The "Myth Vs. Reality about Transgender People" Thread

[MsDazzler]

I'd like to take issue with this one, at least on the whole. The rate of regret for post-op women is something like 1%, the rest self-report being quite a bit more happy.

I understand that not everyone is happy after their surgery; but I think that a particular 'myth' is true is because it shares some relation to the actual fact of the matter.

How do you know the percentage? Show me the proof.

Also, that is why I wrote it that way as a blanket statement Post-ops have it better than pre-ops. since even a teensy 1% invalidates the myth.

[Just Kate]

Myth - Transition is required to deal with GID
Truth - Many fly under the radar and choose to live life with their dysphoria and find other ways to cope with it.

Myth -  ->-bleeped-<-, or at least its compiled symptoms, are not prevalent in the trans community
Truth - Many transsexuals exhibit the symptoms described by  ->-bleeped-<- exactly.

[MsDazzler]

Myth: Post-ops are instantly accepted as "women" after surgery.

Reality: Even for some closed minded people, SRS won't change their minds even if that person got it. To them, they were born male, therefore male forever. They just went and self-mulitated their genitals.

[Annah]

I'd like to take issue with this one, at least on the whole. The rate of regret for post-op women is something like 1%, the rest self-report being quite a bit more happy.

I understand that not everyone is happy after their surgery; but I think that a particular 'myth' is true is because it shares some relation to the actual fact of the matter.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21364939

The percentage of "regret" is very small however, to say 1%regret it and the rest are "more happy" as post operative is not accurate.

[Mahsa Tezani]

Myth: Post-ops are instantly accepted as "women" after surgery.

Reality: Even for some closed minded people, SRS won't change their minds even if that person got it. To them, they were born male, therefore male forever. They just went and self-mulitated their genitals.

Especially if they look like Howard Stern or members of Metallica. Like that girl that the DMV harassed in SF. Poor thing.

[Annah]

Myth -  ->-bleeped-<-, or at least its compiled symptoms, are not prevalent in the trans community
Truth - Many transsexuals exhibit the symptoms described by  ->-bleeped-<- exactly.

Counter myth: Many transsexuals exhibit the symptoms described by  ->-bleeped-<- exactly.
Truth: The term  ->-bleeped-<-, according to the DSM IV: "as a common occurrence in the transvestic fetishism disorder where one fantasizes, sexually, about being a woman".

Many transsexuals do not fantasize, sexually, about being a woman. One cannot fantasize about becoming a woman if they already are a woman.  ->-bleeped-<- is as outdated as calling anyone with a learning disability as mentally retarded. We have progressed in the fields of psychology and the term  ->-bleeped-<- is outdated and only those living in the dark ages would use it as a diagnoses.

[Kelly J. P.]

 Myth: ->-bleeped-<-s sound like men.
Fact: Only about a third do.

This could refer to the basic sound of the voice, vocal mannerisms, or expression. Some have a good voice, but still talk like men do...

[MsDazzler]

Myth: ->-bleeped-<-s sound like men.
Fact: Only about a third do.

This could refer to the basic sound of the voice, vocal mannerisms, or expression. Some have a good voice, but still talk like men do...

I thought "->-bleeped-<-" was a no-no term...

[Natkat]

I thought "->-bleeped-<-" was a no-no term...

I guess it what you make it for..
I must admit I say ->-bleeped-<- myself XD alot..

[Annah]

Myth: ->-bleeped-<-s sound like men.
Fact: Only about a third do.

This could refer to the basic sound of the voice, vocal mannerisms, or expression. Some have a good voice, but still talk like men do...

I dont know lol. The majority of trans women I have met online or in real life sound like men to me. I would safely say, for me, the ratio of trans who really do sound like women is 1:60.....from the experiences I have personally seen.

[Natkat]

myth: transexual is a sexual orientation
realety: its not.

[Sybil]

Counter myth: Many transsexuals exhibit the symptoms described by  ->-bleeped-<- exactly.
Truth: The term  ->-bleeped-<-, according to the DSM IV: "as a common occurrence in the transvestic fetishism disorder where one fantasizes, sexually, about being a woman".

Many transsexuals do not fantasize, sexually, about being a woman. One cannot fantasize about becoming a woman if they already are a woman.  ->-bleeped-<- is as outdated as calling anyone with a learning disability as mentally retarded. We have progressed in the fields of psychology and the term  ->-bleeped-<- is outdated and only those living in the dark ages would use it as a diagnoses.

I agree with Annah wholeheartedly. How many natal women rely on feeling sexy or attractive as a sexual incentive? From what I can tell from my friends - very many. I feel the same way: I'm not interested in sex with a man if I don't feel like an attractive woman (although, according to the person who coined the term,  ->-bleeped-<- is only used to explain feelings of transwomen attracted to other women). In contrast, feeling sexy allows me to feel more sexually receptive; granted, the vast majority of my sexuality relies on attraction to my partner and not feelings about myself, but my perception of self is certainly a factor. This is absolutely true of so many, many women and it is constantly reflected throughout popular culture.

I find Ray Blanchard's accusation of people who identify as women of merely having a sexual fetish for being a woman an absurdity at best. If anything, it helps to identify the reality that they are women - women who are trapped in a man's body and must use their imagination to improvise and access relief to their frustrations. Even in the most extreme examples - where some transwomen are aroused specifically by the idea of themselves as women - there are natal women in no starkly short supply who replicate this idea.


To add to the thread:

Myth: transwomen are incredibly bubbly and try to fit into Barbie stereotypes.
Reality: transwomen fit a wide range of personalities and interests in a fashion not unlike natal women.

Edit: The absence of a certain semicolon was driving me nuts!

[Tippe]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21364939

The percentage of "regret" is very small however, to say 1%regret it and the rest are "more happy" as post operative is not accurate.

Annah,

this study shows that transsexual people are at a greater risk than the background population especially for suicide and coronar events. It does however not include a non-op transsexual control group and thus have no implications regarding whether a person undergoing SRS fares better before or after the surgery.

A number of reviews have shown that suicide rate drops from 20% in transsexual population to 1% in post-operative transsexuals. Anne Lawrence also did some very interesting studies of Quality of Life and regrets. Within a cohort of 232 post-op MTF women only one person reported quality of life as worsened and six reported it as unchanged. The rest reported improvement. AFAIR 59% reported a QoL improvement of +8 or more on a -10/10 scale and no person expressed outright regret.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12856892

As always, what is most important is that everyone decides what is right for their personal situation. There is a lot of evidence that SRS is medically indicated in those who desire it. On the other hand forcing SRS (or as sixteen European countries do; sterilization) upon people who do not desire it is a catastrophe.

[Guantanamera]

^^

Aha! Science!

[Noah James]

Myth: Transsexual = Pedophile

Reality: No. Just no.

[mixie]

Myth  Transsexual women are the best ones to turn to for advice about transitioning.

Reality (Well Mixie's opinion)  If a transsexual has dysphoria they can start projecting their own issues onto you.  So for example if you think you have a bad hairline you will focus on it on someone else.


Myth Transsexual women can "always tell" and clock another transsexual woman.

Truth  Half those you think you are clocking are cisgender.   Only the ones you see are the ones you clock.  The others pass beautifully.


This isn't transsexual but applies.

Biggest pet peeve.

Myth:  Wearing lots of make up makes you look like more of a woman.
Reality  Most women don't wear that much make up except for special occasions.

[Kelly J. P.]

I thought "->-bleeped-<-" was a no-no term...

It was put there for effect. The myth comes from a place of ignorance and dislike, so I used the word "->-bleeped-<-" to suggest such imagery. To say that "only a third do" is in the spirit of trans elitism - it suggests that those that haven't mastered the voice are mere ->-bleeped-<-s, and that perhaps those that have move beyond that.

Rude... but reasonable. I do like to help emphasize how important the voice is. It's a shame that people are afraid to practice at times - I admit this includes myself. My voice is good, but I've heard a few that are better than me. So I guess I'd better keep trying to improve. It almost got me a free vaginal exam though!  Being pre-op, I probably should have said yes. The shock humour would have been to die for... but alas, I did what a normal and decent person should do, and declined with the truth.

[Annah]

Annah,

this study shows that transsexual people are at a greater risk than the background population especially for suicide and coronar events. It does however not include a non-op transsexual control group and thus have no implications regarding whether a person undergoing SRS fares better before or after the surgery.

A number of reviews have shown that suicide rate drops from 20% in transsexual population to 1% in post-operative transsexuals. Anne Lawrence also did some very interesting studies of Quality of Life and regrets. Within a cohort of 232 post-op MTF women only one person reported quality of life as worsened and six reported it as unchanged. The rest reported improvement. AFAIR 59% reported a QoL improvement of +8 or more on a -10/10 scale and no person expressed outright regret.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12856892

As always, what is most important is that everyone decides what is right for their personal situation. There is a lot of evidence that SRS is medically indicated in those who desire it. On the other hand forcing SRS (or as sixteen European countries do; sterilization) upon people who do not desire it is a catastrophe.

I agree about the suicide statistics. I know about those numbers.

I am not advocating that post op regret is high. I am explaining that the percentage is higher than 1% and the 1% seemed to be made up...when people throw percentages around on the internet I want sources.

Also, about the Anne Lawrence thing. I trust her about as much as I can throw her, so all her data holds no weight to me. In my opinion, she's a fraud.

[Annah]

Myth  Transsexual women are the best ones to turn to for advice about transitioning.

Reality (Well Mixie's opinion)  If a transsexual has dysphoria they can start projecting their own issues onto you.  So for example if you think you have a bad hairline you will focus on it on someone else.

totally agree with this.

[eli77]

^^

Well, I wouldn't phrase it quite that way. I think trans folk can be very helpful with questions on transitioning that are not related to appearance (like resources, experience with surgeries, etc.). But frankly, the last people I'd ever ask about how I look are trans folk. Either we are too obsessive and negative (there's a reason I avoid those threads) or too oblivious and positive. Neither is particularly useful.