A Children's Rights Perspective on the Administration of Puberty Blockers and Cross-sex Hormones in England

Hirst, Hannah (2023) A Children's Rights Perspective on the Administration of Puberty Blockers and Cross-sex Hormones in England. PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

This thesis adopts a children’s rights lens to examine the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to gender diverse young people in England. These treatments have generated ethico-legal controversy in recent years, notably with the high-profile case of R (Bell and Another) v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Although to some extent the prescription and administration of gender affirmative treatment for adults is patient led, limited attention has been paid to whether governance of puberty blocking and cross-sex hormone therapy could be made more child centred. This thesis explores in depth young gender diverse peoples’ rights and needs in this context. It offers a detailed critical analysis of power dynamics between actors involved in decision-making about puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for gender diverse youth, drawing on a detailed review of the law, policy and existing research relating specifically to young peoples’ experiences of gender affirmative services and treatments. The thesis contributes theoretical depth to existing research, bringing the concept of power to bear on young gender diverse peoples’ rights and access to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. It advocates a children’s rights based-approach to challenge the dominant adultist narratives underpinning debates about treatment and gender diversity in childhood. A children’s rights perspective involves direct engagement with young peoples’ views about gender diversity and treatment, as distinct from those of adults, and acknowledges their status as rights holders with independent rights, perspectives, and interests. The analysis in this thesis is informed by provisions set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, but argues that more radical measures are needed to enhance its recognition and implementation in the context of treating gender diverse youth.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Children's Rights, Gender, Puberty Blockers, Cross-sex Hormones, UNCRC, Power Theory
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	25 Aug 2023 11:35
Last Modified:	25 Aug 2023 11:35
DOI:	10.17638/03169813
Supervisors:	Fox, Marie Stalford, Helen
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3169813