified for the opposite sex, believing them to be less restrictive/more inclined with their own nature.  

Fact: If parents are putting limits on a child because of their biological sex then the parents have the problem not the child. The child is being unfairly treated by the parents and normally the child would be upset and rebel with good reason. This has nothing to do with gender identity and expression; this is rebelling against unfair treatment.