Down The Rabbit Hole: Gender and Online Communities
Oct 25, 2023
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Eliza Mondegreen, a graduate student researching online trans communities, joins the podcast to discuss the relationship between gender and online communities. The conversation covers topics such as finding online trans communities, the challenges of gender transition evaluation, AGP and its historical context, influences of pornography on fetishes, competitive credulity in psychiatry, challenges of obtaining consent for transgender treatment in severely autistic patients, and magical thinking in the clinical community.
Online communities provide a sense of belonging and validation for those exploring gender identity.
Transitioning can be a complex process that doesn't always meet individuals' expectations, leading to detransitioning and challenges with acceptance.
Competitive credulity in the field of gender affirming care can lead to uncritical acceptance of unrealistic claims.
Deep dives
The Influence of Online Communities on Gender Identity
Online communities have a significant impact on individuals' understanding and exploration of gender identity. These communities create a sense of belonging and validation for those questioning their gender. The online environment provides support and acceptance, which can be both empowering and distressing. These communities often foster an emergent cult-like dynamic, without traditional leaders, where individuals police each other's beliefs and reinforce the notion that the online space is the only place where they truly belong.
The Drives Behind Transitioning and Detransitioning
Transitioning into a different gender is driven by a complex interplay of social, psychological, and personal factors. Online communities influence individuals to question their gender, often pathologizing any doubt or insecurity as evidence of being transgender. However, the process of transitioning doesn't always meet the expectations of individuals, leading some to detransition. Detransitioners face significant challenges, as they are rejected by both their real-life and online communities.
The Role of Competitive Credulity in Gender Affirming Care
Competitive credulity is evident in the field of psychiatry and psychotherapy, particularly in the realm of gender affirming care. Therapists may prioritize supporting their patients' desired gender identity over critical evaluation, leading to an uncritical acceptance of increasingly extreme and unrealistic claims. This competitive credulity fuels a social movement surrounding gender identity, where therapists are expected to demonstrate unwavering belief and support for their patients' claims, even when they defy reality.
The Influence of Online Communities and Social Media
The podcast discusses the impact of online communities and social media on shaping beliefs and behaviors related to gender identity. It explores the way in which individuals can develop and reinforce their own beliefs and identities while being part of these online communities. The conversation highlights the challenges of relating to others in online spaces and the potential for these spaces to distort one's perception of reality. The discussion also touches on the implications of online communities in terms of personal consequences and the potential for division and tension in relationships.
The Role of Autogynephilia and Addiction-like Behavior
The podcast delves into the concept of autogynephilia, which refers to the love of oneself as a woman. It is described as functioning like an addiction, escalating over time, and requiring increasing levels of engagement. The discussion links autogynephilia to the rage and intense reactions seen in individuals when their fix, or source of gratification, is interrupted. The podcast also mentions the intellectualization of AGP and the articulate nature of some self-described AGPs. Additionally, the influence of pornography and its potential role in contributing to the rise of AGP in younger individuals is addressed.
Eliza Mondegreen visits the girls/women to talk about the relationship between online communities and gender identities. From Reddit to Tumblr, tens of thousands of strangers are poised to welcome confused kids into a sprawling and hyper-accepting “family.” But, as Eliza puts it, “finding these communities is like stepping in quicksand.”
Eliza Mondegreen is a graduate student researching online trans communities. She is a columnist for UnHerd, Fairer Disputations, and Genspect, and writes on Substack here.
ICYMI
You can listen to this episode for more context about the WaPo story about Artemis Langford.
