Abigail Shrier is an American author and journalist known for her anti-transgender book "Irreversible Damage."
Shrier's book "Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters" argues that teenage girls are being influenced to identify as transgender through social contagion. The book:
- Relies heavily on Lisa Littman's discredited ROGD concept
- Portrays transition as harmful and regrettable
- Interviews primarily parents from anti-trans forums and detransitioners
- Does not interview transgender youth or affirming clinicians
The book has been criticized by medical organizations:
- American Psychological Association and other groups wrote that the book "mischaracterizes what it means to be transgender"
- WPATH condemned the book's misrepresentation of gender-affirming care
- Researchers noted methodological similarities to Littman's flawed ROGD paper
- Target briefly removed the book, then restored it after backlash
- Amazon employees protested its sale
- Spotify faced criticism for Joe Rogan's interview with Shrier
Thanked in Adam Omary's Harvard dissertation (2025)
Media Presence:
- Former Wall Street Journal contributor
- Regular on conservative podcasts and media
- Promoted by right-wing outlets
Shrier's book became a bestseller and a touchstone for anti-trans legislation. Her presence in academic acknowledgments shows how popular anti-trans media figures are directly connected to academic production.
- "Irreversible Damage" (2020)
- APA and medical organization statements
- Media coverage and interviews