Reflections of a transnational Adolescent Medicine physician on gender social transition and language

Gender diverse adolescents and young adults (AYAs) can have the opportunity to live authentic self publicly only after social transition. Name and pronoun changes consistent with AYA's affirmed gender are among the significant markers of social transition, with its recognition by others indicating a greater extent of social integration.

From the gender perspective, globally there are three types of languages which are natural gender, gendered and genderless languages.

The challenges of pronoun changes are on a wide spectrum from very difficult to not at all, depending on the language spoken. There is no mention of any relationship between the social transition of gender diverse AYAs and the spoken language in the literature. In this paper, I would like to share my personal experience and reflections as a transnational adolescent medicine physician on the impact of spoken language on gender social transition. Within my clinical experience over the years, I believe the more gender expressions in the spoken language, the harder the social transition of a gender diverse youth.

I believe the health care providers serving gender diverse AYAs need to be cognizant of the potential impact of spoken language on social transition, especially in countries which have a wide linguistic diversity.