This paper focuses on cultural cisgenderism and its effects on trans people and trans children in particular. Based on a sociological analysis of the key assumptions of the construct of cultural cisgenderism, the author examines how cultural cisgenderism impacts the development of self-perceptions in trans people and trans children, and clearly reveals in detail the different effects of the system of cultural cisgenderism. Cultural cisgenderism is here primarily contrasted with transphobia, in the hope of contributing to a better understanding of the problems that trans people face with cultural cisgenderism. IntroductIon Whilst trans people, and in particular, trans children often suffer from transphobia, that is, direct discrimination and prejudice 2 , often it is not possible to (exclusively) put this down to an individual attitude of a particularly transphobic individual or group. In many cases the negative effect on trans people's lives is systemic, ideological and cultural. Being clear about this, and giving it a name, ›cultural cisgenderism‹ develops an understanding of this concept and may make it easier to identify and reduce its effects in a constructive way. This essay examines cultural cisgenderism and its effects on trans children and young people.

This paper presents data characterising young trans people's experience during the period prior to coming out to parents as transgender. By analysing data obtained directly from young trans and non-binary people it produces a sociological characterisation of this period overall as the 'Deferral' period. The Deferral Period is further characterised as consisting of two parts; a 'Tacit Deferral' period, prior to epiphany as trans, and subsequent 'Discursive Deferral' period. The data indicate that both these deferral periods vary in length quite considerably but usually seem to be measurable in months and years. In particular these data contest the validity of concept of 'rapidonset gender dysphoria' and the way young trans people are positioned by 'passive victim' narratives in many academic and media accounts. The analysis of the different ways young trans people construct their identities, prior to and after epiphany produces a 'Timeline of revelation'. The data suggest many commonalities of experience among young trans people, and well as some differences and in particular the data exemplify how, young trans and non-binary people's own agency is key in negotiating barriers to transition.

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