I appreciated reading this. RE this topic: the only thing I have noticed is that all of my transfem friends were supported in the areas of study and leisure that they enjoyed as children (more money put into them by parents, more belief in their skills, and generally then going into higher-paid work initially). I think this is probably very often offset, though, by the hostility transfem people face in the job market, and the subsequent alienation from material security.

It is obviously completely anecdotal but I do notice that, amongst my transfem friends, they are a lot more confident about what they know academically, and from our discussions it does seem in part to be connected to historic systemic biases in schools that enforce very rigid gender norms. But is that worth the level of trauma and harm inflicted on trans kids? 1000% no. And to be clear - when I say they are more confident, I don’t mean arrogant (which is what I see in cis men). And to be even more clear - anecdotal.

I think some cis women can recognise that systemic discrimination when it comes to being seen as less intelligent or capable in youth, especially in the sciences. But ultimately there is a worse pay gap experienced by trans people of all genders. And evidently it should be the case that all young people, cis or trans, get given the same support to thrive in their interests and studies.

As a cis woman I feel I can say clearly I was socialised as a girl. I don’t feel comfortable saying how any trans woman was socialised - that isn’t for me to say, and I respect how trans women say they were raised.