Gender care gets a lot of attention and is characterized by sometimes heated debates. It is precisely in this often polarized context that scientific research is of great importance. In her inaugural lecture as Professor of Gender and Gender Variations, APH researcher Baudewijntje Kreukels advocates a clear place for scientific findings. "In the current discussion on gender care, opinions seem more important than scientific findings. In addition, these scientific results are quite often distorted or interpreted differently. In doing so, they can also pose a threat to care." Kreukels has held her inaugural lecture Wednesday, October 5.

It is estimated that over one hundred thousand people in the Netherlands experience gender incongruence, also known as gender dysphoria. The Knowledge and Care Center for Gender Dysphoria (KZcG) of Amsterdam UMC offers multidisciplinary care and scientific research that contributes to the further improvement of gender care. Research also provides more insight into the wishes and gender feelings of these care users. Gender care has undergone an enormous development partly thanks to scientific research. More is known about the development of various gender identities, short and long-term effects and treatment outcomes.

Critical followers

Despite many positive developments, transgender care could invariably count on critical followers over the years. In recent years, transgender people themselves have also expressed strong criticism of the organization of gender care. Kreukels: "It is precisely this sometimes polarized context that makes it extremely important that care and policy are aligned on the basis of scientific findings and not mere opinions."

Science and social debate

There is also a difficult relationship between science and public debate. For example, opponents of transgender care misused outcomes of studies to question the usefulness and necessity of this care. KZcG research was also incorrectly cited in the current discussions in the House of Representatives surrounding the new transgender law involving legal gender reassignment. This is worrisome when this turns public opinion around and thus creates pressure to change or even (temporarily) stop care. Kreukels: "Troubling developments we see in this regard in the United States, the United Kingdom and in Sweden. As a result of these movements, care for transgender youth there has been severely restricted."

Regular focus in medical education

In her inaugural lecture, Kreukels also called for more attention to transgender care in medical education. The programs at Amsterdam UMC do have such modules, but that is not standard for all programs in the Netherlands. Because of the increased visibility of transgender persons, more and more medical and other health care providers are also dealing with them outside of gender care. "Education about gender identity and transgender care therefore deserves a permanent place in the education of health care providers and should not be limited to the education of centers that provide transgender care."

Read the article (in Dutch) here.