Let’s talk about “Watchful Waiting.” This term, often used in transphobic contexts, is a coded way to refuse trans people’s access to medical transition. It’s important to understand what this term truly represents and the harm it causes.
“Watchful Waiting” might sound like a responsible approach, but it’s far from it in this context. It suggests a cautious, observant period, but it often lacks the medical monitoring you might expect. There are typically no structured health check-ins or evaluations, leaving the person in a state of limbo without any meaningful oversight of their wellbeing.
Another critical point about “Watchful Waiting” is its ambiguity. There’s no defined waiting period. No clearly stated timeframe. No measurable milestones. This lack of clarity adds to the stress and uncertainty for the people subjected to it.
“Watchful Waiting” is often used within conversion therapy practices. Despite significant evidence showing the harm and ineffectiveness of conversion therapy, it’s still out there, and “Watchful Waiting” is part of its arsenal. Here, it represents the misguided hope that a person will eventually abandon their trans identity.
In essence, “Watchful Waiting” becomes a barrier to the medical transition services trans people need for their wellbeing. It fuels the damaging notion that being trans is a phase that will pass with enough waiting - a harmful idea that invalidates the experiences and identities of trans people.
As we work towards greater acceptance and equality, it’s crucial to call out these tactics. By exposing “Watchful Waiting” and similar strategies, we can push back against the systemic obstacles that hinder trans individuals’ access to appropriate medical care and their right to live authentically.