Listening to the most recent episode I was struck by the TIF, Noah’s experiences. It seems such a classic case of a child and her parents being groomed by medical professionals that I’m surprised it was presented as a refutation of Rowling’s position.
Noah seems like an awkward, bright, likable young woman, and it was chilling to hear her story. She talks about not having any signs of dysphoria or gender non conforming behavior as a child, and it was only at puberty that the idea began to develop. She talks about watching Tran TikTok influencers, but never makes the connection that this being a trend might have influenced *her.*
She sees a therapist for her anxiety and depression who specilizes in teen anxiety and also gender. At this point she isn’t trans or dysphoric. This therapist ‘helps’ her to see that her issues all stem from really being a boy. She talks about previously being excited to grow up and be a woman as it would be an escape from being an awkward child, but when she starts to turn into an awkward woman and life isn’t magically resolved, that’s when she begins to accept she might be a boy. The therapist also convinces her parents that all her mental problems come from dysphoria, as they themselves are skeptical that she’s never had any inclination towards being a male before this.
She says that she thought hard about possible regrets (God, she’s 17 years old. How can anyone think hard about anything with any sort of insight at that age?) but the medical team that were surrounding her at that time were all adults and specialists and knew what was best for her.
Just heartbreaking naïveté, that no doctor could ever have their own motives.
If anything it proved every concern Rowling has about youth transitioning.