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Using an ecological framework, the existing literature and research, and the authors' combined 60 years of clinical practice with children, youth, and families, this article examines gender variant childhood development from a holistic viewpoint where children, youth, and environments are understood as a unit in the context of their relationship to one another. The focus is limited to a discussion about the recognition of gender identity; an examination of the adaptation process through which gender variant children and youth go through to deal with the stress of an environment where there is not a "goodness of fit"; and a discussion of the overall developmental tasks of a transgender childhood and adolescence. Recommendations for social work practice with gender variant young people are presented in the conclusion of the paper.
The film Ma Vie en Rose (My Life in Pink) (Berliner & Scotta, 1997) is a story about the innocence of childhood as told through the experiences of a seven year old boy, Ludovic. Ludovic desperately wants to be a girl and everything about him says that he already is one. He has it all figured out; God messed up his chromosomes, simple as that, no judgment, no morality. Ludovic is a prime example of a female brain in a male body and he is putting up a valiant struggle not to be erased as a person. It's all very honest and natural to him. He is only a small boy and is much more in tune with his needs and desires than is his family.
Ludovic is 7 years old, born to a middle class, suburban family. He is very much like other children, but he is different in one key way-Ludovic is sure that he was meant to be a little girl, not a little boy-and he waits for a miracle to "correct" this mistake. Whenever able, he dresses in typical girl outfits, grows long hair, and is certain of his gender identity despite the fact that others are less sure. His parents, while tolerant of his gender nonconforming behaviors, also are embarrassed by his insistence that he is a girl, not a boy.
His siblings, although loving their "brother" in their home, are fatigued by having to fight for him in school...