- Studies reveal that cases of gender dysphoria are caused by socialisation.
- Woman who transitioned says she feels let down by the medical establishment and was influenced by online support, negative experiences, and the belief that transitioning was the only way to escape her past challenges and unhappiness.
Renowned American podcaster and UFC commentator, Joe Rogan recently featured a thought-provoking conversation with guest Patrick Bet-David on a segment of the ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast. Their conversation delved into the swift expansion of the LGBTQ advocacy movement and the notable surge in the percentage of children embarking as non-binary.
Rogan went on to express his opinions on De-transitioners and said that they ‘were encouraged early’. However, one pertinent question arises:
Can any of the assertions made during their discussion be substantiated with concrete and empirical evidence?
In a study conducted by the Journal of Homosexuality involving 237 participants (217 assigned female at birth and 20 assigned male at birth), it was found that the majority of the participants de-transitioned when they realized their gender dysphoria was pertaining to other issues. Notably, transitioning did not alleviate their gender dysphoria. Furthermore, only 13% received support from LGBT organizations during de-transitioning compared to 51% during their initial transition. This highlights a concerning disparity in community support, favouring those conforming to prevailing principles and ideals.
Interestingly, Thomas D. Steensma’s investigation of 14-18 year olds, all of whom had undergone gender transition, revealed that changes in their social environment played a crucial role in shaping their perceptions of their own bodily masculinity or femininity. This underscores the influence of socialization on Gender Dysphoria and aligns with what Rogan was alluding to. In a separate Longitudinal study conducted between Jan 2000 and Jan 2007, Steensma observed the transitioning journey of a cohort of adolescents; 80% had transgender regret.
The path toward the health and well-being of an individual undergoing gender transition is undeniably arduous, as extensive research studies consistently indicate. In the Health Affairs journal, a comprehensive study involving 1,400,043 adults (aged 18 and older) across 43 U.S. states found that transgender adults face a higher prevalence of disabilities than cisgender individuals. The study reported that 22% of transgender adults struggle with concentration, memory, or decision-making, compared to 9% of cisgender men and 7% of cisgender women.15% of transgender adults face difficulties in completing errands independently, compared to 5% of cisgender men and 11% of cisgender women. Alarmingly, other research shows how puberty blockers can impact fertility in girls. In addition, puberty blockers have also increased the rates of attempted suicide amongst transitioners.
Concerning Rogan’s remarks on non-binary individuals, a study by UCLA presents compelling insights. Notably, a staggering 96% of non-binary individuals in the study were born in the United States, with 58% identifying as white. Additionally, the study revealed that 82% of non-binary adults reported experiencing emotional abuse during their childhood. It is intriguing to observe that individuals who identify as non-binary all originate from the same geographic locale on our planet.
Australia’s ‘7News’ Spotlight: ‘De-transitioning’
A woman who underwent breast removal surgery in her quest to transition to a man now feels she has been let down by the medical establishment and admits to making a significant ‘mistake’ that has left her in a worse state than before. Mel Jeffries, originally born female, found herself grappling with unhappiness and depression during her teenage years.
In her pursuit of ‘a better life,’ she decided to transition to living as a man, adopting the name Mason at the age of 18 and undergoing testosterone treatment. This treatment resulted in a deeper voice, facial hair, increased muscle mass, and weight gain, but these physical changes didn’t alleviate her distress. In her own words, ‘All my hatred of being a woman was just focused on my chest,’ leading her to make a fateful decision at the age of 26 when she had her breasts removed. Today, she regards this choice as one of the most regrettable mistakes of her life as she transitions back to identifying as female.
7News Spotlight claims there are potentially ‘thousands’ of vulnerable young Australians who share similar regrets after transitioning from one gender to another. Ms. Jeffries, burdened by both physical and emotional scars, acknowledges the repercussions of her choices.
At the age of 16, she sought a sense of belonging in online communities, which provided her with the acceptance and support she craved. Transitioning seemed like a path to receive love and validation from others. The online community she found was akin to a newfound family, offering unwavering support for her transition. She was taught to differentiate between her biological family and her chosen, logical family. Her journey towards a gender transition was influenced by negative experiences, including sexual assault, which contributed to her desire to escape her female identity.
Ms. Jeffries believed that being a woman made her vulnerable and an easy target, pushing her towards a desire to become male. She thought that this transformation would allow her to escape her past and the challenges she had faced. ‘Maybe all my unhappiness is because I was born in the wrong … sex,’ she said she once thought.
Starting testosterone therapy was a straightforward process; she received a prescription in under an hour. She was startled at how easy it was for her to start her medical treatment. However, Ms. Jeffries later realized that she had been led to believe that transitioning was the only way to prevent self-harm or suicide. She felt manipulated into this decision by the online community which she had found, as well as medical professionals. She now sees this manipulation as incredibly harmful.
After her double mastectomy, she realized the name ‘Mason,’ which she had embraced for eight years, no longer felt right. It seemed foreign and disorienting. She hopes to share her painful journey to help others understand the emotional and physical toll it took on her, describing her experience as a violation by the medical industry.
While she remains uncertain about becoming a mother, Ms. Jeffries is focused on her health and comfortable with her identity as a woman.
In Australia, there are currently around 1,000 adolescents on waiting lists for gender-related treatments.
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Islam holds an unequivocal stance on the matter of transgenderism, firmly prohibiting any alteration to the divine creation of Allah. Islam also affirms distinct and clearly defined gender identities for men and women. This is evidenced in the the Qur’an:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has made one of them excel the other, and because they spend out of their possessions (to support them). So righteous women are obedient, and guard the secrets of their hearts that Allah has (guarded)…..”
Surah An-Nisa, Chapter 4
Nonetheless, Islam does not impose its convictions upon others, but rather advocates for Muslims to coexist peacefully, irrespective of the diverse beliefs and ideologies held by others. This has been demonstrated through countless civilisations of Islamic rule.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“To you is your religion, and to me is mine,”
Surah Al-Kafirun (Chapter 109), verse 6.
