Boys Won't Always Be Boys

[Mulboyne]

[floatl][/floatl]MDN: Boy diagnosed as suffering gender disorder enrolled in elementary school as girl
In a rare move, a 7-year-old boy diagnosed as suffering a gender identity disorder has been enrolled in a public elementary school as a girl, the local board of education said Thursday...."When the child was enrolled in the school, all the teachers were informed of the situation, but we didn't report it to the prefectural board of education or the parents of other children. Classmates are apparently unaware of the child's physical gender," a board official said. "We'd like to be fully prepared to respond if the child wants to return to his original physical gender in the future," the official added....To be enrolled in the elementary school as a girl, the child underwent an examination at an Osaka hospital where an expert officially diagnosed a gender identity disorder...more...

This report calls this case "rare" because it has probably happened before unofficially although this seems like the first time it has come to light.

[cstaylor]

I'm confused: is there a biological reason for this, or is it just bad juices on the brain?

[Big Booger]

The child uses restrooms for girls and undergoes medical checkups with girls, but has not caused any particular trouble.

Now I know why.

[otakuden]

i'm no scientist or biologist or whatever, but from my very limited understanding of gender disorders, you're born that way. much like one's sexual orientation, you don't get to choose. this is the youngest i have ever heard of anyone being diagnosed with it, though knowing at that young of an age isn't impossible either.
love the avatar. ky00t

[kamome]

MDN: Boy diagnosed as suffering gender disorder enrolled in elementary school as girl
In a rare move, a 7-year-old boy diagnosed as suffering a gender identity disorder has been enrolled in a public elementary school as a girl, the local board of education said Thursday.

I have to say, that is remarkably progressive for a Japanese board of education.

[emperor]

aw ..and then they grow up to make lesbo-porn

[Tsuru]

aw ..and then they grow up to make lesbo-porn

Yes please!

[Mulboyne]

I have to say, that is remarkably progressive for a Japanese board of education.

It has made a number of news websites now that the foreign newswires have picked up the story. a psychologist friend doubted whether anyone qualified actually made a diagnosis of GID. It's more likely that it was seen as easier to let the boy do what he wants for now and see if he grows out of it so a "formal diagnosis" was made to give the school the excuse.

If you are interested, here is an article on GID where the writer details the case of 8-year old Carl:

Since the age of four years, Carl had pronounced feminine voice inflection and feminine speech content. He was extremely verbal, and his conversations were dominated by topics such as dresses, cosmetics, maternal roles, female impersonators, delivering babies, and female underclothing...His feminine gestures were exaggerations of an effeminate, swishy gait and arm movements. He would typically sit with his legs crossed very effeminately and his arms folded like a female model. At home, he would frequently use towels after a bath to simulate female garments and long hair...His gender identity was that of a girl. In other words, he had a cross gender identity. He called himself a "sissy" and a "fag," and this constituted an aspect of his sex role identity. His gender role behavior was predominantly feminine...more...

In America, his studies tend to conclude that:

The young males with the most pronounced gender disturbances tend to be less likely to have a male role model in the home

Carl had two years of therapy and a follow-up report by an independent psychologist when he was 16 concluded:

"This young man appears to be a normal gender appropriate adolescent boy with no salient evidences of difficulty in gender role or gender identity. He has some difficulty in feeling unsure of himself in social interactions and is generally, however, emotionally within the normal adolescent range."

This is described by the writer as a "positive outcome" which betrays a certain bias. That becomes clearer when you read his conclusion:

From the result of my research studies, it now appears that a preventive treatment for transvestism, transsexualism, and some forms of homosexuality may have been isolated in these techniques of early identification and early intervention in the childhood years...it would now appear logical that homosexuality per se be re-examined as a mental disorder.

It turns out that this case of "Carl" is a favourite of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality and is not typical of other children with similar issues. One of the problems with people working in this area is that they often have an agenda whether religious, philosophical or medical. On the other side of the debate is the case of David "Brenda" Reimer who, after a botched circumcision, was brought up as a girl on the advice of Dr John Money. as the article says:
[quote]For Dr. Money, David was the ultimate experiment to prove that nurture, not nature, determines gender identity and sexual orientation—]
Money reported the experience of Reimer as a success which led to other doctors recommending that action in the case of infant hermaphrodites. However, it was a colossal failure. David Reimer never took to being Brenda and was only told the truth at age 14. He went through surgery to get back to being a male but never fully came to terms with his life and committed suicide - although it should also be noted that his twin brother had committed suicide earlier.

[cstaylor]

I think there is a significant difference between what you identify yourself as versus what turns you on. In my opinion, I can't imagine anyone below puberty being capable of making a decision like that.

That kid might be fine in grade school, but he's going to get a beatdown in high school, you can bet on that.

[otakuden]

Yes please!

indeed!

[plaid_knight]

I hope so.

[GomiGirl]

I'm confused: is there a biological reason for this, or is it just bad juices on the brain?

I have $10 on the fact that the parents wanted a girl and have been trying to brainwash the kid into dressing and behaving like a girl. They then concocted the gender identity thing to keep up their charade... Like Mulboyne suggests - who has actually diagnosed this?? are they just going on the word of the parents.. stranger things have happened.

[cstaylor]

If the parents want a daughter so badly, why not spring for some lab work and have the results turkey-basted in?

Then again, if you're right, let's not add a second kid to this wacko couple.