The childhood gender assessment—a novel tool for assessing gender identity in children

Objective To evaluate how well a novel childhood gender assessment captures aspects of gender development and identity construction in children under age 12.Method Retrospective examination of self-reported gender identity and expression of 112 children aged 3 to 12, 65 assigned male at birth (AMAB) and 45 assigned female at birth (AFAB) presenting to a gender multidisciplinary clinic for assessment including a novel tool—the Childhood Gender Assessment—which evaluates children’s understanding of their gender along several key contextual axes, including the potential for gender development over time. Children were encouraged to fill out the assessment, with assistance from the psychologist as needed.Results Participants were 77% white, 7% biracial, 5% unknown, 4% Latino/a/é, 3% Asian, and ∼5% another specified racial or ethnic group. Findings challenge traditional binary frameworks, with 46% endorsing a female gender, 38% a male gender, 6% a nonbinary gender, and 11% other diverse options. Age-related differences indicate greater variability in younger children’s gender identification and expression. Individualized descriptions highlight unique ways children perceive their gender, including through the use of metaphor as metacommunication.Conclusions This research contributes essential insights into the complex landscape of childhood gender development, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives in understanding these processes.