Looking for the signs: How childhood narratives define transgender identity

Abstract

Abstract“In an era of intense anti‐transgender legislation attacking the rights of transgender adolescents, it is more important than ever to examine how transgender and nonbinary persons make claims of legitimacy. Transgender childhood narratives have historically been used as a tool to make one's transgender identity intelligible to others and legitimize claims to a specific gender (e.g., “I have always known I am actually a girl, not a boy”). Nascent gender identification demonstrates that one's gender is predetermined by forces outside of their control. This essentialist logic provides a “natural” and “acceptable explanation” for transgender identity and transition. The integration of these childhood tropes into diagnostic criteria and popular media has established them as markers of “legitimate” transgender identity. Failure to use these narratives, even if they do not align with personal experiences, risks one's access to medical, legal, and social resources. This article explores transgender childhood narratives in‐depth, detailing their historical roots and the theoretical frameworks that give them legitimacy. I examine their continued importance in demarcating both transgender and nonbinary authenticity and review literature that highlights the influence of these narratives across various realms of social life, including health and healthcare, public perceptions, and social recognition and support.”