Did the plague do them in?
Or were they on a death spiral already before COVID?
Those are some of the questions I have been asking myself, I don’t think that it is just a trans phenomenal, I think that is across the board and that it affects all peer support groups. Yes I think that the larger groups will survive like those that are run by Pride Centers or those run by hospitals that are fed by their clinics will survive.
Why are they dying? I think for two reasons, first the general population is more accepting of us so there is no need for secret support groups. I you want to go out En Femme, just go, so they do not need groups for support.
Second. The internet! Yeah, yeah. I know the internet gets blamed for everything but in this case I believe it is true. In the “old days” the only way to meet other trans people were IRL, you had to go to where we hung out, there only two ways… in bars or support groups. For those who didn’t want to go to bars peer support groups were their havens but now you can meet on Facebook or other social media platforms. For many they can live vicariously though others on the internet.
I said that there were two reason but really there are others reasons, a biggie is age.
If you look around at support groups in general they cater to older generation, the younger generation do not need support groups because it is more accepted in younger generations.
So what are your thoughts?
(Check all that you think apply.)
Age is a major factor in my experience with younger generations not being joiners. If you are a big reader there is a book called Bowling Alone that delves into the generational lack of interest in joining groups.It was written in 2000 and uses the WW2 generation compared to younger groups. It also makes a difference what the focus of the group is. Social or Support?
ReplyDeleteYes, great book!
ReplyDeleteI had to read parts of it in grad school for my MSW