Born in the Wrong Body: Problematic or Empowering?

[joannaelyse]

I am wondering what everyone thinks about the term "born in the wrong body"?

There's the argument that it implies we are innately "wrong" and then there's the idea that some find it a useful way to describe how they feel about their bodies pre-transition. What do you all think?

[suzifrommd]

I love my body. It wasn't the wrong body. Though certain parts were the wrong shape.

[Deborah]

Well, I think it's pretty clear something is wrong or there would be no need for HRT or SRS.

As a descriptor for self introspection its probably a useful term to describe what it feels like. 

As a term to use with other people I think it's less useful as it requires a level of self awareness that the majority of CIS people do not posses.


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[sam1234]

Part of that question is going to depend on the individual. One F to M I knew had a huge ovarian cyst when he had his hysto, so i guess you could call that a problem. I had very erratic cycles that never regulated as I grew older, so something there was not right.

For those who are born with no physical problems that could be seen or diagnosed other than the fact that the person feels like they are the opposite gender, i would still call it wrong. Our minds control a good bit of how we react to things like illness, disability etc. A person who is completely paralyzed can still have a mind, think, reason and communicate one way or another, but a person with a mind that is gone is just a shell. IF it weren't, Dr.s wouldn't be ok with organ transplants. For that reason and some others, It think being born in a body that does not agree with the mind is a problem, no matter how healthy that body is.

I'm sure there are transgenders who learn to live with their bodies the way they are because they have no choice, but although some may be ok with it, I doubt many are. Looking at all the posts on depression, suicidal ideation, self mutilation of genitals etc., I would go so far as to say that living in the 'wrong" body IS a disability.
Dr.s are now regularly doing transitions because they feel it makes their patients better. If it were just a couple Dr. s here and there, the surgeries would all be underground procedures, and they aren't. Dr.s take an oath to keep their patients safe from harm, improving the quality of their lives etc.

I always felt like my female parts were tumors. Getting rid of them changed my life 100% for the better.

sam1234

[CollieLass]

When I was in my natal physicality (mercifully for just 17 years), I saw my body as being "constantly in the way" of my being able to be a comfortable 'me', expressing my gender identity and in forming freindships and relationships......after transition and surgeries, I was simply able to "be"...... to present "myself", without being abhorred by the incongruity of my self image and what I saw in the mirror.

So was it the "wrong body" for me?...most certainly, yes!

[Ms Grace]

I'm a bit conflicted about the term. I don't use it to describe myself, even if I guess it does describe how I feel. I suppose I would say instead that I wasn't born with the right body. #semantics

[ChiGirl]

I like that rephrasing, Grace.  Not born in the wrong body, just didn't get the right body.

I also liked the way Avery Edison phrased it in her book, "Right Body, Wrong Junk."  (A very funny book, btw)

I certainly used to feel like I was born in the wrong body.  And sometimes I still wish I could get out of this body.  It doesn't help that beyond the GD, I've struggled with obesity most of my life.  I guess I'm learning to accept my body as it is and as it can and will be.

[katrinaw]

Haa, nice spin Grace 


However having said that tho the fact is our we are wired for a body of the opposite sex... Hence we do what we do to try and right the wrong....

So how about this; "something went wrong during the pregnancy and I was therefore born with the wrong body parts"

But honestly, I was born in the wrong body!

L Katy