DysPerDis
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This topic is subject to revision. Reputable sources on trans issues are loved- PM me if you've got anything to add. It may take a while for me to get back to you, though I'll add them as soon as I get a chance.
EDIT: Dys' Ongoing Project- Binder Reviews. This site was made with FtMs and Female-bodies androgynes in mind, but drag kings, cosplayers, and anyone else who's used a chest binder are also welcome to submit reviews.
So, it appears that ED is suffering from a few misconceptions about gender identity and trans issues. Some people see transpeople as "men in dresses", some people think that it's a choice, and a few have even managed to confuse transsexuality with homosexuality- although I'm not quite sure how.
Terminology
All terminology from Hudson's FTM resource guide (ftmguide.com) unless otherwise noted.
What causes Gender Identity Disorder?
[Source]
Now, what exactly does that mean? To put it simply, brain structure seems to play a role in gender identity, and this study suggests that gender identity disorder occurs when the BSTc area of the brain forms atypically.
How is Gender Identity Disorder treated?
Gender identity is considered immutable by medical professionals, and therefore Gender Identity Disorder is generally "treated" by cross-living, and usually by altering the body to match the gender of the person in question. This is done by introducing hormones, and possibly through a series of cosmetic surgeries to form the body to that of the opposite sex, depending on the circumstances of the transperson.
Now is a good place to note that many people disagree with the classification of atypical gender identities as a disorder. Personally, I believe anything which makes my life as hellish as it is should be considered a disorder, but that's just me.
What Is Involved with Transitioning?
Transitioning is a long involved process, which is not undertaken lightly.
Steps to transition:
While the transperson in question may not follow the steps exactly in this order (and, depending on the scruples of the doctors involved, may skip steps altogether), this is generally how it works, although the requirements for chest surgeries, etc, are usually less strenuous than those for genital surgery. More detail about transitioning can be found at tsroadmap.com
Problems faced by Transpeople
Medical Issues:
[source]
Transphobia: Movements such as Remembering Our Dead provide a chilling reminder as to the extent of transphobia in society, although it is apparent in many other aspects. Transpeople are often forced to deal with taunts, threats, and insults- some on a daily basis. While Transsexuals seem to be the most common target, other transpeople are also targeted for daring to express themselves in a way that differs from the societal norm.
Transphobia arises from misconceptions about trans issues, including the belief that transsexuals are gay and trying to attract members of the same sex, the belief that transgenderism is fetish behavior and that transwomen are nothing more than "men in dresses" and transmen are just "chicks with p***s envy", and the belief that gender can be changed with hormones and therapy- as well as other, more slanderous beliefs (trans people are perverts/child molesters/will turn you gay/change your gender/etc.)
Transphobia is apparent even in the actions of those who are supposed to be working for our benifit- Tyra Hunter is possibly the most well-know example of this. Wikipedia's article on transphobia contains other examples of transphobia in our society.
Legal Issues:
Transsexuals in particular are often left in a legal limbo, especially while they are transitioning. In most states, you are considered a member of your birth sex unless you have completed SRS, which leaves many vulnerable to transphobia. Even after SRS, a couple of states make no allowance for altering identification to match your sex [source]. Only a handful of states have anti-discrimination policies which mention gender identity- a list of these can be found here.
More information on legal rights of transpeople can be found here.
FAQ
Q: Isn't gender identity just a social construct?
A: No. The case of David Reimer is just one example showing that our sense of being male or female is not reliant on how we are raised.
There have been several studies showing that gender identity is inborn rather than socially constructed.
Cohen-Kettenis P. Gender change in 46,XY persons with 5alpha-reductase-2 deficiency and
17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 deficiency. Arch Sex Behav 2005;34(4):399-410.
[Source]
Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (2005). Gender identity outcome in female-raised 46,XY persons with penile agenesis, cloacal exstrophy of the bladder, or penile ablation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34, 423–438.
[Source]
(Thanks to psychedelic-squirrel for the links to these studies)
Q: Can a transwomen be a lesbian?
A: Yes. Gender Identity does not affect Sexual Orientation, and vice versa.
Q: But why bother with SRS? They won't look like "real" men/women, anyways.
A: Oh, really?
Pictures from http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TSsuccesses/TSsuccesses.html
Further Information
HRC list of trans issues
Incarcerated Transgendered People
Transgendercare.com
Transitioning Information
TransProud
TransWomen Success Stories
TSSupport.org
EDIT: Dys' Ongoing Project- Binder Reviews. This site was made with FtMs and Female-bodies androgynes in mind, but drag kings, cosplayers, and anyone else who's used a chest binder are also welcome to submit reviews.
So, it appears that ED is suffering from a few misconceptions about gender identity and trans issues. Some people see transpeople as "men in dresses", some people think that it's a choice, and a few have even managed to confuse transsexuality with homosexuality- although I'm not quite sure how.
Terminology
All terminology from Hudson's FTM resource guide (ftmguide.com) unless otherwise noted.
Gender Identity: A person's internal self-awareness of being either male or female, masculine or feminine, or something in-between.
Sex:Sum of features by which a member of a plant or animal species can be placed into one of two complementary reproductive groups, male or female. (From the Encyclopedia Britannica, Accessed through Answers.com)
Sexual Orientation: Sexual orientation can be defined in a couple of ways:
-A term used to refer to a person's emotional, romantic and sexual attraction to individuals of a particular gender (male or female) (from WebMD)
- A term referring to the sex(es) one is sexually attracted to.
The latter term is preferred by many people, as romantic or emotional attractions can occur without sexual attraction, and for a heterosexual or homosexual, can form with a person of the sex they are not sexually attracted to. [Paraphrase from Soc 101 lecture notes]
Transgender: Broadly speaking, transgender people are individuals whose gender expression and/or gender identity differs from conventional expectations based on the physical sex they were born into. The word transgender is an umbrella term which is often used to describe a wide range of identities and experiences, including: FTMs, MTFs, cross-dressers, drag queens, drag kings, gender queers, and many more. Because transgender is an umbrella term, it is often thought to be an imprecise term that does not adequately describe the particulars of specific identities and experiences. (For example, the identity/experience of a post-operative FTM transsexual will probably be very different from that of a female-identified drag king who performs on weekends, but both are often lumped together under the term "transgender." wink
Transsexual: An individual whose gender identity does not match the sex that was assigned to them at birth. Usually, transsexual people will seek hormonal and/or surgical treatment in order to bring their body into alignment with their gender identity. See also "gender identity" and "female-to-male transsexual."
FtM: A female-to-male transsexual.
MtF: A male-to-female transsexual.
Gender Identity Disorder (GID):A condition identified by psychologists and medical doctors wherein a person who has been assigned one gender at birth identifies as belonging to another gender.
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS): Commonly termed a "sex change operation." This term is somewhat of a misnomer, because it implies there is one surgical procedure for successful transition into presenting or living as male. For FTMs, there are several surgical procedures available, including chest reconstruction surgery, hysterectomy/oophorectomy, and different types of genital reconstruction surgery (GRS). Many FTMs undergo chest surgery, but not GRS. Many have chest surgery and a hysterectomy, but not GRS. Some have all three procedures (which may total more than three surgeries, as GRS can often involve several surgical procedures). Still others may not be able to afford any surgery at all, yet live very successfully as men in society through ongoing testosterone treatment.
The requirements for "changing sex" under the law (i.e., changing one's legally recognized sex) vary from state to state, and often depend on the amount and type of surgery or hormone therapy one has had. A few states will not allow for a change in legal sex no matter how much surgery of treatment one has had. Thus, the idea that there is one, clear-cut surgical solution for "changing sex" is a bit misleading. See also "chest surgery," "genital reconstruction surgery (GRS)," "hysterectomy," and "oophorectomy."
Genderqueer: A gender-variant person whose gender identity is neither male nor female, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders.
Neutrois: "someone who identifies as being non-gendered and seeks to lose the major physical signifiers that indicate gender to others (breasts, facial and body hair, crotch bulges, etc). Neutrois are not androgynes, but do pursue an androgynous appearance. They are uniquely bound by their gender dysphoria in that they find both male and female orientations wrong. Because of this, transitioning from an assigned gender, to either male, or female identities is not an acceptable solution." [source] (Thank you, Harlequin Horrors, for the link!)
Transphobia: Transphobia is the negative valuing, stereotyping and discriminatory treatment of individuals who do not conform in appearance and/or identity, to conventional conceptions of gender. Trans-identified (transgendered) individuals, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and their supporters are typically the targets of transphobia. (From Queen's University Harrassment/Discrimination policy)
Real Life Test (RLT): A period of time in which a transsexual person is required to live full time in the role of the sex they identify with (i.e., a transsexual person born female would be living full time as a male) before the medical community will begin the medical gender reassignment process. The RLT is required under the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care, but other Standards of Care do not require a RLT or may use discretion in determining the length of a RLT. Individual mental health and medical professionals may also use discretion when determining if a RLT is necessary for a given individual. See also "Harry Benjamin Standards of Care" and "Standards of Care." [note: this is occasionally referred to as cross-living]
Passing: In an FTM context, being seen or read as male by others (e.g., "On the street, Alex was successfully passing as a man" wink . Some FTMs object to the term "passing," as it implies that one is being mistaken for something he is not.
What causes Gender Identity Disorder?
Current Information on Profound Gender Identity Disorder
In 2000 Dutch research confirmed previous (19951) anatomic findings that profound GID or transsexuality is directly linked to anomalous (sex-inverted) gender dimorphism of the BSTc brain area, and clarified that BSTc gender-inversion is not caused by cross-hormone treatment.2 These findings support a medical model of transsexuality as an 'obscured' congenital intersex condition, in which the genitalia are spared prenatally but the brain is not.3
Now, what exactly does that mean? To put it simply, brain structure seems to play a role in gender identity, and this study suggests that gender identity disorder occurs when the BSTc area of the brain forms atypically.
How is Gender Identity Disorder treated?
Gender identity is considered immutable by medical professionals, and therefore Gender Identity Disorder is generally "treated" by cross-living, and usually by altering the body to match the gender of the person in question. This is done by introducing hormones, and possibly through a series of cosmetic surgeries to form the body to that of the opposite sex, depending on the circumstances of the transperson.
Now is a good place to note that many people disagree with the classification of atypical gender identities as a disorder. Personally, I believe anything which makes my life as hellish as it is should be considered a disorder, but that's just me.
What Is Involved with Transitioning?
Transitioning is a long involved process, which is not undertaken lightly.
Steps to transition:
See therapist, get diagnosed with GID
Get a prescription for hormones from a physician
Begin basic physical alterations- growing out or cutting hair, electrolysis, binding, stuffing, tucking...
Begin Real Life Test- in many places, this lasts for at least a year, although some areas require even longer.
More therapy- Reputable surgeons will not preform SRS without a therapist's go-ahead. (See the Standards of Care for GID)
SRS and other cosmetic surgeries- including breast augmentations or masectomies, trachial shaves, etc.
While the transperson in question may not follow the steps exactly in this order (and, depending on the scruples of the doctors involved, may skip steps altogether), this is generally how it works, although the requirements for chest surgeries, etc, are usually less strenuous than those for genital surgery. More detail about transitioning can be found at tsroadmap.com
Problems faced by Transpeople
Medical Issues:
Gay Lesbian Medical Association
Transgender persons are often reluctant to seek medical care through a traditional provider-patient relationship. Some are even turned away by providers. A doctor who refuses to treat a trans person may be acting out of fear and transphobia, or may have a religious bias against GLBT patients. It’s also possible that the doctor simply doesn’t have the knowledge or experience he needs. Furthermore, health care related to transgender issues is usually not covered by insurance, so it is more expensive. Whatever the reasons, transgender people have sometimes become very ill because they were afraid to visit their providers.
Transphobia: Movements such as Remembering Our Dead provide a chilling reminder as to the extent of transphobia in society, although it is apparent in many other aspects. Transpeople are often forced to deal with taunts, threats, and insults- some on a daily basis. While Transsexuals seem to be the most common target, other transpeople are also targeted for daring to express themselves in a way that differs from the societal norm.
Transphobia arises from misconceptions about trans issues, including the belief that transsexuals are gay and trying to attract members of the same sex, the belief that transgenderism is fetish behavior and that transwomen are nothing more than "men in dresses" and transmen are just "chicks with p***s envy", and the belief that gender can be changed with hormones and therapy- as well as other, more slanderous beliefs (trans people are perverts/child molesters/will turn you gay/change your gender/etc.)
Transphobia is apparent even in the actions of those who are supposed to be working for our benifit- Tyra Hunter is possibly the most well-know example of this. Wikipedia's article on transphobia contains other examples of transphobia in our society.
Legal Issues:
Transsexuals in particular are often left in a legal limbo, especially while they are transitioning. In most states, you are considered a member of your birth sex unless you have completed SRS, which leaves many vulnerable to transphobia. Even after SRS, a couple of states make no allowance for altering identification to match your sex [source]. Only a handful of states have anti-discrimination policies which mention gender identity- a list of these can be found here.
More information on legal rights of transpeople can be found here.
FAQ
Q: Isn't gender identity just a social construct?
A: No. The case of David Reimer is just one example showing that our sense of being male or female is not reliant on how we are raised.
There have been several studies showing that gender identity is inborn rather than socially constructed.
Quote:
Individuals with 5α-reductase-2 deficiency (5α-RD-2) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3
deficiency (17β-HSD-3) are often raised as girls. Over the past number of years, this policy has been challenged because many individuals with these conditions develop a male gender identity and make a gender role change after puberty. The findings also raised doubts regarding the hypothesis that children are psychosexually neutral at birth and emphasized the potential role of prenatal brain exposure to androgens in gender development. If prenatal exposure to androgens is a major contributor to gender identity development, one would expect that all, or nearly all, affected individuals, even when raised as girls, would develop a male gender identity and make a gender role switch later in life. However, an estimation of the prevalence of gender role changes, based on the current literature, shows that gender role changes occur frequently, but not invariably. Gender role changes were reported in 56–63% of cases with 5α-RD-2 and 39–64% of cases with 17β-HSD-3 who were raised as girls. The changes were usually made in adolescence and early adulthood. In these two syndromes, the degree of external genital masculinization at birth does not seem to be related to gender role changes in a systematic way.
deficiency (17β-HSD-3) are often raised as girls. Over the past number of years, this policy has been challenged because many individuals with these conditions develop a male gender identity and make a gender role change after puberty. The findings also raised doubts regarding the hypothesis that children are psychosexually neutral at birth and emphasized the potential role of prenatal brain exposure to androgens in gender development. If prenatal exposure to androgens is a major contributor to gender identity development, one would expect that all, or nearly all, affected individuals, even when raised as girls, would develop a male gender identity and make a gender role switch later in life. However, an estimation of the prevalence of gender role changes, based on the current literature, shows that gender role changes occur frequently, but not invariably. Gender role changes were reported in 56–63% of cases with 5α-RD-2 and 39–64% of cases with 17β-HSD-3 who were raised as girls. The changes were usually made in adolescence and early adulthood. In these two syndromes, the degree of external genital masculinization at birth does not seem to be related to gender role changes in a systematic way.
Cohen-Kettenis P. Gender change in 46,XY persons with 5alpha-reductase-2 deficiency and
17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 deficiency. Arch Sex Behav 2005;34(4):399-410.
[Source]
Quote:
This review addresses the long-term gender outcome of gender assignment of persons with intersexuality and related conditions. The gender assignment to female of 46,XY newborns with severe genital abnormalities despite a presumably normal-male prenatal sex-hormone milieu is highly controversial because of variations in assumptions about the role of biological factors in gender identity formation. This article presents a literature review of gender outcome in three pertinent conditions (penile agenesis, cloacal exstrophy of the bladder, and penile ablation) in infancy or early childhood. The findings clearly indicate an increased risk of later patient-initiated gender re-assignment to male after female assignment in infancy or early childhood, but are nevertheless incompatible with the notion of a full determination of core gender identity by prenatal androgens.
Meyer-Bahlburg, H. F. L. (2005). Gender identity outcome in female-raised 46,XY persons with penile agenesis, cloacal exstrophy of the bladder, or penile ablation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34, 423–438.
[Source]
(Thanks to psychedelic-squirrel for the links to these studies)
Q: Can a transwomen be a lesbian?
A: Yes. Gender Identity does not affect Sexual Orientation, and vice versa.
Q: But why bother with SRS? They won't look like "real" men/women, anyways.
A: Oh, really?
Pictures from http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TSsuccesses/TSsuccesses.html
Further Information
HRC list of trans issues
Incarcerated Transgendered People
Transgendercare.com
Transitioning Information
TransProud
TransWomen Success Stories
TSSupport.org
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