Is there a social class bias to successful transitioning?

[Godiva]

Over the past ten years, I have noticed something quite unsettling to me about those who really have a fabulous surgical transition and generally have an easier time achieving full reintegration into normal productive society. These people, from my observations only, have been almost exclusively from upper middle class and above. This is quite alarming to me, but it is only my observation, and I could be wrong. Is there a social class bias to successful transitioning? What social class are the doctors and other medical care givers from that serve the transgender community?


Godiva.

[asiangurliee]

 

I think class bias can be found in everything. So yes, of course it is.

[Buffy]

What social class are the doctors and other medical care givers from that serve the transgender community?

Godiva.

Rich

Buffy

[Melissa]

...or have heavy child-support payments or other financial obligations, that's going to be a lot harder. I feel for people in that situation... it must be like getting stuck in a pit you can't get out of.

That'd be me.   If you looked at my income alone, you might consider me upper middle class, but much of my income goes right out the window to support payments and I barely have enough to live on.  Additionally, car repairs have been causing me to go into debt, although doing them myself has saved a lot of money.  As for integrating successfully into society, I'm having no trouble with that.  I just can't afford any surgeries at this time and have not had any.

[Steph]

Over the past ten years, I have noticed something quite unsettling to me about those who really have a fabulous surgical transition and generally have an easier time achieving full reintegration into normal productive society. These people, from my observations only, have been almost exclusively from upper middle class and above. This is quite alarming to me, but it is only my observation, and I could be wrong. Is there a social class bias to successful transitioning? What social class are the doctors and other medical care givers from that serve the transgender community?


Godiva.

I consider that my transition and post operative life to be a complete success and I'm from the lower middle class, just a shade above the poverty line at the moment   There are many, many other folks who are in the same position as I find myself, several here at Susan's for that matter.  I think that you will find that the percentages of poor, middle class, and upper class in general are like wise reflected amongst TS.

But heck that's just my own observations and that's life, just live it before you die.

Steph

[Sheila]

I would think that it would depend on who you talk to. I have known TS's who didn't have any money at all, but they somehow got the surgery and everything else. If you want it bad enough, you will get it. I get really tired of people trying to down others just because they are different. I have heard that we need to re classify trans people of color, cause the statisics say that more transwomen of color get killed. We are trans and we go across the board as far a class, race and whatever you have. To me that is a question so someone can have an excuse not to have surgery. If you don't need the surgery then don't get it. I guess I may have stepped on some toes, but this is my opinion.
Sheila

[Godiva]

Please do not confuse wealth or having the money to spend on surgery with social class. There is a very big difference.


Godiva

[melissa90299]

Over the past ten years, I have noticed something quite unsettling to me about those who really have a fabulous surgical transition and generally have an easier time achieving full reintegration into normal productive society. These people, from my observations only, have been almost exclusively from upper middle class and above. This is quite alarming to me, but it is only my observation, and I could be wrong. Is there a social class bias to successful transitioning? What social class are the doctors and other medical care givers from that serve the transgender community?


Godiva.

Who exactly are you accusing of bias? Where have you observed these people?

Posted on: July 18, 2007, 07:12:32 PM

Please do not confuse wealth or having the money to spend on surgery with social class. There is a very big difference.


Godiva

Well then, hun, please stop dancing around it and say what you mean! What's your point then? Yeesh.

Gina M.

I am really confused to as to what the question or point is.

Posted on: July 18, 2007, 07:13:54 PM

Over the past ten years, I have noticed something quite unsettling to me about those who really have a fabulous surgical transition and generally have an easier time achieving full reintegration into normal productive society. These people, from my observations only, have been almost exclusively from upper middle class and above. This is quite alarming to me, but it is only my observation, and I could be wrong. Is there a social class bias to successful transitioning? What social class are the doctors and other medical care givers from that serve the transgender community?


Godiva.

I consider that my transition and post operative life to be a complete success and I'm from the lower middle class, just a shade above the poverty line at the moment   There are many, many other folks who are in the same position as I find myself, several here at Susan's for that matter.  I think that you will find that the percentages of poor, middle class, and upper class in general are like wise reflected amongst TS.

But heck that's just my own observations and that's life, just live it before you die.

Steph

In Canada, isn't a large part of transitioning paid through the national health care plan?

[Steph]

...>snip

In Canada, isn't a large part of transitioning paid through the national health care plan?

It depends on which Province you are in.  In Ontario, my Province, I was able to claim my HRT adn therapy through my insurance, but I only get a percentage back, not the full amount.  GRS is not funded, but again a percentage is paid back once claimed.

These things were once covered under our health care plan but when the conservative party was elected to power they cancelled the coverage.  Now, even thought the Liberals are in power they are dragging their feet on reinstating the coverage.

Steph

[tinkerbell]

White, upper-middle class, wealthy

I think this is what most people want to hear.

tink

[Steph]

White, upper-middle class, wealthy

I think this is what most people want to hear.

tink

That you are "White, upper-middle class, wealthy"

Steph

[tinkerbell]

and Middle age....yup, it sounds stupid really but most people that I have encountered tend to believe that you must be rich because you are able to afford SRS.  Of course nothing could be further from the truth.  I guess people believe what they want to believe even though most of those stereotypes are way beyond ludicrous.

tink

[Steph]

and Middle age....yup, it sounds really stupid really but most people that I have encountered tend to believe that you must be rich because you are able to afford SRS.  Of course nothing could be further from the truth.  I guess people believe what they want to believe even though most of those stereotypes are way beyond ludicrous.

tink

No kidding, folks with that view should have a look into my financial situation.  It wouldn't take them long as there are no finances to create a situation

Steph

[Thundra]

White, upper-middle class, wealthy

I think this is what most people want to hear.

Amerika is capitalist.

You got capital, you go.

You don't got capital, you don't go.

It's tougher for minorities than for the predominant white ruling class, but not impossible.

It's tougher for the lower class, maybe even improbable, but not impossible.

I'd bet that more lower class and lower middle class folks get treated in our sister nations than in Amerika. In Amerika, it's all about the benjamins.

[tinkerbell]

LOL    I mean if you think about it, SRS costs as much as it costs any American to buy a new car.  There are also ways to finance it.....so basically it isn't soooo impossible to afford.  Anyway...


tink

[melissa90299]

Discovercard financed my SRS 12k at 4.99% for three years.

I have been building my credit rating for years in anticipation of this. I still have about 70k of  unused credit.

[Berliegh]

Over the past ten years, I have noticed something quite unsettling to me about those who really have a fabulous surgical transition and generally have an easier time achieving full reintegration into normal productive society. These people, from my observations only, have been almost exclusively from upper middle class and above. This is quite alarming to me, but it is only my observation, and I could be wrong. Is there a social class bias to successful transitioning? What social class are the doctors and other medical care givers from that serve the transgender community?

Godiva.

Good subject.....but it's not a class thing...it's just down to money and how to get it in order to recieve the best treatment......

In the U.K people sometimes opt for the NHS for their treatment because they feel they cannot afford private treatment but this is a very poor service compared to private treatment. I learned this the hard way...

[LynnER]

I dont even qualify as lower middle class... Im in downright poverty class... Ive never made more than 10k in a year. GRS is a pipe dream...  Im affraid to be butchered over seas... and far too poor to realisticly be able to afford it in any amount of time.  I have a hard enough time paying for HRT and food and keeping my car running.... 
The only reason I was able to get laser was because the financeer screwed up. They even tried to take it back, but sence the purchase was made I was able to fight and win.
People say get a loan...  yeah right... To get a loan you need credit... to get credit you need active credit... to get active credit you need a credit card...  and I dont qualify for any unless I go for one that charges you the cards limit in fees just to activate it or get a secured one through a bank after begging and bribeing the board of directors. and even then to get a 200$ card you have to have 300$ in saveings and thats frozen... to up the limit you have to put more money in... and to save money you have to have an excess of funds beyond the basic liveing requirements.
If I need to see the doctor Im totaly screwed... I cant afford anything other than the free clinic... and even then its allmost imposable to get the point across that just because Im white dosnt mean I have money!!
Honestly the only reason Im able to transition is cheap meds in mexico and goodwill haveing cheap if not allways well fitting clothes.

Gods... and writeing the reality of this has once again made me depressed and made me cry......  I HATE THIS!!!

[Elizabeth]

Most of the stories I have heard over the years involve someone working their behind off and saving every table scrap. If anything, it seems there is a huge lack of funding. If there are some percentage of upper middle class transsexuals that are having a smooth, easy transition, I have not witnessed it. It's more likely that person that you thought had the money, refinanced their house or took out a second mortgage to pay for surgery.

But even having said all of that, paying for it is such a small part, as far as what makes transition go smooth, I just can't accept the premise of the thread. And that is from a person who's major hold up is financing. Being disabled on a fixed income means I have to come up with a strategy, and I have. But even if I had the money right this second, I don't see how that would have made transition easier.

Love always,
Elizabeth

[Rachael]

dont think money hurts... or knowing folk either...