1. How social cost shapes who transitions
When the price of stepping outside expected gender roles is high, very few people do it. One man who later detransitioned observed that “the most conservative societies… have transition rates of ~1 : 60,000,” while places where transition is “brave/admirable” see rates closer to “1 : 250–1 : 300.” “The less strict gender roles are, the more transition happens.” – Your_socks source [citation:02ad0ca9-7cce-4d7a-ba36-f83fd3424945] In other words, when society punishes gender non-conformity, almost everyone stays in the box; when the punishment eases, more people question whether the box fits at all.

2. The dramatic flip in sex ratios among young people
Until about 2010, clinics in the UK saw roughly eight boys for every girl. By 2019 the numbers had reversed: three girls were now coming forward for every boy. “In those five years, the sex ratio goes from (roughly) 8 : 5 male-to-female to 3 : 1 female-to-male.” – MrNoneSuch source [citation:0e359b8a-672f-40e0-b402-f6af1c69586b] This shift is strongest in teenagers, where the ratio has even reached 1 : 1.1 male-to-female. The change suggests that social pressures and online influences are hitting adolescent girls especially hard, leading many to seek an escape from the vulnerabilities of girlhood rather than a lifelong identity.

3. Different motivations for males and females
Among adults who transition, the reasons often diverge by sex. In Western countries, 80–90 % of male-to-female transitions are driven by non-homosexual motivations—what some clinicians call autogynephilia—while only 10–20 % are same-sex attracted. “Well over half of MtF transsexuals in Western countries are nonhomosexual… in the UK and USA about 80 and 90 %, respectively.” – YoungModern source [citation:17467330-708b-442c-a3fb-39b2a9ccb3f0] By contrast, female-to-male transitions are more often linked to social contagion, body discomfort, or a wish to flee restrictive feminine expectations. Because the underlying drivers differ, so do the long-term outcomes: many women later realize their distress was not a fixed identity but a response to social pressures that can be addressed without medical steps.

4. Cultural context still matters
Where traditional gender roles are rigid and homosexuality is stigmatized, almost all who transition are same-sex attracted and do so to survive. “In most Asian and Latin American countries… nearly all MtF transsexuals are homosexual, whereas autogynephilic transsexualism is rare.” – YoungModern source [citation:17467330-708b-442c-a3fb-39b2a9ccb3f0] This contrast shows that transition is not a universal expression of an inner identity; it is a strategy people adopt when the cost of living as a gender-non-conforming person feels unbearable.

Conclusion: freedom lies in non-conformity, not transition
The stories reveal that transition rates rise or fall with social pressure, not with any innate gender essence. When roles loosen, more people—especially young women—question them; when roles tighten, almost no one does. The path to well-being is not to swap one set of stereotypes for another, but to give yourself permission to be a feminine man, a masculine woman, or simply yourself without labels. Therapy, supportive friendships, and creative outlets can ease the distress that rigid roles create, offering a life that is authentic without medical intervention.