Parental Support for Transgender Youth Ft. Dr. Kimberley Manning w/Anita Nowak - Purposeful Empathy

Gender-diverse and non-binary youth make headlines - often at a cost to those kids. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this insightful episode featuring Dr. Kimberley Manning, an advocate and parent ally, whose work challenges fear-based narratives and centers the lived realities of trans youth and their families.Drawing on more than a decade of academic research, Kimberley traces the historical and cultural roots of gender diversity, dispels the myth that trans kids are “a trend,” and explains why parental support is the strongest predictor of well-being in trans youth. She also invites us to move beyond polarizing debates about bathrooms and sports, towards greater  curiosity, empathy and understanding.Together, we discuss:Common myths and misunderstandings about trans and nonbinary childrenWhy increased visibility doesn’t make this a “fad”The emotions parents experience when supporting a trans childHow families, schools, and public policies could be more inclusiveThis conversation is about listening to trans youth—and the people who know them best.00:00 Preview02:04 Introduction 02:56 About Dr. Kimberley Manning05:02 Kimberley’s backstory07:23 Who are trans kids?12:28 How media distorts the reality of trans youth15:38 What second-wave feminism teaches us about trans visibility today20:15 What happens when young people reconsider their gender path23:06 What are some everyday challenges that trans and non-binary youth face?28:23 How geography shapes safety and support for trans youth31:36 How can parents be more supportive?33:47 Why emotional labor still fall mostly on moms38:46 Kimberley’s message to parents43:50 Why parent support groups are important52:40 Unpacking the sports bans for trans girls debate01:00:47 What allyship looks like for trans kids01:06:07  Dr. Kimberley Manning’s Purposeful Empathy storyDr. Kimberley Manning is a Professor of Political Science and Women’s Studies at Concordia University whose work sits at the intersection of gender, politics, and power.CONNECT WITH KIMBERLEY✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberley-manning/CONNECT WITH ANITA✩ Email [email protected] ✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.socialSHOW NOTES✩ Donation Link (CA) https://extrweb.uvic.ca/donate-online/transchair✩ Donation Link (USA) https://extrweb.uvic.ca/donation-forms/united-states✩ Chair in Transgender Studies https://www.uvic.ca/research/transchair/index.phpFor Parents✩ Transgender Archives https://www.uvic.ca/transgenderarchives/index.php✩ The Well-Being Gap https://apsc-saravyc.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/09/The-Well-Being-Gap-2024-Gender-Diverse-Report-2024-09-16.pdfFor Trans Kids✩ Moving Trans History Forward https://www.uvic.ca/mthf2025/✩ The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org/Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio