EA Forums

Hash,

You are right. I think that is why most here are advocating suppressing puberty with drugs as the first option, and that is primarily because it is reversible. Also all doctors all take an oath that basically says "First, do no harm" Since it is likely that they can't be sure of the outcome, most doctors would probably decline to do the operation regardless of what the parents or child actually want.

With respect to the inter-sex children who were operated on with out their permission, and then forced to live in the wrong gender, I think this situation is quite possibly just the opposite. If it is the child, who wants the intervention and is unable to receive appropriate intervention of some kind ( not necessarily surgery ), then it is the lack of action which causes the harm.

I've got a real ethical problem with either the child or the parents consenting to a castration. A child cannot give informed consent. What if the parents really wanted a girl and are forcing the child to change gender to suit their egos? That line about trans-gender positive life style sounds a bit phony to me.

Bottom line: No way.

Now that I've thought about it, a lot of this reminds me of the movie "Cachorro" aka Bear Cub.

It's about a 9 year old boy who goes to live with his gay uncle (and friends!) when his mom is arrested and sentenced to a very long term. She's convinced the kid is gay, since his uncle/her brother is, and she's bi, and treats him as if he were already gay. The outcome - he's not gay and tells his Uncle this.

I also have to wonder if the question posed here is as Kangan suggests.

Is this child trying to live up to the idea that he thinks he should be of the TG mindset from his environmental exposure in this family?

However, I have to restate how disturbed I am that the family even brought this up to a professional who would bring it up to said list.

Jesus, please convey my thoughts on this to them.

It REALLY bothers me.

I agree with Paolo. This one bothers me a great deal. I just finished sending my third email to the person who sent me the original question. I have had no answer to the first two that I sent him. (He is a very busy person and often takes days to respond to my questions.) If I don't have an answer by noon (his time) tomorrow, I will be telephoning him.

What I can report is that this question was posed both here, on the Eunuch Archive, and on Sexnet, a listserve that is open only to professional sex researchers and sex therapists. You have to apply, giving references and your academic credentials, to be able to join. The EA respondents have been far more thoughtful and FAR more concerned about the boy himself than the professionals have been.

I'm happy to be associated with all of you. This is an excellent crew!

I will keep you posted with whatever I find out.

FINALLY, on Sexnet, about ten minutes ago, a critical question that was raised almost instantly by the EA crew:

Much more importantly, and an issue that hasn't been raised here, is to what extent the child might be acting out the parent(s)' desire for him to be a daughter. Sounds to me like there could be some serious psychopathology masquerading in the guise of parental empathy.

I made several attempts to telephone today, leaving a message on his answering machine the first time I tried. I also tried his secretary (separate telephone number) several times, leaving a message on her machine. No one seemed to be in today. I'll keep trying and will let you know what I find out.

JesusA wrote: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:44 am I made several attempts to telephone today, leaving a message on his answering machine the first time I tried. I also tried his secretary (separate telephone number) several times, leaving a message on her machine. No one seemed to be in today. I'll keep trying and will let you know what I find out.

Perhaps they are hiding out of fear of having upset the eunuch community

i think nature should be allowed to run it's course...given that castration is irreversible, and puberty will change the child's body in a natural way...at that point, and only then, should the child involved make the decision about his own body...the one asking doesn't mention their age, but if they are younger than the age of puberty, it's doubtful they are mature enough to make such a lifelong decision.

JesusA wrote: Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:09 pm FINALLY, on Sexnet, about ten minutes ago, a critical question that was raised almost instantly by the EA crew:

"Sounds to me like there could be some serious psychopathology masquerading in the guise of parental empathy.

"

I pleased to learn someone on the professional level (other than Jesus) has the same sort of doubts about this situation. What better way to turn an unwanted male child into a daughter than by castration. [Sound of alarm bells ringing.]

I'm going to repost the original question that started this thread:

"

JesusA wrote: Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:12 pm A number of weeks ago, I received an e-mail message from a parent of a young biological male (I will omit the age, but let's say a number of years before the normal onset of puberty) who is described as transgendered...this youngster appears to be living in a family that is part of what I might call the subculture of "transgender affirming" families. As far as I can tell, this youngster showed very early cross-gender behavior and has, more or less, been living as a girl since preschool, with very clear familial and professional support in so doing.

Apart from considering puberty blocking treatment, this parent asked me about the possibility of a bilateral orchidectomy (castration).

So, here is my therapeutic/ethical question: would anyone recommend castrating this youngster? If so, why? If not, why?

"

RED FLAGS (and my concerns):

"Subculture of 'transgender affirming' family." (Is there a transgendered family member other than the child?)

Only one parent is mentioned. (Is this a single parent family? And if so, why? What is the sex of this parent? Just how insistent is this parent about castration? It sounds like a very drastic step to be taken if the child is still far removed from puberty.)

Many years ago I knew a 16-year old boy whose mother insisted that he be circumcised, and had him admitted for the surgery! The boy was somewhat concerned about the procedure, but went along with it for the simple reason that he had no say in the matter. As far as I know there was no valid medical reason for the circumcision other than the mother's insistance on it. The boy told me that his mother wanted him to match the other boys' appearance when nude in the gym locker room!

Castration? I would have to say no. However, chemical castration may be proper. I suppose it is possible to delay the effects of puberty long enough using chemical castration for a proper decision to be made.