First you have to define what you mean when you say “reinforcement” and then differentiate it from “treatment”. Are you “reinforcing” Autism when you avoid situations where you’re likely to encounter loud sounds and bright lights, or when you avoid large groups of people, etc.? Are you “reinforcing” ADHD when you choose to work a non-traditional schedule and job because that’s what allows you to work with the disorder? Why is presenting as something other than your assigned gender suddenly “reinforcement of a mental illness” and not “treatment”? Where do you draw the line between “reinforcing it” and “accepting your condition changes who you are and requires you to live differently from others, and utilizing effective strategies and medications that may improve quality of life and reduce suffering in the long term”?
You give eating disorders the treatment they get because, without it, the disorder will severely harm the person. You give gender dysphoria the treatment it gets because proper treatment for the specific person’s case, whether it’s transitioning via using appropriate pronouns or being more open with their non-traditional behaviours or making efforts to outwardly appear non-traditionally or going through HRT etc., is effective at reducing harm related to the dysphoria. What you call “reinforcing” eating disorders is not comparable to gender affirming care because it does not have the same effects.
I didn’t think I had to define basic words but if I have to, sure. I define reinforcement as supporting behaviors that are symptoms of the disorder. If someone who has autism becomes extremely antisocial for instance, reinforcement would be allow them to continue that behavior as well as support it by giving them blackout curtains, better locks, whatever would make that antisocial behavior stronger or more frequent. I define treatment as attempting to correct the behaviors the disorder spurs on. Using the same example, rather than pushing the person with autism to become more antisocial (even if it’s comfortable) to instead gradually move away from that by introducing them to people (or whatever would be appropriate for their current needs).
Why is presenting as something other than your assigned gender suddenly “reinforcement of a mental illness” and not “treatment”?
Because the vast majority of people do not feel the need to present as something other than their assigned gender. Most people, nearly all of them, are comfortable in their own body with the gender they are and the thought of changing that never crosses their mind. Those who don’t or can’t feel comfortable within themselves should receive treatment either through therapy or with a solution we will one day find.
The reason this frustrates me is because the attitude is now to not look for a solution, to not look for a treatment, but to instead normalize the disorder because the effect is generally harmless. Ideally, I’d like everyone to feel comfortable in their body from the day they’re born to the day they die and I think it’s worth looking for a way to do that.
First you have to define what you mean when you say “reinforcement” and then differentiate it from “treatment”. Are you “reinforcing” Autism when you avoid situations where you’re likely to encounter loud sounds and bright lights, or when you avoid large groups of people, etc.? Are you “reinforcing” ADHD when you choose to work a non-traditional schedule and job because that’s what allows you to work with the disorder? Why is presenting as something other than your assigned gender suddenly “reinforcement of a mental illness” and not “treatment”? Where do you draw the line between “reinforcing it” and “accepting your condition changes who you are and requires you to live differently from others, and utilizing effective strategies and medications that may improve quality of life and reduce suffering in the long term”?
You give eating disorders the treatment they get because, without it, the disorder will severely harm the person. You give gender dysphoria the treatment it gets because proper treatment for the specific person’s case, whether it’s transitioning via using appropriate pronouns or being more open with their non-traditional behaviours or making efforts to outwardly appear non-traditionally or going through HRT etc., is effective at reducing harm related to the dysphoria. What you call “reinforcing” eating disorders is not comparable to gender affirming care because it does not have the same effects.
I didn’t think I had to define basic words but if I have to, sure. I define reinforcement as supporting behaviors that are symptoms of the disorder. If someone who has autism becomes extremely antisocial for instance, reinforcement would be allow them to continue that behavior as well as support it by giving them blackout curtains, better locks, whatever would make that antisocial behavior stronger or more frequent. I define treatment as attempting to correct the behaviors the disorder spurs on. Using the same example, rather than pushing the person with autism to become more antisocial (even if it’s comfortable) to instead gradually move away from that by introducing them to people (or whatever would be appropriate for their current needs).
Because the vast majority of people do not feel the need to present as something other than their assigned gender. Most people, nearly all of them, are comfortable in their own body with the gender they are and the thought of changing that never crosses their mind. Those who don’t or can’t feel comfortable within themselves should receive treatment either through therapy or with a solution we will one day find.
The reason this frustrates me is because the attitude is now to not look for a solution, to not look for a treatment, but to instead normalize the disorder because the effect is generally harmless. Ideally, I’d like everyone to feel comfortable in their body from the day they’re born to the day they die and I think it’s worth looking for a way to do that.