Sex-Ed For Transgender Folks

Last week transman Deen joined me in the studio to talk about the current mental health- and criminalization crisis transgender people are facing, at this very moment. Today we continue our conversation where we left off, shifting the focus to sex-education and the pervasiveness of our heteronormative society.

This week's Slutty Science builds on the Slutty Science from both the second episode of this season and last week's episode. In those previous episodes we defined what transgender means by differentiating sex and gender. We spoke about the urgent issues of both mental health and suicide rates amongst transgender folks and criminalization internationally.

Please note: this article contains information about suicide, which may be triggering for some readers.

Today we’re starting off with a fun fact: did you know that the amount of transgender individuals globally adds up to roughly around the same amount of redheads? Speaking in percentages, we are equally as rare or maybe rather, equally as average.

Today we are diving into the world of sex-education, so let’s talk science.

The sex education made available to transgender youth, as well as transgender people’s sexuality has rarely been studied. It remains a controversial topic within academic literature, likely due to the stereotypes transgender folks face. 

What has been shown in academic research is that transgender adolescents report higher rates of both dating- and sexual abuse than their cisgender counterparts.

Furthermore, transgender adolescents experience issues in school cisgender folks do not face. These include being referred to by their birth-name, rather than their actual (chosen) name* and pronoun or being forced to use toilets and locker rooms that do not correspond with their gender identity. 

It can not be assumed that the needs of transgender adolescents, in terms of sex education, mirror those of cisgender adolescents. It asks for special attention that, given the heteronormative society we find ourselves in lacks more often then not. This has been shown to result in deteriorating mental health - confirming last week’s Slutty Science with a concrete example.

Eventhough digital media environments introduce new risks and liabilities for transgender individuals, they too provide certain care structures that can help them manage the trials and complexities of everyday life. 

Sex-ED meant for transgender folks lacks research. What however has been proven is the increased dating- and sexual abuse rate amongst transgender people. They face issues cis folks can not relate with, raising new questions asking for new solutions.

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Lots of love,

Ellen Moore.

‘The Slut Show With Ellen Moore’: A place to speak openly about shit you and I have to deal with on a daily basis. About feminism, insecurities, feeling like a bomb ass bitch and obviously about loads of sex. Raw, real and uncensored, Ellen Moore brings you your weekly dose of empowerment.

Sources

• Abramowitz, J. (2018). Transgender medicine- transitioning transgender children to adulthood. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, 19(3), 227–230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-018-9458-z
• Bradford, N. J., DeWitt, J., Decker, J., Berg, D. R., Spencer, K. G., & Ross, M. W. (2018). Sex education and transgender youth: ‘Trust Means Material By and For Queer and Trans People’. Sex Education, 19(1), 84–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2018.1478808
• Cavalcante, A. (2016). “I Did It All Online:” Transgender identity and the management of everyday life. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 33(1), 109–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295036.2015.1129065
• DuBois, L. Z., Powers, S., Everett, B. G., & Juster, R.-P. (2017). Stigma and diurnal cortisol among transitioning transgender men. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 82, 59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.05.008
• LGBT & The Law. (z.d.). Geraadpleegd op 22 december 2020, van https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/
• #OUTLAWED: “The love that dare not speak its name”. (z.d.). Geraadpleegd op 22 december 2020, van http://internap.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/
• Proulx, C. N., Coulter, R. W. S., Egan, J. E., Matthews, D. D., & Mair, C. (2019). Associations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning–Inclusive Sex Education With Mental Health Outcomes and School-Based Victimization in U.S. High School Students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(5), 608–614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.11.012
• Toomey, R. B., Syvertsen, A. K., & Shramko, M. (2018). Transgender Adolescent Suicide Behavior. Pediatrics, 142(4), e20174218. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-4218