From surgery regret to the question of public safety, the transgender experience is frequently misrepresented in the media. That’s why we’re debunking these harmful myths…
From actor Pedro Pascal walking the red carpet with his trans sister Lux, to Elliot Page starring in the hit Netflix show Umbrella Academy, transgender people are gaining visibility – but not always for the right reasons. While media coverage increases, and rights are stripped away by lawmakers, misconceptions continue to shape public perception. That’s why we’re addressing common myths about transgender people – to challenge distorted narratives around a marginalised community that deserves care and respect.
Myth 1: Being transgender is a choice
If you identify positively with the sex you were assigned at birth, it may be hard to understand that not everyone has that same experience. And while every transgender person will have their own unique path towards understanding their identity, which can be a feeling that develops over many years, there is no ‘choice’ in the matter.
Integrative therapist and transgender woman, Donna Whitbread, says: “Being transgender is a set understanding that your body is not matching what, or who, you are. Confusion may arise when people who are not transgender see trans people transitioning to their correct gender. To the outside, this may look like a choice but, fundamentally, to find yourself, there is a journey. What this may look like to the outside world is irrelevant compared to the change that the person is making within themselves.”
Myth 2: Transgender people are mentally ill
Transgender people have an issue with their physical bodies which, understandably, affects how they feel about themselves. But in receiving holistic gender-affirming care (addressing social, psychological, and medical needs) most transgender people improve their wellbeing. “Being transgender is not something that comes from the mind,” explains Donna. “We know this as it can be successfully treated with hormones and surgical procedures.”
In one analysis of a survey of 27,000 transgender adults, published in the journal JAMA Surgery in 2021, it was found that undergoing gender-affirming surgery is linked with decreased odds of severe psychological distress, smoking, and suicidal ideation. It also found that those who underwent all the surgeries they wanted had significantly lower odds of all adverse mental health outcomes, when compared to those who only have some of their desired surgeries.
Donna is keen to point out that vulnerable people still need to be protected in order to make informed decisions. “There are a very small number of people who suffer with their mental health, and in trying to understand themselves, believe that changing their bodies will help them to feel better,” explains Donna. “They may be drawn to changing their gender due to trauma or other reasons but, ultimately, the change they need is internal, not external.” This is when seeking professional support from a qualified therapist can help.
Myth 3: Transgender healthcare is dangerous
Transgender healthcare can include a variety of gender-affirming options such as hormones, puberty blockers, and psychotherapy. More ‘serious’ operations such as top surgery, facial surgery, penile or vaginal construction, and hysterectomies may also be considered.
“I’ve heard some people say that most transgender people die from infection after the surgery. I’ve heard people say most transgender operations are unsuccessful, and leave trans people disfigured for the rest of their lives,” says Donna. “These are rumours perpetuated by people that are misinformed regarding what is involved.”
Research into gender-affirming treatment started as early as the 1920s, and today, data published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery shows that 99.7% of trans people are satisfied with their surgery. For context, knee surgery has an average dissatisfactory rate between six and 30%, far higher than the 0.03% of transgender people who express regret.
“No matter what the outcome is, it is a personal one, and it should be respected as such,” Donna comments. “It really does not matter what is happening to another person’s body to the outside world – because it does not belong to them.”
Myth 4: Children are too young to know their gender identity
The majority of young children develop a self-perceived gender identity in agreement with the gender they were assigned at birth. But there are many who don’t, and this often comes with a feeling of discomfort or ‘gender dysphoria’ which can present in children as young as three. As adults, The State of Trans+ Mental Health Report 2024 found that 79.8% of trans people list gender dysphoria as one of their main mental health challenges.
Therefore, it’s essential that children and young people are encouraged to explore authentic gender expression, and for them not to be shamed or judged for behaving in ways that society may characterise as ‘wrong’.
Although Donna is not a parent or a child psychologist, she believes that children should be allowed to dress in ways that challenge gender norms. “This will not encourage them to be transgender, as being transgender is not a choice – but it might just help them to understand themselves better, and be more accepting of others’ choices growing up.”
Myth 5: Transgender rights threaten others’ safety
This is often discussed in the context of inclusive spaces, such as restrooms. One study published in Sexuality Research and Social Policy, shows that when laws permit transgender people to access sex-segregated spaces in accordance with their gender identities, crime rates do not increase. Criminologists, such as Professor Henry F Fradella at the University of Arizona’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, say there is no association between trans-inclusive policies and more crime. In a paper for William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, & Social Justice, Professor Fradella writes that “transgender people use locker rooms and restrooms to change clothes and go to the bathroom”, as opposed to for sexual gratification or predatory reasons.
Donna agrees: “Transgender women only want to use the space in the same way as any other woman. Transgender women stand alongside all women for women’s rights and inclusion. There will be exceptions to this, but in exceptions when there has been violence, most reports are of transgender women being attacked in women’s spaces.”
With 85% of trans women experiencing transphobic street harassment from strangers, and 71% of trans men and 73% of non-binary people saying the same, according to TransActual’s Trans Lives Survey 2021 report, the topic of safety becomes far more relevant. Inclusive spaces are just one way to protect the trans community, the majority of whom have serious safety concerns.
Perhaps the final myth to debunk is the idea that trans identities are a symptom of modern culture. “Transgender people have always been here, as far back as human history is recorded, and are not going away” argues Donna. “The transgender experience is one of finding happiness and acceptance and falling in love with oneself in a pure way. Transgender people love themselves enough to live an authentic life.”
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