Prepubescent children who manifest gender atypical behaviours are often the target of bullying and discrimination as early as 2nd or 3rd grade at the hands of their peers. Unlike children from other minority groups, gender variant children cannot necessarily count on the understanding and protection of their parents who often struggle with feelings of shame and marginalization themselves.
The overwhelming lack of support the child experiences coupled with the pressure to conform to gender norms creates an alarming context in which short, medium and long term problems are likely to emerge in the child as well as in the parent-child relationship. As health professionals we are in a unique position to support and guide parents who turn to us for help and assist them in becoming supportive and protective advocates for their child.