Legal Gender Meets Reality: A Socio-Legal Children's Perspective

Under Norwegian law, the registration of children at birth is regarded as the minimum guarantee for their enjoyment of children's rights. But how does the legal gender assigned at registration impact on gender non-conforming children's and adolescents' experiences? How does the regulation of gender assignment under Norwegian law chime with the human rights of gender non-conforming children, particularly the right to respect for one's private life and non-discrimination? Are there any possibilities for children to change their legal gender? This article gives voice to the experiences, challenges, and wishes of gender non-conforming children. The aim is to show how legal gender intertwines with feelings of recognition, self-confidence, selfrespect, and self-esteem.