Suggested Readings for Parents of the Trans-Identified (that aren’t about Trans)

Are you the parent of a trans-identified youth? It’s an expanding and not so exclusive club (welcome Elon!). With the exponential increase in children and young adults deluded by the idea that they were born in the wrong-sexed body, the ranks of parents of these kids are also expanding rapidly.

Many of us have done our research, joined parent groups, and educated ourselves on gender ideology. Although giving it that moniker seems a bit generous, like referring to astrology or phrenology as sciences. To lump those two with gender ideology really does a disservice to the daily horoscope. But I digress.

After you’ve read everything there is to read about trans-ideology, social contagion, detransitioner studies and medical side effects, you might need a breather from this tragedy. May I recommend a few books?

For Fun

“The End of the World is Flat” by Simon Edge. This is a satire on gender ideology masquerading as Flat Earthery.

“Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. This book has nothing to do with trans ideology. It’s set in the 1960s in a world where fighting for women’s rights meant, well, women’s rights. Such as the right for equal opportunities and pay, not being sexually harassed and the right to keep a job while pregnant. You know, the good old days. Despite the heavy topic, it’s breezy and funny.

Mental Health

“The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking” by Oliver Burkeman. Let’s face it, if you have a transgender kid, you need more than the usual pop psychology to get through the day. This book offers alternatives.

“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius – I’d include this one in any list of book recommendations. Also, because, as much as we may be struggling with trans-identified children, we’re not dealing with Commodus.

The Social Situation

“The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity” by Douglas Murray. You are not losing your mind. The rest of the world is. And it has been down this path before. This book puts gender ideology in perspective, that is as one of the great derangements of our times.

“The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics” by Mark Lila. You may be asking yourself why this is happening. Why did your seemingly normal kid decide he/she was in the wrong body? This book on the rise and failure of identity politics may help.

Understanding the Adversary

Anything by Chase Strangio, the Deputy Director for Transgender Justice and staff attorney with the ACLU. This guy is hysterical. Check out his twitter feed. It’s a hoot.

Transgender Children & Youth: Understanding the Basics

Referring to a “transgender child” is akin to saying a child is a liberal or a conservative. Or ready for marriage. At best, a very bad idea. At worst, cruel. But it’s important to understand the thought process behind gender ideology and this site attempts to lay it out for you. Here you’ll learn how kids are “asserting things about themselves that are critical to their identity and development”. Like they want to be an elephant when they grow up. Or they want ice cream for dinner every night. Or they want to change sexes.

And because this is why you care…

“Motherhood” by Lisa Marchiano. An exploration of the motherhood journey - which is to say that it can be as harrowing as it is joyful, and enlightening as it is exhausting. And the reason you are reading this to begin with.  Sorry, no recommendations for the men.