Is the problem that our genders are forced on us at birth?

[ImagineKate]

I would say no, gender roles have nothing to do with my dysphoria. If I was allowed to do "girl stuff" (which I did to a degree) I would be happy temporarily but it would wear off quick.

I looked at some old family photos and in them I look like a girl (with short hair) up until about 12-13. Thing is I wore mostly boy clothes. There were a few where I had worn women's shirts but that seemed to be purely by accident as my mom would often just buy what she thought looked nice without regard for gender.

But I had and have a strong desire to be a woman. Not just to do womanly things but to be one. Woman trapped in a man's body may seem cliché but it's accurate.

[suzifrommd]

***Sigh***. Here I am about to disagree and be unpopular again.

No, I don't think the problem is that gender is assigned at birth. For 98% or so of the population, their gender is simply not a problem.

The problem is that people don't understand gender, and aren't aware that there are people whose very brain wiring drives us to a gender that is different from our birth gender. IMO, the problem is lack of education about gender and lack of understanding that there are some people who just can't live as member of the gender matching their birth sex.

[ImagineKate]

***Sigh***. Here I am about to disagree and be unpopular again.

No, I don't think the problem is that gender is assigned at birth. For 98% or so of the population, their gender is simply not a problem.

The problem is that people don't understand gender, and aren't aware that there are people whose very brain wiring drives us to a gender that is different from our birth gender. IMO, the problem is lack of education about gender and lack of understanding that there are some people who just can't live as member of the gender matching their birth sex.

I agree with you 100%.

[Ms Grace]

No need to apologise, Suzi. I'm always interested to hear your thoughts, and I wouldn't say that mine are gospel truth anyway. It's been a productive discussion, I'm trying to get a sense of how much of what we experience as trans people is nature or nurture, seems (as with all things) that it is a mix and that it is uniquely individual to each person.