Question

Adolescence is a time when sexuality and gender is often a challenge. During the semester we've talked about how brain development, culture and experience effects adolescent development. What about adolescents who were born one way but feel another? After watching the video, "Laverne Cox Presents the T Word" discuss the challenges experienced by trans gendered youth as it relates to sexuality and gender identity. Take a step back and think about how you'd respond if your child identified as transgender. Is your culture welcoming to these differences? Give your thoughts based on the video and your experience.

Answer 1

The challenges that are faced by individuals or youths who identifies themselves as different from what they were assigned to are:

• The most difficult challenge faced by them is the social stigma associated with the identity of transgender. They have to face discrimination, unjustice and inequality. These leads to high level of depression in them that makes them vulnerable to suicide ideation.
• Going through the transition phase is a tough time for them, they face problems while revealing their sexuality in intimate relationship. They face a lot of sexual violences and are often profiled as sex workers because of their unique identity.
• It harder for normal people to accept them as they are, and as fellow human beings above their gender identity.
• It's always difficult for them to get accepted in the mainstream society because of the set mindset of people towards the gender and sexual identity.

It would take a lot of courage to go against the set mindset of people where transgender is a taboo. But it's the matter of my child , would accept them as they are and would stand for them because if I won't stand for them then there's nobody to stand for my child. The culture to which belong will never welcome these differences, so it's my responsibility to give them a support they need to develop a high self esteem about themselves and to be in a position to face the unique challenges that these differences pose.