Gender: A Wider Lens

This discussion dives into the challenges of cognitive dissonance in gender identity and the emotional stakes for parents of trans-identified children. It reveals how deeply held beliefs can persist despite contradictory evidence. The hosts address the need for open dialogue and trust in navigating these sensitive topics. They emphasize the importance of self-forgiveness and staying flexible in beliefs while fostering understanding over mere evidence. Ultimately, they acknowledge that societal change regarding gender identity is complex and unlikely to resolve quickly.

Billboard Chris, a Canadian activist known for his thought-provoking challenges to gender ideology, joins the hosts live from Lisbon. He discusses the implications of puberty blockers for children, advocating for informed parental consent and mental health awareness. Chris shares insights from his activism journey and strategies for fostering constructive dialogues around controversial topics. The conversation dives into the intersection of gender identity and mental health, highlighting the need for calm discourse amidst a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.comAs debates surrounding gender medicine continue to evolve, the contrasting views within society become more evident. The polarization surrounding this issue, particularly in the U.S., often pits conservative religious beliefs against progressive advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. This dichotomy raises critical questions about the ethics of affirming identity claims, particularly in relation to minors seeking medical interventions. While recent years have yielded more whistleblowers coming forward in the context of gender medicine, more are necessary to foster broader awareness among healthcare providers and clinicians in the field. Despite the release of comprehensive systematic reviews validating many concerns raised by whistleblowers, medical professionals who speak out against practices they view as harmful continue to face threats of job loss and legal repercussions. So the question remains: how can healthcare professionals balance compassion for individuals experiencing identity crises with the need to uphold ethical standards and honor the integral natural truths of biology in gender medicine?In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Vanessa Sivadge emphasizes that while compassion for children struggling with their gender identity is crucial, affirming what she perceives as a "lie" (specifically, endorsing medical interventions like hormone treatments) does not provide a genuine solution. Instead, she advocates for raising awareness about the ethical implications of such practices and encourages medical professionals to speak out against harmful actions within the healthcare system, all while prioritizing the safety and well-being of children, underscoring the need for honesty and integrity in addressing the complex issues surrounding identity and medical care.Watch our full length episode with Vanessa Sivadge: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-186 For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/how-to-listen-to-our-full-premium.

Vanessa Sivadge, a former pediatric nurse, bravely exposed illegal practices regarding Medicaid coverage for transgender treatments in minors. She shares her harrowing journey, facing intimidation from the FBI and fallout from her whistleblowing. The discussion delves into the ethical complexities of gender-affirming care, groupthink in hospitals, and the dire need for transparency in healthcare. Vanessa emphasizes the importance of courageous voices and offers strategies for advocating accountability within a politically charged environment.

Sasha & Stella invite renowned feminist and author Julie Bindel to reflect on her decades-long advocacy for women and girls, in-particular her recent work investigating gender ideology. Julie shares her motivation behind her new podcast series, Julie in Genderland, which amplifies the voices of parents grappling with their children being caught in the gender identity craze.In this episode, Julie discusses her undercover work exposing gay conversion therapy, drawing parallels to what she calls modern "gay conversion therapy" through transgender ideology impacting gender-nonconforming youth. She explores evolving narratives around sexuality, the weaponization of female empathy in trans activism, and the systemic failures in supporting marginalized groups, particularly vulnerable girls, as seen in the Rochdale child abuse scandal. Julie also examines the trust placed in medical professionals and the societal influences shaping parents' decisions, spotlighting her podcast series, Julie in Genderland, and its focus on the impact of gender ideology on families and the challenges they encounter.With insights into radical gender politics, parental trauma, and the complexities of lesbian identity, this episode offers listeners an enlightening exploration of gender issues, feminism, child safeguarding, and activism. It sheds light on the intricate intersections of identity, politics, and personal experiences in today's sociopolitical climate.For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-185 Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/   Join Our Listener Community to Access Exclusive Content at https://www.widerlenspod.com/   Support the Show at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/support-the-show   Join the conversation on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod  For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coaching   Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching  To learn more about our sponsors, visit:Therapy First at https://www.therapyfirst.org/  Genspect at https://genspect.org/  This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe

The discussion delves into the rise of moral absolutism in today's discourse, where issues are seen as black or white, leaving little room for nuance. It addresses how this binary thinking escalates emotional reactions and stifles constructive dialogue. Topics like gender identity in sports are framed as moral crises, complicating conversations. The impact of social media in reinforcing polarized views is explored, revealing how echo chambers exacerbate public disagreements and hinder meaningful compromise.

Maud Maron, a former public defender and education advocate, discusses the conflicts at the intersection of education and politics. She reflects on the troubling shift away from academic standards in NYC schools toward ideological pressures. Highlighting her personal battles around gender guidelines and merit-based education, she emphasizes the dangers of silencing dissent. Maud shares her experiences with backlash over discussions on gender identity in athletics, raising concerns about free speech and the effects of conformity in educational settings.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.widerlenspod.comExposing children to gender identity concepts at an early age can lead them to firmly latch onto these ideas, making it challenging to reconsider their beliefs, despite the broader context of the underlying causes of their distress. Gender identity often serves as a metaphor for broader developmental processes, such as individuation, which are typical in adolescence. However, the expansive and all-encompassing nature of gender identity frameworks can oversimplify and misrepresent a child's intricate emotions and experiences. Much like interpreting one's life through a horoscope, these broad frameworks can obscure the true nature of adolescent distress. This issue is compounded by the capture of legal, educational, and medical institutions, which can entrench ephemeral adolescent pain into irreversible bodily modifications.In this bonus episode for premium subscribers, Maia:-Highlights the potential difficulties children and adolescents face when grappling with natural gender nonconformity. -Critiques the process of informed consent for medical transitions as being particularly complex, involving the lack of emphasis on concerns about long-term health consequences and the potential for exacerbated psychological distress.-Reflects on her experience of war being an extreme stressor that profoundly impacted her perception of her own gender identity.-Offers insights from her analytical paper exploring the phenomenon of transgender identification among young people, comparing trends in the United States with those in Israel, highlighting the differences in how these trends manifest in secular versus religious environments.Watch our full length episode with Maia Poet: https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-183For instructions on setting up a private feed to listen to our premium content in your favorite podcast app, visit https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/how-to-listen-to-our-full-premium.

Another special mid-week episode release! Sasha will be back for our next episode, but don’t miss this deeply moving conversation between Stella and guest, Maia Poet, who shares her powerful story of self-discovery through the lenses of gender identity, conflict, and societal expectations. Maia recounts the emotional and psychological conflict she faced living as a trans man in a religious society, and how war—especially the harrowing events of October 7th—shifted her entire perspective on her body and identity.In this conversation, Maia opens up about the transformative power of community, particularly her encounters with detransitioners, and the critical role they played in her journey toward desistance. Maia also delves into the complex moral dilemmas of discussing gender identity with children, and how surviving war solidified her understanding of the strength and resilience of her natural female body.Listeners will gain unique insight into the profound complexities of gender nonconformity in a society that, under the false pretense of “authenticity,” is failing to accommodate such experiences. The lack of space for nonconformity is paving a destructive path towards body dysmorphia, crisis of self-identity, and harmful medical transition — a broken and twisted journey towards self-love and acceptance.For links and resources relevant to this episode, access the full show notes at  https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/episode-183 Buy Our Book – When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents at https://whenkidssaytheyretrans.com/   Join Our Listener Community to Access Exclusive Content at https://www.widerlenspod.com/   Support the Show at https://www.widerlenspod.com/p/support-the-show   Join the conversation on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@widerlenspod  For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coaching   Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-coaching  To learn more about our sponsors, visit:Therapy First at https://www.therapyfirst.org/  Genspect at https://genspect.org/  This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.widerlenspod.com/subscribe

The podcast explores the evolutionary origins of masculinity and femininity, highlighting behavioral differences shaped by ancestral pressures. It delves into the ongoing debates surrounding biological versus social constructs of gender roles. The discussion emphasizes the critiques within feminist philosophy and calls for more scrutiny in academic discussions about gender-affirming care. It examines the complexities of risk-taking and competitive behaviors in men versus cooperative tendencies in women, raising essential questions about the future of gender identity discourse.