Understanding Gender Dysphoria by Mark A. Yarhouse

He also makes it a point to say that people who experience gender dysphoria (he dislikes using 'transgender' as a descriptor) are not intentionally moving away from God or being willfully difficult. Yarhouse's first chapter covers basic terminology and a short history of transgender people in the media, beginning with Christine Jorgensen. Yarhouse's book has done-it has created a narrative about the causes, effects, and meaning behind gender dysphoria that is palatable to conservative Christians, all the while ignoring the voices of transgender Christians themselves.īut before diving further into that particular critique, let's take a very brief look at the book itself:

What is perhaps most interesting about narrative approaches to therapy is that they are often used with marginalized groups whose 'story' has been written by a dominant culture. On a larger level, entire groups of people could have their story about themselves completely overtaken by a more dominant group's story about them.' Unfortunately, I believe this is exactly what Dr.

Yarhouse says, when describing his preferred method of therapy: ' Narrative therapy focuses on the role of socially constructed 'scripts' in a person’s life. Yarhouse's book ( I'd recommend this one for its thorough summary and critique), I have yet to see one written by a transgender Christian. Think that sounds like a lot to try to weave together? You'd be right.Īnd though there have been several reviews done of Dr. Yarhouse's book attempts to find a harmony in the midst of conflicting opinions by calling for an 'integrated framework' that balances conservative evangelical biblical views with medical and psychological concepts of disability and the celebration of diversity found among those of us who work for social justice. Into this fray jumps Christian psychologist Mark Yarhouse with his book ' Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture.' Dr. In Christian circles, responses have run the gamut from absolute acceptance to vilifying denouncement, but one thing is sure-church communities are asking questions and formulating responses to something that wasn't on the radar for most ten years ago. From The Atlantic to The New Yorker to Christianity Today to The Blaze-everyone wants a story and everyone wants to publish an opinion. Since Caitlyn Jenner's official coming out on the front of Vanity Fair two months ago, more media attention has been focused on transgender issues than most of us ever thought possible.

Understanding Gender Dysphoria by Mark A. Yarhouse