Nowadays, the word ‘gender’ is no longer limited to just male and female. Society has advanced knowledge and understanding regarding aspects of sexual diversity, which everyone should understand and accept, especially parents.
Sexual diversity is not a disorder
In the past, sexual diversity might have been viewed as a mental disorder. However, today society is becoming more open, and medically, people with sexual diversity are not considered to have any disease or mental disorder. It is simply diversity, similar to other different preferences. Therefore, it is not a physical or mental abnormality and is not considered a disease that requires treatment.
What to do? Encourage your child to open up and talk more with parents
Before allowing your child to speak or open up, parents should reflect on their daily attitudes toward sexual diversity—are they negative? If parents are open to talking and explaining to their child that sexual diversity is natural and not abnormal, and that they can live like any other man or woman, this approach will encourage the child to be brave in revealing themselves and feel comfortable talking with their parents.
4 things parents and everyone should understand about sexual diversity
Parents should make the home a safe space for children so they feel warm, safe, and confident. This makes them feel they have advisors and supporters within the family. The guidelines are as follows:
- Study and understand diversity
Studying and finding accurate information will help us understand our children better and explain what they are correctly. Family understanding is important in promoting the child’s growth. Before talking with your child, parents should prepare themselves and manage their emotions first.
- Be ready to talk and listen
Parents should be ready to talk with their children and be good listeners, showing a positive attitude toward sexual diversity. This will help children feel brave to talk and open up more, such as praising them when they tell the truth, being a good advisor, and giving understanding advice.
- Accept and support
Parents must be ready to accept and support the good things their children are, help solve problems, and provide knowledge about rights so that children feel confident they will have a good life and receive equality.
- Consult experts
Parents or everyone in society must learn about sexual diversity. If there are still things they do not understand, they can consult experts such as child psychologists or sexual health doctors to receive accurate information that can be applied to their children or relatives.
What should families with children of sexual diversity do?
- Instill self-worth in children without comparing them to others, as this can cause pressure and reluctance to open up within the family.
- Show care and praise the good things they do, but avoid excessive flattery.
- Give everyone the opportunity to share their stories and listen to opinions with understanding, focusing on the positive outcomes rather than the negatives.
- Allow them to learn by observing from a distance with care and provide help when necessary.
- Adolescents with sexual diversity may face many changes, so family members should observe inappropriate sexual behaviors, use of violence, or signs of depression, etc.
- Teach children about sexual health care and prevention of sexually transmitted infections for safety in living together happily in diversity.
“No matter what gender your child is, acceptance and understanding from family members is what your child needs the most.”
Acceptance of the identity of people with sexual diversity does not come from society but from themselves and their families who must understand, so that those with sexual diversity can freely express themselves and live happily in society. #BecauseWeUnderstandAllGenders Sexual Health Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
Dr. Atiwut Kamutmas
Sexual Health Specialist
Sexual Health Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
