The Department of Gender Studies Speakers' Series invites you to the presentation by Dr. Julia Temple Newhook, Postdoctoral Fellow, Medicine/Pharmacy, Memorial University, Children’s Gender Diversity: Beyond the Myths.

There is a long history of pathologizing research on gender diversity.  Transgender and gender diverse people have been profoundly marginalized in Canada and much of the world, and their experiences of are still poorly understood in the general public as well as within the healthcare system. Although transgender adults have often described awareness of their gender identity from a very young age, the existence of transgender and gender diverse children has only recently been acknowledged in North American society. As the dominant culture slowly shifts towards increasing acceptance of gender diversity, growing numbers of parents appear to be affirming, rather than repressing, their children’s gender identities, and searching for health and social supports. In this presentation, I review the research literature on children’s gender diversity, and dispel widespread myths surrounding gender diverse children and youth. I will also discuss local and national supports and resources for transgender and gender diverse children, youth and their families.