Trans-ness as a source of strength
For many young people, trans-ness is much more than a medical transition or a "problem" to be "solved", van Woensdregt observes. 'They see it as a search for who they are: a process of personal growth and self-acceptance. For young people, trans care is a source of strength, of authenticity and of finding a community in which they feel safe and understood.
People-centred approach to trans care
The research shows that trans young people especially need care providers who see them as people and not as patients. 'Young people want to be listened to and have space for their wishes, boundaries and experiences,' van Woensdregt said. 'Healthcare providers also need to be more attentive to non-binary identities and gender diversity.'
Collaboration with informal networks
The study shows that young people find support and knowledge in their own networks, such as queer communities and online groups. There, they share experiences and practical tips on, for example, care pathways and hormone treatments. Instead of young people having to figure everything out for themselves in a complicated and fragmented care system, care providers could cooperate more with these networks, van Woensdregt believes. 'This would allow care to better match what young people really need'.
Transgender youth active role in research
'Transgender people are being talked about an awful lot at the moment,' the sociologist says. 'And in addition, a lot is decided for the care recipients without their involvement. This is done from medical and professional frameworks and often from ignorance, based on misinformation from the media and politics.' According to the researcher, what is often missing in all interviews with care providers is attention to the lived experience: what it actually means to be trans, in daily life, at school, at home and in society. Van Woensdregt and her colleagues therefore opted for the community-led research and action (CLRA) method. Trans young people determined what the research should be about, which experiences could be brought out into the open and which story they themselves wanted to tell. Van Woensdregt: 'This created space for knowledge that comes not about them, but from them.'
Trans-being is not only about problems, but also about joy and strength.
Previous research on trans people often focused on problems such as psychological suffering, limited access to care and structural exclusion. 'However, the young people in this study indicated that they felt the need to look beyond these issues,' van Woensdregt said. 'They wanted space for the beautiful and enjoyable sides of being trans: transjoy. That includes self-love, personal growth and exploring new aspects of your identity.' And being part of a community and the interconnectedness that comes from it also contribute to transjoy, according to the young people. 'Within the trans community, young people can be themselves without having to constantly defend themselves'.
Years of waiting lists biggest obstacle for trans youth
Van Woensdregt: 'Trans youth have to deal with years of waiting lists, which makes them feel like they are in a kind of waiting mode. And because specialised care is so hard to reach, they often knock on the door of their GP, who can then feel overwhelmed, preventing appropriate care. As a result, many transgender youth receive no or limited care. The young people surveyed also indicate that they have to explain a lot about their transgender identity. They describe care as a minefield: they are constantly wary and think carefully about how they word things, for fear that one wrong wording will permanently hinder access to care.'
According to the sociologist, many caregivers recognise that current care is inadequate. They are open to change and want to learn from young people's experiences. 'What is needed for this is not only cooperation, but also a fundamental change in how we look at trans-ness. Not as a medical problem, but as a multifaceted and personal process that happens differently in every person. An inclusive, safe and appropriate care environment requires letting go of fixed boxes, and being open to the richness and diversity of trans identities. Only then can trans young people truly have the space to grow, discover themselves and participate fully in society.'
Collaboration with informal networks and a people-centred approach to trans care
Woensdregt, Lise; van der Velde, Mi Jung; van Stapele, Naomi (2025)