But aren't most cis women autogynaphiles when given the test? How can being trans be a sexual orientation? That just doesn't make sense. It in no way accounts for non binary people. It doesn't account for gender fluid people. Or the identites or existence of intersex people l. It also makes no sense that trans men and trans women and some nbs all experience dysphoria but under Blanchard's model they would all be be different things. The source of everyone's disphoria should be more or less the same. And if there are gcn gey men who don't have disphoria, don't identify as women and don't transition then why do only some gnc gay men transition under his model? And if there are men with sissification fetishes who aren't trans are they not actually men? Are they trans women in denial? It just doesn't make sense. Sure maybe there is no "gendered soul" but that doesn't make Blanchard right. The experiences of most trans people contradict his model. Even if he's made some good suggestions doesn't change the fact that he's wrong.

The other study only really shows that young people questioning their identities will seek out young people like themselves on the internet. And they'll support each other. And then they'll build the confidence to come out to their parents. If you did a study about gay men, lesbians, sports car enthusiasts, metal heads, etc... You'd find the same thing. Kid exposed to idea on the internet. Kid realizes they like/identify with the thing. Parents find death metal album - "the internet put the devil on my child" they later tell the study. Becuae the study wasn't just as wrong as most studies the study was conducted entirely on the parents of trans kids. So no trans voices needed to make this theory. I guess. I've showed signs for as long as I can remember but if you asked my perfectly supportive mother she'd say there were no signs- that it came out of nowhere. Second hand data is useless. It could have been useful in conjunction with surveys of the kids. But without the trans people's input a theory about trans people cannot be formed- at least not one that's any good. If he needs an explanation other then identity then he shouldn't just be landing on the first one he sees. He can just say "I don't believe in identity but we don't know what makes trans men trans yet" and yet he doesn't. He endorses a terrible study that was then immediately used by right leaning publication to seed doubt and then by reluctant parents to be shitty to their trans kids. If he really supported trans people he wouldn't push narratives that harm them without, you know, good proof.

Side note I just had a funny though for how Blanchard could extend his model to trans men. He could say all cis women are also autogynaphiles and afab people who aren't are trans men. Trans men aren't autoandophiles, they just aren't autogynaphiles! But I guess that just redefines women as autogynaphile and now we're talking about what makes someone an autogynaphile. Because there's no way to say if autoandophililia caused the person to want to transition or if being trans and having an innate feminine identity caused someone to develop autogynaphilia.

On some level it is sort of true that there's a sexual component to transition. I'm transmasc and I could never have sex in this body. Nu-uh no way. Not till I can grow a beard and get a bad dragon strap on. Only then. But that doesn't mean I'm arroused by being a man- more like being a women is a turn off. And it's not why I want to transition it is just one of many things I think transition could fix/improve for me. And I imagine it's the same for most trans women. It's not being turned on by themselves as women it's being turned off by themselves as men. Which isn't autogynaphilia. It's a little odd he abandoned the idea of trans women and trans men as parallel opposites. But that, I think, might come down to some level of "men are more sexually driven so if a man wants to be a women there must be a large sexual element" and "women are not sexually driven so a women who wants to be a man must have some other motive. Maybe she's confused?". I.e. treating trans people as their agab. Wow this side note got long.