What is different between our culture in the West and other societies is that, in the US at least, we stigmatize people who identify with a gender that is different than the one they were assigned at birth. This is stigmatization is what is made up. The gender dysphoria this causes is very real. The reason people in cultures that lack this stigmatization do not experience gender dysphoria is that they are free to explore their gender the way they see fit.
The article, Trans is something we made up, is a constant stream of gas lighting, claiming gender dysphoria is driven by a cultural diagnosis, and a causal disregard for science, ignoring the evidence that explains the scientific basis for transgender people. Trans people in the West aren't experiencing gender dysphoria because someone told them that's how they should feel. That's what any human person feels when they are denied their gender, whether that person is cis or trans. It's just that, in the West, it is common practice to deny trans people their gender.
Here is an example of a case where a cis person was forced to be the opposite sex. They ended up experiencing gender dysphoria, and a bunch of other crazy situations as well. Gender dysphoria is real and not somehow subconsciously culturally conformed to by trans people. The reason it is not universal is that the stigmatization of trans people is not universal. On a related note though, from what I've read on the internet, stigmatization of lgbtq+ people, including trans people, is quite wide spread. It seems pretty universal to me, I've read about instances of discrimination in the US, the UK, Africa, the Middle East, India, and China but I suppose there are probably lucky exceptions everywhere.
Medical treatments for trans people have been shown to be safe and effective. They are not forced on anyone. The people who seek these treatments are doing so as a way to affirm their gender. That is no different than what any culture that accepts gender non-conforming, which includes trans people, allows those people to do. The only thing that is different is we now have medicine and technology to help trans people.
Anyone who wants to make a culture of acceptance for gender non-conforming people should allow those people to make their own health care decisions.
The second fact is, children simply cannot make an informed decision let alone give informed consent to any hormones, pills, “binding” or transitionary intervention.
It is possible for a person to learn about these topics. It is also possible for people of the appropriate ages, in some cases kids depending on what we are talking about, for example puberty blockers, to give informed consent.
Thanks for sharing your stories and experiences. I'll tell you a bit about myself. I am a single trans woman. I do not have kids. I have not undergone any surgery or used any medicine in order to transition. I knew I was a girl when I was three years old. I am sure your friends knew their genders at a young age as well.
Hormone blockers are a safe and effective way to delay puberty. It is completely reversible because a person can stop taking the medication at any time to begin puberty. This is something that a child of the ages ten to eleven can understand and consent to. Hormone blockers are not equivalent to sex which is something only adults can consent to. None of the medical treatments prescribed to trans people are forced on anyone. And only people with a history of gender dysphoria are given access to these treatments.
If you don't like Mayo Clinic, I can give you another source with the same information.
It seem like the health and well being of young people is important to you. I would recommend reading this article on gender-affirming care. I think it will address many of your concerns. For some trans people, medical transition is not even necessary.
A lot of trans people are fucked up, because they were denied the ability to express their gender like cis people. What's changing is that trans people are finally able to open up about their experiences. The las time this happened was right before World War II.