"The opportunity to be heard" – Reflections on the participation of gender diverse children and youth in research from a depathologization and human rights perspective

Over the last few years, gender diversity in childhood and adolescence has achieved an increased visibility. Within a broad bibliography on health care models and educational interventions related to the topic, a relative... [ view full abstract ]

Over the last few years, gender diversity in childhood and adolescence has achieved an increased visibility. Within a broad bibliography on health care models and educational interventions related to the topic, a relative scarcity of studies that include the perspective of gender diverse children and adolescents can be observed.
Recent analysis on research methodologies and ethics identify different reasons for a lack of participation of children and adolescents in research processes, proposing strategies for promoting their participation. In the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a human rights framework for the recognition of the children's and adolescents’ opinions is established that can also be applied to the research context.
The following presentation is based on a qualitative research project conducted in Andalusia (Southern Spain). In the project, individual interviews were conducted with trans adults, gender diverse children and adolescents, their parents, as well as health professionals.
The presentation aims at opening up a space for ethical reflections regarding research practices with gender diverse children and youth, as well as exploring their experience regarding gender transition, forms of support and discrimination and proposals for improvement.

• To review the conceptualizations of gender diversity in childhood and adolescence in the recent scientific literature. • To analyze the role of gender diverse children and youth in research processes. • To review... [ view full abstract ]

• To review the conceptualizations of gender diversity in childhood and adolescence in the recent scientific literature.
• To analyze the role of gender diverse children and youth in research processes.
• To review ethical concerns regarding a participation of children and adolescents in research.
• To explore opportunities and challenges for an informed consent process with children and adolescents.
• To explore the experiences of gender diverse children and youth in relation to gender transition processes, including forms of support or discrimination in the family, social, educational, health care and legal context.
• To identify strategies for supporting gender diversity in childhood and adolescence.
• To identify relevant methodological and ethical aspects for a research practice with gender diverse children and youth based on a depathologization and human rights perspective.

The presentation forms part of a qualitative research project that explores the opinions of trans adults, gender diverse children and adolescents, their parents, as well as health professionals, regarding gender transition... [ view full abstract ]

The presentation forms part of a qualitative research project that explores the opinions of trans adults, gender diverse children and adolescents, their parents, as well as health professionals, regarding gender transition processes, forms of discrimination and support and proposals for improvement.

In this presentation, the following methodologies related to the experience of gender diversity in childhood and adolescence are referred to:
• Review of recent literature on gender diversity in childhood and adolescence, including an analysis of the role of children and adolescents in research processes.
• Review of methodological and ethical reflections related to a participation of children and youth in research.
• Informed consent process with gender diverse children and adolescents.
• Individual semistructured interviews with gender diverse children and adolescents.
• Transcription of the interviews.
• Analysis of the experiences of gender diverse children and youth, as well as proposals and strategies for supporting gender diversity in childhood and adolescence.
• Triangulation of the results by different members of the research team.
• Reflection process on methodological and ethical aspects in the research team.

As main outcome measures, the following items were established: • Conceptualization of gender diversity in childhood and adolescence in recent scientific literature. • Participation of gender diverse children and... [ view full abstract ]

As main outcome measures, the following items were established:
• Conceptualization of gender diversity in childhood and adolescence in recent scientific literature.
• Participation of gender diverse children and adolescents in research.
• Ethical concerns in the research with children and adolescents.
• Strategies for promoting the participation of children and adolescents in qualitative research.
• Experiences of gender diverse children and adolescents in Andalusia in relation to gender transition processes and forms of support and discrimination in the family, social, educational, health care and legal context.
• Proposals and strategies for supporting gender diversity in childhood and adolescence in the family, social, educational, health care and legal context.
• Principles for a research practice with gender diverse children and adolescents based on a depathologization and human rights perspective.

As result of the literature review, the following aspects can be highlighted:• Existence of a broad scientific literature on gender diversity in childhood and adolescence. • Relative lack of research projects that include... [ view full abstract ]

As result of the literature review, the following aspects can be highlighted:
• Existence of a broad scientific literature on gender diversity in childhood and adolescence.
• Relative lack of research projects that include an exploration of the experiences of gender diverse children and youth.
• Ethical concerns regarding research with children and adolescents.
• Experiences and strategies for promoting participation of children and youth in qualitative research.

As results of the interview process with gender diverse children and youth, the following aspects can be mentioned:
• Ethical aspects in the informed consent and interview process with gender diverse children and youth.
• Experiences of gender diverse children and adolescents regarding gender transition processes, as well as forms of support or discrimination in the family, social, educational, health care and legal context in Andalusia.
• Reflections on non binary gender expressions and identities.
• Proposals and strategies for supporting gender diversity in childhood and adolescence in the family, social, educational, health care and legal context.
• Role of peer groups and associations.
• Relevant aspects for a research practice with gender diverse children and youth based on a depathologization and human rights perspective.

In contrast to a broad literature on gender diversity in childhood and adolescence from clinical and educational perspectives, a scarcity of research projects can be observed that include the perspective of gender diverse... [ view full abstract ]

In contrast to a broad literature on gender diversity in childhood and adolescence from clinical and educational perspectives, a scarcity of research projects can be observed that include the perspective of gender diverse children and youth. As reasons, the lack of recognition of the children's and adolescents’ perspective can be mentioned, as well as ethical concerns in research practices with minors. At the same time, the knowledge of their experience and proposals can be identified as a relevant aspect for supporting gender diversity in childhood and adolescence in the family, social, educational, health care and legal context.