A couple I know have a millennial daughter, who I’ll refer to as “Masha.” For a long time, she insisted she had a severe gluten intolerance, which she diagnosed herself. While celiac disease is a genuine issue, this gluten trend has faded over time. Despite that, Masha eventually returned to eating pasta and bread without any issues.
However, she and her children seem to have fallen into a more concerning pattern.
The previous hype about transgender identification may have diminished, but unlike gluten intolerance, the effects on innocent individuals can be lasting and profound, often robbing them of typical adult experiences.
Currently, Masha’s tween daughter identifies as a trans boy, while her preschool-age son is frequently dressed in girls’ clothing by her. These decisions aren’t made in isolation; Masha seems to be caught in yet another wave of social contagion—something not uncommon for her age group. The gluten fad mainly caused inconvenience, but transgender issues can lead to significant harm, promoting confusion, medical interventions, and, in many instances, sterilization of minors.
During her gluten obsession, Masha approached meals like they were crises. At a restaurant, she’d lecture the staff about avoiding any contact with bread or pasta. If a dinner roll accidentally landed on her plate, she’d demand a completely new dish, claiming the first one was “contaminated.”
Her approach suggested that gluten was as dangerous as hazardous materials. Now, her beliefs have taken a darker turn.
She now thinks of her daughter as a son and, perhaps more troubling, has made her believe that, too. This extends beyond personal beliefs; it resembles a spreading mindset. The consequences are real and can be irreversible.
Questioning the “mind virus”
Most elite academic and scientific institutions aligned with the political left refuse to acknowledge the phenomena of “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” or even discuss the possibility of social contagion. There’s an overt effort to silence dissenting views. Organizations like the American Psychological Association have joined together with others to denounce any researchers who suggest that transgender identification may be a social construct or could impact children negatively.
Scientific institutions tend to shy away from findings that indicate “transition” could harm children’s health. Many studies need re-evaluation.
It’s reminiscent of how, in the past, the increase in anorexia and bulimia among young women was identified and studied as a social contagion. No one would have seriously suggested that a person was “born anorexic.” Ethical observers would not have condoned or celebrated engaging in self-starvation as a form of self-expression. Instead, it was viewed as a sign of mental illness.
Masha’s journey—first through the gluten obsession and now into transgender ideology—illustrates why this trend should be scrutinized. It points to another social contagion where the risks are even greater.
Masha’s parents are trying to stay involved in their grandchildren’s lives, seeking to keep them grounded in reality. They are wary of any irreversible harm that may come to the kids. In their state, administering hormone blockers and surgeries to minors for gender transitions is illegal. They can only hope Masha’s current fixation won’t lead to lasting physical consequences.
Victims in a shifting culture
Some people portray this transgender phenomenon as a “heart virus,” targeting individuals like Masha—predominantly white, straight, and searching for significance in a society that feasts on victimhood.
Marsha often aligns herself with various progressive causes, likely to find a sense of virtue in her actions. Over the years, she has supported many movements, from gay rights to racial justice.
Yet, the need to feel oppressed is potent. During the protests in 2020, for example, she took to social media, expressing her fear and anxiety. She claimed someone stole a BLM flag from her porch and described blurry footage from her security cameras of masked men resembling her own husband, who is also white and tall.
With her “transgender” child, Masha believes she’s secured a new identity that brings her some recognition. The prevailing narrative about being an ally seems to have turned into a joke among those trying hard to impress. But having a trans child? That offers a level of validation—a VIP pass, if you will.
Unlike the gluten craze, the issue of transgender identification comes with severe consequences. It can inflict harm, often leading to irreversible decisions that deny children the simple pleasures of growing up. Masha might see herself as a courageous victim, but there’s a risk that she’s spreading a dangerous mindset, putting her children at risk of enduring long-term damage.
