Debunking Common Transphobic Claims

This section addresses common transphobic claims often promoted by gender-critical theorists (commonly referred to as TERFs—Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists). By examining these claims and providing scientific refutations, we aim to promote accurate information and support the rights and dignity of transgender individuals.

• Kathleen Stock: “Sex is fundamentally about whether your body is structured to produce large or small gametes. And this difference shapes, in deep ways, how human beings interact with each other and the world.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)
• J.K. Rowling: “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased.” (Source: Rowling, J.K. (2020, June 6). Twitter.)
• Holly Lawford-Smith: “Biological sex is not ‘assigned’ at birth. It’s observed and recorded. You’re either female or male based on whether you produce eggs or sperm.” (Source: Lawford-Smith, H. (2021). The Conversation.)

This claim is untrue.  Biological sex is not exclusively binary, as there are five biological indicators of sex, and none of them lead to a strictly binary outcome.

• Sources: Fausto-Sterling, A. (2000). Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality. Basic Books. Blackless, M., et al. (2000). How sexually dimorphic are we? Review and synthesis. American Journal of Human Biology, 12(2), 151-166.

• Kathleen Stock: “If we allow males into female spaces, whether they identify as women or not, we lose the justification for those spaces being female-only in the first place, which is that males as a class pose a greater risk of sexual violence to females.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)
• J.K. Rowling: “When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman—and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones—then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside.” (Source: Rowling, J.K. (2020, June 10). Personal Essay.)
• Holly Lawford-Smith: “Opening up women’s spaces to any male who identifies as female undermines the very reason we have those spaces in the first place, which is to protect women from male violence.” (Source: Lawford-Smith, H. (2019). Gender-Critical Feminism. Routledge.)

This claim is untrue. Studies have found no evidence that transgender-inclusive policies lead to an increase in safety risks or privacy violations.

• Sources: Hasenbush, A., Flores, A. R., & Herman, J. L. (2018). Gender identity nondiscrimination laws in public accommodations: A review of evidence regarding safety and privacy in public restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 16(1), 70-83. Stotzer, R. L. (2014). Law enforcement and criminal justice personnel interactions with transgender people in the United States: A literature review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(3), 263-277.

• Kathleen Stock: “The fact is, testosterone confers significant advantages in terms of size, strength, and speed, advantages that aren’t entirely undone by subsequent hormone treatment. This matters in sports.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)
• Holly Lawford-Smith: “Allowing male-bodied people into female sports categories undermines the whole point of having sex-segregated sports in the first place, which is to ensure fair competition.” (Source: Lawford-Smith, H. (2019). Gender-Critical Feminism. Routledge.)

This claim is untrue. Hormone therapy significantly reduces any potential advantages, and sports organizations have established guidelines to ensure fair competition.

• Sources: Harper, J., et al. (2021). How does hormone therapy affect muscle strength, lean body mass, and hemoglobin in transwomen and transmen? A systematic review with a focus on the implications for sport participation. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(15), 865-872. Handelsman, D. J., et al. (2018). Circulating testosterone as the hormonal basis of sex differences in athletic performance. Endocrine Reviews, 39(5), 803-829.

• Kathleen Stock: “There’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that some young people, especially girls, are being wrongly encouraged to believe they’re transgender and to pursue medical transition without adequate exploration of other underlying issues.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)
• Holly Lawford-Smith: “The current model of care for gender dysphoria, which rapidly affirms a young person’s belief that they are trans and moves swiftly to medical intervention, is dangerous and should be replaced with a more cautious approach that prioritizes psychotherapy.” (Source: Lawford-Smith, H. (2019). Gender-Critical Feminism. Routledge.)

This claim is untrue. Major medical organizations support gender-affirming care as the most effective treatment for gender dysphoria, showing significant improvements in mental health outcomes.

• Sources: American Medical Association. (2019). Health care needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations. Coleman, E., et al. (2012). Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people, version 7. International Journal of Transgenderism, 13(4), 165-232.

• Kathleen Stock: “Detransition is a growing phenomenon, and it’s clear that some people are making irreversible decisions about their bodies that they later come to regret. This is an urgent issue that needs more attention.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)
• Holly Lawford-Smith: “There are increasing numbers of people, particularly young women, who are de-transitioning after realizing that transitioning didn’t resolve their underlying issues. We need to take these voices seriously.” (Source: Lawford-Smith, H. (2019). Gender-Critical Feminism. Routledge.)

This claim is untrue. Research indicates that de-transitioning is rare, and most instances of de-transitioning are due to external pressures or lack of support, not regret.

• Sources: Turban, J. L., et al. (2021). Factors leading to “detransition” among transgender and gender diverse people in the United States: A mixed-methods analysis. LGBT Health, 8(4), 273-280. Bustos, V. P., et al. (2021). Regret after gender-affirmation surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 9(3), e3477.

• Kathleen Stock: “The sudden increase in young people identifying as transgender suggests that it’s a trend or social contagion rather than a genuine increase in gender dysphoria.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)
• Holly Lawford-Smith: “The rise in transgender identification among teenagers is driven by social media and peer influence, not genuine cases of gender dysphoria.” (Source: Lawford-Smith, H. (2019). Gender-Critical Feminism. Routledge.)

This claim is untrue. There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that gender identity is a trend or social contagion. The increase in visibility and acceptance of transgender individuals likely contributes to more people feeling safe to come out. The existence of non-binary genders in other cultures for hundreds of years refutes the idea that gender diversity is a new phenomenon. Examples include the Hijra of South Asia, Two-Spirit people in many Indigenous cultures in North America, and the fa’afafine in Samoa.

• Sources: Turban, J. L., et al. (2020). Factors leading to “detransition” among transgender and gender diverse people in the United States: A mixed-methods analysis. LGBT Health, 8(4), 273-280. Ashley, F. (2020). The misuses of “rapid onset gender dysphoria.” Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(7), 3475-3479. Nanda, S. (1990). Neither Man nor Woman: The Hijras of India. Wadsworth Publishing. Jacobs, S.-E., et al. (1997). Two-Spirit People: Native American Gender Identity, Sexuality, and Spirituality. University of Illinois Press. Besnier, N. (1994). Polynesian Gender Liminality through Time and Space. Pacific Studies, 17(2), 3-40.

• Kathleen Stock: “There is a higher prevalence of mental illness among transgender individuals, which suggests that gender dysphoria is linked to psychological instability.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)
• Holly Lawford-Smith: “Transgender people often suffer from comorbid mental health issues, indicating that their gender identity may be a symptom of underlying psychological problems.” (Source: Lawford-Smith, H. (2019). Gender-Critical Feminism. Routledge.)

This claim is untrue. While transgender individuals do experience higher rates of mental health issues, this is largely due to societal stigma, discrimination, and lack of access to appropriate healthcare, not inherent psychological instability.

• Sources: Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674-697. Turban, J. L., et al. (2020). Association between recalled exposure to gender identity conversion efforts and psychological distress and suicide attempts among transgender adults. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(1), 68-76.

• Lisa Littman: “Rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) is a phenomenon where adolescents and young adults suddenly develop gender dysphoria during or after puberty, often in the context of belonging to a peer group where one or more friends have also come out as transgender.” (Source: Littman, L. (2018). PLoS One.)
• Kathleen Stock: “There is increasing evidence that some adolescents, especially girls, are experiencing rapid-onset gender dysphoria due to social contagion, and this needs to be investigated thoroughly.” (Source: Stock, K. (2021). Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism. Fleet.)

This claim is untrue. The concept of ROGD is not recognized by major medical organizations and has been criticized for methodological flaws. Subsequent research emphasizes the need to affirm adolescents’ gender identities based on clinical evaluation. Additionally, gender diversity is not a new phenomenon; non-binary genders have been recognized in various cultures for hundreds of years, such as the Hijra of South Asia, Two-Spirit people in many Indigenous cultures of North America, and the fa’afafine in Samoa.

• Sources: Ashley, F. (2020). The misuses of “rapid onset gender dysphoria.” Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(7), 3475-3479. Turban, J. L., et al. (2020). Gender identity and suicide attempts among transgender and gender diverse adolescents. Pediatrics, 145(3), e20191725. Nanda, S. (1990). Neither Man nor Woman: The Hijras of India. Wadsworth Publishing. Jacobs, S.-E., et al. (1997). Two-Spirit People: Native American Gender Identity, Sexuality, and Spirituality. University of Illinois Press. Besnier, N. (1994). Polynesian Gender Liminality through Time and Space. Pacific Studies, 17(2), 3-40.