---
title: "A child's sexual identity must be taught by their parents"
description: "Uskudar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, points to the responsibilities of parents in raising healthy children."
url: https://uha.com.tr/a-childs-sexual-identity-must-be-taught-by-parents
type: article
language: en
last_updated: 2026-03-01
category: haber
---

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## Üsküdar Üniversitesi
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# A child's sexual identity must be taught by their parents

## Bilgi

| Özellik | Değer |
|---------|-------|
| **Kategori** | haber |
| **Yayın Tarihi** | 2022-08-12 |
| **Güncelleme** | 2026-03-01 |
| **Kaynak** | [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr/a-childs-sexual-identity-must-be-taught-by-parents) |

## Özet

**Emphasizing the crucial importance of parental attitudes in the development of a child's sexual identity, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that a child's identity should be taught by their mother and father. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan particularly highlighted the significant role of fathers in the development of male children.**

## İçerik

![](https://cdn.uskudar.edu.tr/uploads/images/2022/08/12/800/20220811-034711-948.png)

Uskudar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a guest on the "Sorularla İslamiyet" (Islam with Questions) Youtube channel. In the program, Tarhan answered questions from Prof. Dr. A. Halim Ulaş, pointing to the responsibilities of parents in raising healthy children.

## **The concepts of biological sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation must be distinguished,**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that transsexuality and homosexuality are often confused and have three pillars: "Biological sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. This information was clearly published for the first time in 2010 in Scientific Mind journal. We need to distinguish these three concepts. Biological sex is determined by chromosomes in genes. If there is XY, it's male; if XX, it's female. This is a congenital condition. As sex hormones, male hormones are secreted more in one, and female hormones more in the other."

## **Gender identity is learned in social life**

Tarhan stated that gender identity is a concept learned in social life, saying, "Biological sex is generally known, but what is known as social gender is actually gender identity. Individuals learn this from their social lives. It is called epigenetic, not genetic. Epigenetics means the quantum of genetics. Epigenetics is the emergence of changes made by the environment in genes. For example, epigenetic changes occur in alcohol users. They start to feel alcohol as a necessity. In obesity, a person develops genetic polymorphism because they are used to eating a lot, and they become unable to stop eating. These are genetic polymorphisms. Changes made by a person's habits in genes have been shown in recent years to be genetically transferable for 1-2 more generations. Therefore, changes made by the environment in genes are epigenetic. In gender identity, what is thought to be genetic are actually epigenetic changes. These are acquired, not congenital."

![](https://cdn.uskudar.edu.tr/uploads/images/2022/08/12/800/20220811-034705-347.png)

## **Gender identity is formed by social norms**

Tarhan stated that gender identity is formed by social norms that have been established for centuries, saying, "'Women behave this way, men behave this way' – this type of sexual identity changes with cultures. In psychiatry, there are classification scales. DSM-5 is the latest scale. Sexual dysphoria, also known as gender dysphoria, is a condition where a person is uncomfortable or dissatisfied with their innate identity. There is a sexual dysphoria scale developed in the USA. We conducted the validity and reliability study of this scale in Turkey and published it in 2021. If you search for 'Gender dysphoria Nevzat Tarhan', that scale can be found." Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) changed the name of transsexuality in 1981, stating "this is not a disease," and then defined it as a disorder.

## **Heterophobia has become widespread in the USA**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that homophobia is an excessive fear, anger, and hatred a person feels about homosexuality or transsexuality, and it is widespread in many cultures, stating, "In a study conducted in Turkey, the question 'Would you like to have a homosexual neighbor?' was answered with 'No, we wouldn't' by 75%. This is a cultural situation. I went to a conference in San Francisco. I asked a psychiatrist colleague, 'San Francisco is a very free place, the third gender identity is quite common here. While it's 2-3% worldwide, it exceeds 20% here. What about homophobia?' My friend said, 'There is no homophobia here, there is heterophobia.' Heterophobia is the hatred of marriage, hatred of married couples, and anti-marriage sentiment. This situation has been legally legitimized in legal norms, in the European Union, and in many Western countries. Within the last 15-20 years, it was decriminalized in Turkey. It has three stages: correcting legal norms, ensuring societal acceptance, and enabling people to defend it. In my book 'Psychology of Women,' I addressed this issue with scientific evidence as 'Women and men are biologically different but equal in rights and opportunities.'"

## **Studies were conducted on whether there is a third gender**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that studies have been conducted on whether a third gender exists, saying, "This study was published in Nature journal in 2019. Oxford was even involved in the study. The genomes of 477,000 people were studied. The press announced it as 'No Gay Gen.' In 2000, the World Human Genome Project was launched. In 2013, the human genome was first announced. After it was announced, the first genome study cost 2 billion dollars. But now, it's called 'Whole Genome Analysis,' and that analysis can be done in 2-3 days for 2,000 dollars. Studies on this topic were conducted in the USA and Canada. It was investigated whether 'transsexuals have a common gene.' Such a gene does not exist. It could not be found. It's on YouTube; those interested can open it and watch. It's very serious evidence. In these individuals, estrogen hormone is taken during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage. This situation causes changes in the child's brain. It can affect the child's later emotions."

## **Subsequent changes are misinterpreted**

Tarhan stated that some groups present hormonal changes as evidence for the emergence of a third gender, saying, "In recent years, early puberty has started to occur. Puberty, normally at 12-13 years old, has now dropped to 9 years old. This is called precocious puberty. Pathology is applied to delay puberty in individuals, the child does not grow, and their height remains short. For this reason, changes made by hormones in organs and the brain are presented as evidence for this situation. These are not congenital changes but acquired changes. Interpreting them as congenital is like looking at the results and misinterpreting the cause. Rules are not developed by looking at exceptions. Mutations usually do not strengthen the norm; they are mutations that disrupt the norm."

## **Sexual identity is taught by mother and father**

Emphasizing the crucial importance of parental attitudes in the development of a child's sexual identity, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that a child's identity should be taught by their mother and father. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "Parents make the decision regarding a child's sexual identity. Just as children do not have the right to transfer money from a bank, they do not have the right to change their sexual identity. Until the age of 18, parents are the natural guardians. This is an era where freedom is a constitutional article. If a parent has not taught this to a child by the age of 18, they cannot teach it afterward. It cannot be done through intimidation and prohibitions. Therefore, motherhood and fatherhood are very important here."

## **Parental attitudes are decisive in sexual orientation**

Tarhan stated that the gender identity dysphoria scale is applied to transsexual individuals, saying, "That scale has 25 items. On that scale, questions such as 'If you were born again, would you want to be born as a woman or a man?' and 'Are you uncomfortable with your body?' are asked. The person's sexual tendencies and gender identity are tested and scored. Based on this score, the person's tendency is determined. Studies in this field reveal parental attitudes. We can say that Freud was a very good observer here. Freud refers to these orientations as homosexual orientation disorder. He states that these individuals have a strong, dominant, overly loving mother, and the mother is anti-male. When there is a distant, weak, indifferent father, male children choose the mother, not the father, as a sexual role model. Some mothers make a mistake. They demean the father in front of the children and belittle him in the child's eyes. If a mother incites the child against the father to satisfy her own anger, it causes the child's sexual identity to be distorted," he warned.

## **A father figure is needed for male children**

Noting that in Anatolia, the father is exalted by the mother at home, Tarhan said, "When the father is not exalted by the mother at home, anger towards the father emerges in the male child, and the child chooses the mother as a role model, identifying with the mother. A child learns their sexual identity until the age of 10. After the age of 10, it becomes much more difficult to change. After the age of 12, the child develops a sense of autonomy, starting to prefer friends over parents. Puberty begins, hormones become active. At these ages, even if there is no father figure at home for male children, there should be a male role model, like an uncle. The mother should encourage and ensure the child spends time with that person. Leaving the father's role unfulfilled can increase the risk of gender identity disorder in the child," he warned.

## **Roles at home should not be confused**

Tarhan noted that during his years at GATA, two male children wanted to enlist in the military, but it was later understood through surgery that they were biologically female, and the board issued a medical exemption report. Tarhan said that his research showed these girls were raised completely modeled as boys. Stating that a child's gender identity development is through social learning, Tarhan said, "A child takes three things as examples at home: the mother, the father, and the relationship between the mother and father. If the female role and male role at home are not confused, and the relationship with the mother and father is healthy, it is not possible for that child to have a gender identity disorder. If the father is cold, scolding, and demeaning, problems can arise. Fatherhood is not just about bringing bread home. The father's role is separate, the spouse's role is separate, and the businessman's role is separate. These should not be confused. This situation is also true for women. The mother's role, the father's role, and the male-female role are imprinted on the child's developing mind and soul. To imprint the right things on the child's soul and developing mind, time must be spent with them. Children record what they experience, not what they are told. Children record all the stories they experience. At a young age, they create life scripts. In the child's developing life scripts, there should be roles for a good mother, a good father, and good relationships. Parents should be able to say to a child with incorrect behavior, 'I love you, you are valuable to me, but I do not approve of what you did.' Since we live in an age of freedom, this should not be confused. To say 'It's your choice, it's normal' is a grave responsibility."

## **It can be experienced as a result of mood disorders**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that trans individuals sometimes feel uncomfortable with their situation and seek professional help to improve it, stating, "When we investigate these cases, most of them show mood disorders. Because of mood disorders, they cannot make healthy emotional decisions. We leave the final decision to them. Because the responsibility is theirs, the life is theirs, the decision is theirs. Usually, parents think about what the neighbors will say, what relatives will say. You have raised your child incorrectly until now. Now, is the neighbor more important, or is your child more important? Many children are raised with notions of shame, sin, and prohibition. Such cases are more likely to occur in families where there is no freedom, no conversation, or sharing at home. In another situation, the child finds relief by irritating the father and mother. Because they have created an area where they feel powerful against their parents."

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the biggest goal of global capital is to dominate and rule the world, and for this, they are very uncomfortable with the population growth in the world, stating that family planning projects were started with this aim in the 1960s. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the partners of global capital in Turkey supported this project at that time, saying, "Western Anatolia accepted it, Eastern Anatolia rejected it, and society could not be persuaded. Eventually, this was successful in Turkey. Currently, the population in Turkey, especially in Western Anatolia, has dropped below 2 births per woman, whereas it was normally 2-3 births. According to the current trend, we will be like Europe in 20-30 years."

## **The rate of fragile households is increasing**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that the number of fragile households is also increasing, stating, "Today, there are households of 5 people and households of 1 person. Households of 5 people are called healthy households. Households of 1 person are called fragile households. What is meant by fragile households is that homes and families consist of single individuals, such as mother-child, father-child, or unmarried but cohabiting couples. There is a statistic from 2018 in Turkey. According to that statistical study covering the last 15 years, 5-person households are rapidly decreasing in Turkey, and 1-person households are increasing. Single-person, single-parent families are multiplying. In such situations, it is very difficult to expect healthy children to grow up."

Tarhan noted that today, especially in Northern European countries, the birth rate outside of marriage has exceeded 50%, stating, "A child is born, but the parents are not married. In France, population registry documents no longer list 'mother-father' names, but 'parent one, parent two.' In Northern European countries like Sweden and Norway, there are so many childcare homes and women's shelters that they no longer let children say 'mother.' Because when a child says 'mother,' they look for someone who hugs, caresses, and loves them. Such a person cannot be found, and the caregiver changes every day. That's why they say 'caregiver.' They do not teach children the concept of a mother. For this reason, the material prosperity level of Northern European countries is high, but their psychological well-being level remains low. A serious social and psychological decay awaits these societies. It is very difficult to raise healthy children where there is no concept of family. The institution of family is the most important institution discovered by humanity. Marriage is biological, mating is biological, but marriage is cultural, family is cultural, learned subsequently. Humanity's greatest discovery is the institution of family."

## **Gender equality must be ensured**

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan drew attention to the 17 goals set by the United Nations for sustainable development, stating, "One of these labels is gender equality. Gender equality is a just cause. Because currently, there is a lot of male oppression in Turkey. Men seize economic power. There used to be women who tolerated it, but women today are not like that. They are educated, and more equal relationships have begun to emerge. In such situations, men object with 'How dare you defy me,' fights break out, violence begins, and the physically stronger man oppresses; after a while, when women start to resist, violence escalates to situations even leading to murder. The background of this is men's inability to grasp and understand this cultural change in the world, the women's liberation movement."

## **The definition of gender equality must be made correctly**

Tarhan also emphasized that the definition of gender equality should be made correctly, noting that the women's liberation movement is a just movement. Tarhan stressed that women and men should have equal rights and opportunities in family, social, and professional life, saying, "Women and men are equal in rights and opportunities in society, equal before the law, but not biologically equal. They were not created biologically equal. Because genes work differently, brains work differently, organs work differently, perceptions are different. Not biologically equal, but equal in rightful opportunities; this must be accepted. Ill-intentioned individuals include biological equality under the guise of gender equality, as 'equality between men and women'." He stated that making this definition correctly is a duty of state institutions.

## **There should be a co-presidency system at home**

Tarhan also noted that balance between women and men should be ensured for correct and healthy communication at home, saying, "There should be a co-presidency system at home. Since you cannot meet all the needs of the house and your spouse has to work, then it will be a co-decision-making marriage, like a co-presidency system. Both the woman and the man will start this way at the beginning of the marriage. If it is like this from the beginning, it means a contract in marriage, and the marriage can function. Our culture has produced a very beautiful formula, saying that the internal manager of the house is the woman, and the external manager is the man. Such a balance has been established for centuries. The relationship in marriage is never a master-slave relationship."

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*Kaynak: [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr) — https://uha.com.tr/a-childs-sexual-identity-must-be-taught-by-parents*