Gender Conference NYC Professional Symposium 2019

In the psychological literature on transgender and gender nonconforming youth, there are two large questions that shape the field. One asks whether children who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming as children will continue to identify the same way when they are adults. Another asks what decisions families make (e.g., early social transitions vs. watchful waiting) are associated with the best mental health outcomes. There are number of studies that are frequently cited as providing answers to these questions, though, like all studies, they each have methodological limitations. This presentation aims to (1) present the most commonly cited findings that address these questions, and (2) take a close look at both the contributions and limitations of each study. This presentation also seeks to grapple with the ethical implications of applying research findings to highly personal matters like one's gender identity and expression -- though it will likely present more questions than answers.