Considerations for affirming gender nonconforming boys and their families: new approaches, new challenges

The media and the public's reaction have created the impression that gender variant behaviors of many children are indicative of later transsexual identities. This has suggested to some parents that the best way to manage their sons' gender variance and perhaps gender dysphoria is to allow them to dress as girls in increasingly more situations. For some this becomes a transition to living full-time as a girl. However, the author believes that most of these boys would be better served by helping them develop an awareness of the many ways of being a boy, stigma-reducing social strategies, and facilitating a positive gay identity.