Changes to sex ratios in clinics probably don't reflect a real change in the transgender population

Photo by Martha Dominguez de Gouveia on Unsplash

Photo by Martha Dominguez de Gouveia on Unsplash

What is it about?

Gender identity clinics have reported unexplained shifts in assigned sex ratios in recent years. Recent attempts at explaining these shifts have often presumed that they reflect a shift in assigned sex ratios in the underlying transgender and gender diverse population. The reasons for the shift in assigned sex ratios in GICs remain unknown. However, given the discrepancies in size between GIC populations and gender diverse populations, sociocultural factors impacting referral patterns are the most promising explanation.

Why is it important?

The unexplained nature of shifts in assigned sex ratios in clinical population have been recuperated by individuals who seek to oppose access to trans care, notably proponents of the unfounded theory of rapid-onset gender dysphoria. Addressing the plausibility of various candidate explanation types for the shift in assigned sex ratios is crucial to countering transantagonistic rhetoric.

Perspectives

Florence Ashley University of Toronto Free version of the letter to the editor linked in the sidebar.

The following have contributed to this page: Florence Ashley