Talking to Kids about Gender Identity: A Roadmap for Christian Compassion, Civility, and Conviction by Mark Yarhouse

Talking to Kids about Gender Identity: A Roadmap for Christian Compassion, Civility, and Conviction Reviews

• 
  Nathan Schneider

  Really helpful as a general primer for understanding gender dysphoria. Dr. Yarhouse provides a cautious approach for parents who may be engaging with a child or friend around these issues. Each chapter provides technical and medical information about gender dysphoria (e.g. definitions, statistics, and criteria for children and teens who would qualify for a medical diagnosis), as well as suggested best practices for parents around the three words - Conviction, Civility, and Compassion.
  
  Three main lenses for viewing gender dysphoria:
  - “There is a divine, sacred corresponding relationship between biological sex and gender” (i.e. the Creation order). (Ministry emphasis of SIN) (My term = MORTIFICATION)
  - “There is a difference in how gender and gender identity are experienced that signal something is not functioning as it was intended.” (Ministry emphasis of SUFFERING) (My term = MANAGEMENT)
  - “Variations in gender and gender identity are a matter of diversity that should be celebrated.” (Ministry emphasis of SELF) (My term = CELEBRATION)
• 
  Denise

  This isn’t a book of answers, but it’s a thoughtful guide to navigating difficult topics. Mark Yarhouse has experience and knowledge, yet he brings kindness to the table first. As my kids grow, I hope to talk with them about any topic with the compassionate and curious approach Mark gives here. The book is well laid out, including sample dialogues on different topics related to gender identity. Humility and seeking the heart of God are central throughout.
  
  Thank you for this resource and this gracious approach to living life with others, including our kids!
• 
  Eric

  I really wanted to like this book; but, to me, it seems that Yarhouse was too nuanced at points and made too many allowances in his prescriptions. Yarhouse is clearly compassionate, and has thought a great deal about this issue (simply look at this body ofl literature), but I felt that he left too many roads open as possible avenues for Christians (e.g., allowing for variance of social transition). The best part of the book was section 1, "basics of gender identity." It's the other two sections that made me more suspect about Yarhouse's prescriptions and convictions.
• 
  Tri

  A surprisingly, genuinely empathic lens for Christians on trans people and how to talk with their children about it. I think this is a good book to hand to someone who may have issues and misgivings against trans people. The book is very gentle and asks the reader to have open conversations and to be mindful.
  My only issues are some of the phrasing and a limited information about/from trans adults and some of the roles they play as parents and caretakers.
  But overall, this is a book that I’m glad exists, and I hope it finds its way into the right hands.
• 
  Joel Newberg

  A very practical and straightforward book to have an honest discussion with your kids on transgenderism and the Bible. He approaches it as the reader is completely new to the movement's terminology and then takes turns addressing the different aspects of the chapter. He will speak about how to talk to your kids about kids in your school who are struggling, when your kids are struggling, and even a chapter to kids on if they themselves are struggling. He approaches with conviction and compassion.
• 
  Heather

  I read this not to help my own beliefs on the issue, but to find a compassionate alternative to the conservative Christian stance I see of basically just saying it’s sin and not having any path to relationships with people who have horizontal identities. After reading several of Yarhouse’s books, it has shown me there is a much better path forward here to foster relationships, even if you insist on seeing the creation story as instructive on human sexuality and identity. Which I don’t.
• 
  Lindsay

  3.5⭐️s. I wanted to begin exploring this topic since I know it will come up at some point and I’d rather be prepared. Unfortunately I didn’t find this book as helpful as I would’ve hoped. I did appreciate they way the balanced “grace and truth”, but found some of the take home conversations cheesy and unnatural.