An entire industry has been built around the concept of gender transition and “nonbinary” identity, one that has taken a particularly dark turn in the realm of marketing toward gender-variant children.
My readers are likely aware that there exist “packers” (also known as prosthetic penises) for parents to purchase if a female child voices a desire to live as a male. Parents can now also buy little boys, as young as age 4, underwear to flatten their genitals to create the illusion of a female profile. The garments are being sold by a transgender designer for “trans girls and non-binary children” alongside an activity pack that includes stickers and a child-friendly coloring book.
“Tucking” is a practice commonly performed by men and transgender women who wish to obscure their genitalia when dressing like a woman. In my mind, if an adult isn’t hurting anybody, whatever they choose to do is their business.
But there is no reason why a child should be concerned about the appearance of their private anatomy. None. Most children with gender dysphoria, including those who detest their bodies, will grow to be comfortable in them by puberty. Parents should support children in wearing the clothes they’d prefer and playing with the toys they’d like to play with. This doesn’t necessitate a child taking on the identity of the opposite sex or a third gender. Encouraging a social transition increases the likelihood that a child will eventually decide to alter their body and sex characteristics via transition.
Medical professionals have warned that using temporary measures to modify one’s body can result in serious side effects. For example, chest binders, especially popular among teenage girls looking to flatten their breasts to present a masculine-looking form, can fracture ribs and lead to back pain and difficulties in breathing. In the case of boys, flattening the testes and maintaining them too close to the body can harm sperm production and lead to infertility. Thinking ahead, this will be especially unfortunate if a child grows up no longer wanting to live as a female.
Imagine the mindset of a parent who has been so browbeaten by activists that they believe these types of interventions are necessary, instead of inappropriate and borderline sexualizing. If a parent refuses, a child can find another adult or organization to facilitate procurement. Many adults today, seeking validation and meaning in their own lives, will push these ideas on a gender-typical child, who would otherwise have no interest in them.
Dr. Debra Soh is a sex neuroscientist, the host of The Dr. Debra Soh Podcast, and the author of The End of Gender: Debunking the Myths About Sex and Identity in Our Society.
