Imagine teenagers announcing to a public school teacher or adviser that, after talking to friends and exploring social media, they want to self-identify as an alcoholic or drug addict. Of course, they don’t want their parents to know and school administrators support that demand. Despite the lifelong impact of such a serious health decision by the adolescents, school officials direct them to “addiction affirming care” as a mental health remedy. Drugs are introduced into their bodies that have profound changes in their development, thwarting what would normally be the progress to a functioning adult.
A similar scenario is unfortunately occurring in the current trend of gender dysphoria, until recently only a hyper-minority of young people. The cultural pressures to be identified as oppressed, aggrieved and a victim is overwhelming for some students. What they need is mature guidance through these years from adults that have meaningful life experiences and not just indulgence of youthful fantasies to impress their classmates.
