Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]Gender roles are all arbitrary to a certain degree (pink used to be the "boy") color, so all they're doing is recognizing that. It doesn't mean they are gay, bi, trans, or anything[/b].

It's more than just that. They are referring to themselves as gender fluid or non-binary and rejecting male/female pronouns. I work with teens, I know this.

eh. that's just a contiuum of playing with the concept. I'm sure that women wearing pants was considered as insanely rebellious at one time.

+1

Also, a reminder that gender =/= sexuality. One can be gender non-conforming and straight, gay, bi, or asexual.

I don't want to conform, but i do. I don't care for long hair or dresses, but I have both. I don't care to watch my voice or demeanor or the way I sit or look in meetings, but I do I don't want to tolerate being interrupted CONSTANTLY, but I do.

If I were a teenager today, you bet I'd be looking into ways not to conform to this BS. It was too early for me, but it may not be too early for them.

In addition, if I had a sibling I loved who was gender non conforming and having to live this way, I'd probably dress / play the part just to support them.

And finally, it could just be coincidence.

But the real question is: what's it to you? What's the difference to you? Do you love these kids? So what if they're blonde, brunette, black, white, male, female, something else that society hasn't defined for them ahead of time... Just love the kids and relax.

Anonymous wrote:Did no one here go through a non conformist phase?

It is practically conformist to be gender fluid these days. For girls anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]Gender roles are all arbitrary to a certain degree (pink used to be the "boy") color, so all they're doing is recognizing that. It doesn't mean they are gay, bi, trans, or anything[/b].

It's more than just that. They are referring to themselves as gender fluid or non-binary and rejecting male/female pronouns. I work with teens, I know this.

eh. that's just a contiuum of playing with the concept. I'm sure that women wearing pants was considered as insanely rebellious at one time.

Anonymous wrote:Just because it popped into me head from another thread... The one on plastics cited this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222987/

And that study noted: "In mammals, chemicals having EA can produce many health-related problems, such as early puberty in females, reduced sperm counts, altered functions of reproductive organs, obesity, **altered sex-
specific behaviors,** and increased rates of some breast, ovarian, testicular, and prostate cancers (Della Seta et al. 2006; Gray 2008; Kabuto et al. 2004; National Research Council 1999; Newbold et al. 2004; Patisaul et al. 2006, 2009)."

Could there be more to this teen craze of gender fluidity?

I have wondered if xenoestrogens played an environmental factor. (In addition to genetic)

That and increased use of fertility drugs.

Anonymous wrote:There may be a genetic component. We have LGBTQ family members across 3 generations. Definitely not a “fad” for most of them, particularly those in their 70s.

^ FWIW the youngest are gender non-confirming.

There may be a genetic component. We have LGBTQ family members across 3 generations. Definitely not a “fad” for most of them, particularly those in their 70s.

Sounds like nurture to me. Who is it hurting though? Seems like if it's not their true selves, they will change when they are older.

Just because it popped into me head from another thread... The one on plastics cited this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222987/

And that study noted: "In mammals, chemicals having EA can produce many health-related problems, such as early puberty in females, reduced sperm counts, altered functions of reproductive organs, obesity, **altered sex-
specific behaviors,** and increased rates of some breast, ovarian, testicular, and prostate cancers (Della Seta et al. 2006; Gray 2008; Kabuto et al. 2004; National Research Council 1999; Newbold et al. 2004; Patisaul et al. 2006, 2009)."

Could there be more to this teen craze of gender fluidity?

Anonymous wrote:I would think either a parent is encouraging this and/or there is some type of sexual abuse happening in the family.

You’re crazy, and also extremely out of touch with today’s teens. Kids today try on gender identities like they’re hats. It’s just not a big deal to them. Sorry if that makes you anxious, but it is the way it is.

OP, this is none of your business. If you want to have a good relationship with your sibling and nieces/nephews, then butt out and be respectful of their gender identities. Most likely it will settle out in a conventional way; maybe it won’t. In either case, you don’t have to understand it, but you do need to respect it.

I know 3 different families with multiple gay siblings, and stories of several more. Being gay or trans is not a choice, it's genetic. I don't find it at all weird that it runs in families.

I don't know that these specific kids are queer or trans, and there is some cultural change at play. Also, teen boys are awful and I totally get exploring alternatives to both dating them and being around / like them. But yes, OP, my initial reaction to your post was the same as if you said 3 siblings were all unusually tall: not unexpected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty obvious the parents are encouraging this nonconforming.

It could also be a function of their peer group. I would only hope that they are exploring this in non-permanent ways, like hair and clothing choices rather than hormones and/or surgery.

Fully half my DD's female classmates claim they're bisexual or lesbian. Statistically based on numbers, 2 should be lesbian and 2 or 3 more bisexual. Instead, at least 15 of them claim to be lesbian.

I teach HS and what the pp is no exaggeration. I'm not sure what's going on with girls today, but it's becoming very rare for adolescent girls to be cisgender heterosexuals.

It's not really much different than bra burning - girls rejecting the roles they are placed in due to gender.

But why would so many girls want to look manly? Sorry, that just doesn't seem natural to me.

As opposed to looking "boyly"? Is that what the standard of beatty for women is nowadays? No body fat? The world is messed up. No doubt children are trying to redefine their roless.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty obvious the parents are encouraging this nonconforming.

It could also be a function of their peer group. I would only hope that they are exploring this in non-permanent ways, like hair and clothing choices rather than hormones and/or surgery.

Fully half my DD's female classmates claim they're bisexual or lesbian. Statistically based on numbers, 2 should be lesbian and 2 or 3 more bisexual. Instead, at least 15 of them claim to be lesbian.

I teach HS and what the pp is no exaggeration. I'm not sure what's going on with girls today, but it's becoming very rare for adolescent girls to be cisgender heterosexuals.

It's not really much different than bra burning - girls rejecting the roles they are placed in due to gender.

But why would so many girls want to look manly? Sorry, that just doesn't seem natural to me.

Anonymous[b wrote:]Gender roles are all arbitrary to a certain degree (pink used to be the "boy") color, so all they're doing is recognizing that. It doesn't mean they are gay, bi, trans, or anything[/b].

It's more than just that. They are referring to themselves as gender fluid or non-binary and rejecting male/female pronouns. I work with teens, I know this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty obvious the parents are encouraging this nonconforming.

It could also be a function of their peer group. I would only hope that they are exploring this in non-permanent ways, like hair and clothing choices rather than hormones and/or surgery.

Fully half my DD's female classmates claim they're bisexual or lesbian. Statistically based on numbers, 2 should be lesbian and 2 or 3 more bisexual. Instead, at least 15 of them claim to be lesbian.

I teach HS and what the pp is no exaggeration. I'm not sure what's going on with girls today, but it's becoming very rare for adolescent girls to be cisgender heterosexuals.

It's not really much different than bra burning - girls rejecting the roles they are placed in due to gender.