A top US university has come out in support of controversial research on gender dysphoria despite initially withdrawing its endorsement after backlash from trans activists.
Brown University’s Dr Lisa Littman published her research in August last year, but activists who disagreed with her findings branded it “completely flawed”.
Despite efforts from the trans lobby to have the research pulled, it has withstood an extensive peer review process, and the findings have proven valid.
Spreading like wildfire
Dr Littman’s research found that heavy exposure to online content about gender transition is partially behind the phenomenon of ‘rapid-onset gender dysphoria’ (ROGD).
ROGD is a term given to teenagers who suddenly express feelings of being “born in the wrong body”, despite never having experienced such feelings in earlier life.
She also revealed that gender dysphoria spread like wildfire among friendship groups where the majority of children were ‘transgender-identified’.
‘A valid contribution’
Of the parents Littman interviewed, 87 per cent said their child either had inceased social media use, or belonged to a friendship group with one or multiple transgender friends.
Publishers have confirmed “the study and resultant data… represent a valid contribution”.
Dr Littman said she was “delighted” her work withstood the extensive peer review process.