'I have no gender - I'm just me': Australian children as young as 11 who don't identify as male or female open up on why they are undergoing treatment to block puberty
- Year Six student Olivia Purdie spoke to Four Corners about being non-binary
- 'I am non-binary, which means I have no gender. I am just me,' Olivia said
- Non-binary is where a person's gender identity is not exclusively male or female
Children as young as 11 who do not identify as a girl or a boy have opened up on why they are undergoing treatment to block puberty - with their parents' support.
Olivia Purdie, a Year 6 student from Adelaide, spoke to the ABC's Four Corners about living non-binary - where a person's gender identity is neither male or female.
'I am non-binary, which means I have no gender. I am just me,' Olivia told the program, titled 'Not a Boy, Not a Girl'.
'The world basically revolves around boxes and those two boxes are a male and a female box.
'People try to duct tape the box so then you'll stay like that. But I cut the duct tape and opened up into my own box.'
Olivia Purdie, a Year 6 student from Adelaide, spoke to ABC's Four Corners about living non-binary
Olivia was diagnosed with gender dysphoria two years ago. It is defined by distress and anxiety an individual feels because of a mismatch with their assigned sex at birth and gender identity.
Olivia, who was approaching puberty, felt breasts were not part of their body and doctors recommended the use of puberty blockers to cope with the anxiety amid impending body change.
Due to the age of the patients and worries about their health, there is much debate about prescribing such drugs.
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According to Olivia's psychiatrist Georgie Swift, the biggest risk of puberty suppression is the potential for a lower bone density while growing up.
Olivia is in 'no rush' to come off the blockers and their family have supported the decision.
Olivia's mother Jane Russo said: 'We were informed about the risks of Olivia going on puberty blockers… but we believed this risk was low and we weighed it against Olivia's mental health and wellbeing.
'If I was to disregard Olivia's thoughts and how Olivia was feeling, I'd lose my child... By saying ''this is a fad'', that ''this is child abuse''… it's actually not the reality.
Olivia's mother Jane Russo (second from the left) said determining a child's gender dysphoria as a 'fad' is 'child abuse' which can be detrimental to their health. Olivia's psychiatrist Georgie Swift (right) said young gender-diverse people have better mental health when supported by their family and friends
'The reality is, I could have no child if I didn't respond to what I was hearing from my child. The need to go onto puberty blockers is actually saving Olivia's life, because Olivia can be what Olivia wants to be.'
Dr Swift said young gender-diverse people have better mental health when supported by their family and friends.
'Their number of suicide attempts are less, their deliberate self-harm is less, and their general wellbeing is improved,' Dr Swift said.
Audrey Mason-Hyde, who went to the same primary school as Olivia, is gender non-binary and wants to 'change the world'.
The 14-year-old said: 'I think a lot of people do identify as non-binary and want to change their body to fit what they see as the ideal body.'
Audrey Mason-Hyde (right), who went to the same primary school as Olivia (left), is gender non-binary, queer and wants to 'change the world'
Audrey added that not all non-binary people needed to change their bodies to be 'valid'. Audrey loves the body they're in.
Despite sharing powerful stories, Olivia and the other gender diverse young people in the TV segment fell victim to cruel bullies online.
Some of the comments were too vulgar to publish.
'The world has gone nuts,' one person wrote as the story went to air.
'I identify as a billionaire. Where's my money?' wrote another.
'Oh, for goodness sake... I am so over this BS!' another read.
Despite the trolls, most viewers were in awe of Olivia's ability to articulate what it is like to be non-binary and without the constraints of gender.
But the 11-year-old and other gender diverse young people in the TV segment have fallen victim to cruel bullies online
Despite the trolls, viewers were in awe of Olivia's ability to articulate what it is like to be non-binary and without the constraints of gender
'Thank you for sharing. It's hard to understand. I always think though, you're somebody's child. You're a person. You deserve to be happy within yourself and you're worthy of love. You have rights. You have a voice. Thank you,' one commenter wrote.
'Beautiful acceptance and understanding from Olivia's family and health carers. Thank you for sharing,' said another viewer.
One person said they were reminded how important the segment was after reading the nasty comments about Olivia.
'I'm so disheartened by the comments with so much judgement. Why can't we just live and let live? I'm so in awe of Olivia,' another wrote.
Some viewers suggested the trolls turned their frustration towards the 11-year-old because they didn't understand what it's like to be gender diverse.
'The human race is evolving. People are just scared of what they don't understand,' one said.
'It is so sad that people feel the need to be mean to other people just because they don't understand their different life journey,' added another.
