Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Children who do not conform to social gender norms (gender independent children) are increasingly at the centre of media attention in North America. Despite this interest, the complex issues regarding their health and wellbeing are not easily grasped through popular media. Exacerbated by a history of pathologizing research, the lack of accurate public knowledge about gender independent children has led to confusion among health professionals, educators and parents as to whether atypical gender expression among children is to be understood as an indicator of a mental health disorder, as a precursor to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender identity, or simply as a passing phase. This confusion has, in turn, led to inconsistent policies and practices among health and social service professionals and the persistence of systemic barriers in the lives of these children and their families. This Café Scientifique event proposes to engage the general public in a lively discussion about the most up-to-date research on this controversial topic. Moreover, we aim to encourage health researchers to conduct research which addresses the social and systemic barriers in the lives of gender independent children and their families.