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Trans Adolescents Trauma: Bullies, Blades & Barricades

Trans Adolescents Trauma: Bullies, Blades & Barricades. Dr Elizabeth Riley, PhD, MA( Couns ), BSc. 24. X. 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

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Trans Adolescents Trauma: Bullies, Blades & Barricades

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  1. Trans Adolescents Trauma: Bullies, Blades & Barricades Dr Elizabeth Riley, PhD, MA(Couns), BSc

  2. 24 X

  3. 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

  4. GENDER ROLES Feminine Masculine

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Dr Elizabeth Riley • dreriley@peoplesmart.net.au • 0412 880 376 • www.peoplesmart.net.au

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