Conform or Face the Consequences: by Rusty Rae
In the 1950s, the term "transgender" had not yet been coined, and the prevailing societal attitudes towards gender and sexuality were rigidly binary and heteronormative. As a result, children who expressed gender nonconforming behavior or a desire to live as a gender other than the one assigned to them at birth were often subjected to harsh and damaging treatment.
Many transgender children in the 1950s were simply considered "tomboys" or "sissies" and were expected to eventually grow out of their nonconforming behavior. However, for those who persisted in their gender identity, the consequences could be severe. Children who expressed a desire to wear clothing associated with the opposite gender or engage in activities typically associated with the opposite gender were often ridiculed and ostracized by their peers. Parents and other authority figures would frequently attempt to "correct" the child's behavior through punishment, therapy, or even electroshock therapy.
The medical establishment of the time also played a significant role in the mistreatment of transgender children. Doctors and psychiatrists often viewed gender nonconformity as a pathological condition. Electroshock therapy was sometimes used as a treatment for gender nonconformity in the 1950s. This treatment involved passing an electric current through the brain to induce seizures and was often used as a form of punishment or behavior modification. Electroshock therapy was later recognized as a harmful and ineffective treatment for all conditions.
Conversion therapy was also common practice in the 1950s that attempted to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling, behavior modification, and other techniques. Conversion therapy was often ineffective and could be traumatic for the child, leading to depression, anxiety, and even suicide.
In addition to the mistreatment, they faced from society and the medical establishment, transgender children in the 1950s also lacked legal protections. Discrimination on the basis of gender identity was not recognized as a form of discrimination, and there were no legal avenues for transgender individuals to challenge discrimination or seek redress for harm done to them.
Overall, the treatment of transgender children in the 1950s was characterized by ignorance, prejudice, and a lack of understanding and empathy for those who did not conform to rigid gender norms. It is a sad reminder of the harm that can be done when individuals and societies are unwilling to accept and celebrate diversity in all its forms.
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