History strongly suggests that the real, and far more common social contagion, is prejudice in the form of social hysteria that scapegoats society's most vulnerable.
Yeah, I am fairly certain that I never gave "transness" to anyone. I did, however, create an atmosphere where being trans was clearly not an issue. LGB either. And nobody "gave" me transness, either. It just kind of seeped into my consciousness when I was around 3 or 4. Nobody around me knew that I had this sense, either. I was astute enough to know that it would create issues.
My family never mentioned trans people, nor was there a trans person among friends, family or work colleagues. To my knowledge, I never knowingly met a trans person in even the most casual encounter. I didn’t watch a single trans video or engage with any trans social media.
And somehow I still turned out trans. Perhaps trans is carried by bad smells in the air? In a world where anti-vax cranks have captured public health bodies maybe it's time to dust off miasma theory as well?
If there is any social contagion about sexual or gender identity, surely it would work the other way. In fact, that's evidently the case, or else "coming out" would never be a challenge.
I disagree, I think that it is absolutely social contagion. Take me for example, I was about 5 when I first started to wonder why I was different. This would have been early 80s. But what totally got me excited about being trans was the late 80's into the 90's. Trans people were on every talk show, they got paraded on stage, laughed at, mocked and exhibited as freaks. I wanted that too. Kids at school were talking about the t*****s and how gross and messed up they were. Parents were saying how disgusting it was and how I will never do that again unless you want to get hit again..., um I mean they said "being trans is good", you should do that. I really wanted to be a part of it. They all influenced me so much that I waited 30 years to finally come out, after having lost connection with just about all of them.
I was just playing the long game though, they converted me years ago and I was just waiting for the right moment. It has taken me 2 years since coming out to even start to become comfortable with myself and give in to the um, uh, social contagion? from my past. But those therapy sessions talking about transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, trauma, self hate, loss of family and loved ones, that was all just a ruse. I was transed long ago by society and I am ready to admit that. Now that I am here, I think it's a good time to start up a YouTube channel and grift, um I mean, "talk" about detransition and the harm that watching that influencing trans content way back then has done to make me think that being trans is so cool. I am really glad people are speaking out about this to the UN. It warms my heart that these Nazis, um I mean, "concerned parents" care so much.
It was. I am very happy with myself now. I spent the day today at a pride event celebrating. I still have my moments but I can't believe I am finally able to be me.
I just don’t get it - social hysteria, social contagion give me a break - the people promoting this are the ones with warped minds and hugely prejudiced
People will believe anything - Trump will lower prices, Trump isn’t a rapist, Trump cares about workers - it’s all the human condition to have fear and then believe the loudest BS they hear.
When my teen came out as a trans girl, I mentioned it to an old friend, also a parent, that I was worried about their safety. I was shocked when she said that a group of girls from a local high school had all decided suddenly, together, they were trans and then months later realised it was just a phase! And aren’t all young people ridiculous?
She is educated and works in social services policy! It hit me that most people I knew were completely brainwashed. After I told her my mum had been non-binary my whole life, growing up (dressed as a man and working as a builder), she just stared at me like I was an alien.
I’ve had more outrageous things said to me since then by a lot of Generation X parents and even L+G people that still shock and horrify me. We need to educate people.
(My family and I are AuDHD, which is a significant factor in gender identity!)
Media spent months flagging insane nonsense. A whole lot of normie people believed impossible fantasies of abuse -- and then they didn't. Nobody in the witch hunt admitted to being ashamed, but they did fade away. What ended that panic was exposure of the truth. That can be made to happen again.
Under no circumstances should a transgender child be prevented from accessing medical care for a treatable condition. Care should be provided to a high standard and trans youth should have access to holistic care, not just blockers and hormones, but counseling, testing and coaching. Not if they don’t find it useful, but it should always be available if they do. I am very worried at the idea that a young person would receive gender, affirming care where it was inappropriate for their needs. Given the rapid increase in the number of people seeking that care, I think that’s a legitimate concern.
Sexuality and gender identity must be incredibly fragile things, if exposure to one book or film can completely shift them. I feel as though I must be some sort of statistically rare outlier, as even though I have been exposed to decades of cisgender heterosexual media, it has somehow failed to infect me. I’m afraid I am one of the few who are resistant to social contagion, as I remain, in spite of it all, a sapphic queer woman of transgender experience.
I feel sorry for the masses who switch their sexual orientation or identity every time a Dove commercial or “Orange is The New Black” episode airs, and then switch again at the first Cialis commercial. It must be terrible to go through life so vulnerable to media that one needs the government to protect them from exposure.
Great reporting, S. Baum.
History strongly suggests that the real, and far more common social contagion, is prejudice in the form of social hysteria that scapegoats society's most vulnerable.
Yeah, I am fairly certain that I never gave "transness" to anyone. I did, however, create an atmosphere where being trans was clearly not an issue. LGB either. And nobody "gave" me transness, either. It just kind of seeped into my consciousness when I was around 3 or 4. Nobody around me knew that I had this sense, either. I was astute enough to know that it would create issues.
My family never mentioned trans people, nor was there a trans person among friends, family or work colleagues. To my knowledge, I never knowingly met a trans person in even the most casual encounter. I didn’t watch a single trans video or engage with any trans social media.
And somehow I still turned out trans. Perhaps trans is carried by bad smells in the air? In a world where anti-vax cranks have captured public health bodies maybe it's time to dust off miasma theory as well?
If there is any social contagion about sexual or gender identity, surely it would work the other way. In fact, that's evidently the case, or else "coming out" would never be a challenge.
I disagree, I think that it is absolutely social contagion. Take me for example, I was about 5 when I first started to wonder why I was different. This would have been early 80s. But what totally got me excited about being trans was the late 80's into the 90's. Trans people were on every talk show, they got paraded on stage, laughed at, mocked and exhibited as freaks. I wanted that too. Kids at school were talking about the t*****s and how gross and messed up they were. Parents were saying how disgusting it was and how I will never do that again unless you want to get hit again..., um I mean they said "being trans is good", you should do that. I really wanted to be a part of it. They all influenced me so much that I waited 30 years to finally come out, after having lost connection with just about all of them.
I was just playing the long game though, they converted me years ago and I was just waiting for the right moment. It has taken me 2 years since coming out to even start to become comfortable with myself and give in to the um, uh, social contagion? from my past. But those therapy sessions talking about transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, trauma, self hate, loss of family and loved ones, that was all just a ruse. I was transed long ago by society and I am ready to admit that. Now that I am here, I think it's a good time to start up a YouTube channel and grift, um I mean, "talk" about detransition and the harm that watching that influencing trans content way back then has done to make me think that being trans is so cool. I am really glad people are speaking out about this to the UN. It warms my heart that these Nazis, um I mean, "concerned parents" care so much.
I'm sorry, that's pretty terrible. It sounds like you are happy with yourself now, which is worth celebrating.
It was. I am very happy with myself now. I spent the day today at a pride event celebrating. I still have my moments but I can't believe I am finally able to be me.
Toxic masculinity is more contagious and harmful than anything trans.
I just don’t get it - social hysteria, social contagion give me a break - the people promoting this are the ones with warped minds and hugely prejudiced
People will believe anything - Trump will lower prices, Trump isn’t a rapist, Trump cares about workers - it’s all the human condition to have fear and then believe the loudest BS they hear.
When my teen came out as a trans girl, I mentioned it to an old friend, also a parent, that I was worried about their safety. I was shocked when she said that a group of girls from a local high school had all decided suddenly, together, they were trans and then months later realised it was just a phase! And aren’t all young people ridiculous?
She is educated and works in social services policy! It hit me that most people I knew were completely brainwashed. After I told her my mum had been non-binary my whole life, growing up (dressed as a man and working as a builder), she just stared at me like I was an alien.
I’ve had more outrageous things said to me since then by a lot of Generation X parents and even L+G people that still shock and horrify me. We need to educate people.
(My family and I are AuDHD, which is a significant factor in gender identity!)
This anecdote proves, if anything, that what's socially contagious is the *idea* that transness is catching.
What I want to know is, how do we get a UN Special Rapporteur on our side of things?
As opposed to this transphobe (and since she is gender critical, a monstrous child abuser) :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reem_Alsalem
why isn't being straight or cis-gendered ever considered social contagion?
It seems obvious to me that the contemporary panic about trans youth is another instance of the very American phenomenon of recurrent hysteria projecting sexual fears onto children. Anyone else remember the McMartin Preschool trial in the 1980s? See Clyde Haberman in the NYT [gift]: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/us/the-trial-that-unleashed-hysteria-over-child-abuse.html?unlocked_article_code=1.W08.VakY.wh3SIsFsLQOo&smid=url-share
Media spent months flagging insane nonsense. A whole lot of normie people believed impossible fantasies of abuse -- and then they didn't. Nobody in the witch hunt admitted to being ashamed, but they did fade away. What ended that panic was exposure of the truth. That can be made to happen again.
I remember Jordan, Minnesota and I think you are exactly right.
No coincidence this is resurfacing as bans on conversion therapy are being questioned.
These people are anointed by the devil as his minions.
Under no circumstances should a transgender child be prevented from accessing medical care for a treatable condition. Care should be provided to a high standard and trans youth should have access to holistic care, not just blockers and hormones, but counseling, testing and coaching. Not if they don’t find it useful, but it should always be available if they do. I am very worried at the idea that a young person would receive gender, affirming care where it was inappropriate for their needs. Given the rapid increase in the number of people seeking that care, I think that’s a legitimate concern.
"I am very worried at the idea that a young person would receive gender, affirming care where it was inappropriate for their needs."
So, I am confident, is everyone else here.
Sexuality and gender identity must be incredibly fragile things, if exposure to one book or film can completely shift them. I feel as though I must be some sort of statistically rare outlier, as even though I have been exposed to decades of cisgender heterosexual media, it has somehow failed to infect me. I’m afraid I am one of the few who are resistant to social contagion, as I remain, in spite of it all, a sapphic queer woman of transgender experience.
I feel sorry for the masses who switch their sexual orientation or identity every time a Dove commercial or “Orange is The New Black” episode airs, and then switch again at the first Cialis commercial. It must be terrible to go through life so vulnerable to media that one needs the government to protect them from exposure.