Anorexia, Gender Dysphoria and Child Abuse

In “Good Girls” (reviewed by Sally Satel, Bookshelf, May 1), Hadley Freeman states the catalyst for her anorexia was a remark by a classmate, “I wish I was normal like you,” which set off a cascade of devastation. “Normal was average. Normal was boring. Normal was nothing,” resulting in her desire to make herself “not normal, but exceptional.”

I wonder if a similar psychological process occurs in some of those with gender dysphoria, the desire to be “not normal, but exceptional.” In 30 years, we may realize that perhaps gender-affirming surgery for minors is not the best way to go.