Quote From: lsgunterI am a counselor who has taken classes from several professors/researchers who are well-respected by the American Psychological Association. These professors/researchers are practicing sex therapists who also research issues such as Gender Identity Disorder and how to effectively treat it. I wish the opinion/ideas of these individuals had been on the show because I feel that the two views presented were the two extremes. The nature vs. nurture debate has not been proven as completely one or the other in any type of research. Therefore, the most correct view is that issues like gender identity disorder are caused by a combination of both biological issues and social issues. I do wonder why we have to be extreme and say your only options as parents are to either A. support and completely let your child decide if he/she has a different gender identity or B. not allow your child to play with/do things that are inconsistent with what the culture says is appropriate for their gender. Just one option for the middle ground of these two extremes would be to allow your child to have his/her own interests/feelings and support him/her, but not support that it makes them a different gender to have those interests/feelings. That's just one of many other options.
Interesting comment., however, when a child tells you that they were born in the wrong gender you must take them seriously. No parent wants to encourage a child to choose a lifestyle that is radically different.
The challenge is to allow your child to be who they are without judgement or shame. You might choose to point out the challenges of being gay or Transgender in a world that basically rejects them, but you must love your child unconditionally and allow them to live honestly.
