Gender Incongruence/Transgenderism
DUring the meeting
QUESTIONS
to guide group discussion:
1. Can you care about someone and show compassion without accepting their behavior or validating their beliefs? If so, what does that look like? Give examples of how an effective parent is able to do that with their own children – on a myriad of things.
2. What are the steps to “transition” from one sex to another? List the medical concerns associated with each. Should there be concern at the idea of a child, or an adult, becoming a life-long medical patient? Why?
3. What are the ramifications of transitioning, and transgenderism as a whole, on relationships – be it immediate family, extended family, work colleagues, friends?
4. Does “transitioning” help lower the very high suicide rate for trans-identifying individuals? What does the research say?
5. If we can pick our gender, can we also pick our age? Our race? A profession (even if we are not trained in it)? Discuss the cultural and societal impact when individuals conflate objective reality with perceptions and “feelings.” Is there any stopping point or limiting principle?
6. Who gets to decide when a female sees a biological male in a state of undress? Politicians, school officials or the female herself? Discuss whether or not it is misogynistic to require a female, without her consent, to undress/dress in the presence of a biological male.
7. What physical advantages do men have over women? Discuss whether or not it is “fair” to have men participate in women’s sports. Why is there not a similar influx of trans-males (women who identify as males) into men’s sports?
8. To the women in the group: What are your feelings when you hear things like “men who menstruate,” “pregnant men,” “lactating men” “guys need tampons, too”?
9. Explain “social contagion.” What are some reasons why gender confusion is currently more pronounced among young women (girls identifying as boys)? Does this surprise you?
10. Have you seen evidence of efforts to mainstream transgenderism in your schools? Is that a positive trend? If not, what can you do to push back against it?
11. Are there safety concerns to be considered when allowing for biological men that identify as women to enter into public women-only spaces (dressing/locker rooms, shower, women’s shelters, etc). If so, list the concerns. Why are women more concerned about safety, in this regard, than men tend to be? (Women in group: Think back over your life and recognize the steps you intuitively take, especially in public settings, to protect yourself – in a parking lot/a store/jogging, even when an unfamiliar male enters your home.)