Would you have transitioned if you lived hundreds of years ago?

[Northern Jane]

I 'transitioned' in 1974, at the age of 24, and it was hard enough back then. I had been suicidal for years before that because I didn't know of ANY alternatives except for the Native culture but there weren't any traditional Native cultures left intact. The only alternative would have been to move to 'the frontier' and live alone 'in my own way'.

I probably wouldn't have survived.

[kittenpower]

It would depend on the culture I lived in; if I was born into Native American society, then yes, since they were presumed to be accepting of "two-spirit" people. If I was born into a Puritan family during the 17th century, I would probably be less inclined to transition, especially if I lived in Salem, MA between 1692 and 1693. 

[Miharu Barbie]

As a Native North American with roots in the Caddo Nation, I believe that I almost certainly would have "transitioned" in one form or another.  Gender variant individuals among the Caddo were tolerated and given socially accepted roles before the nation was eradicated.  I almost certainly would have gravitated towards healthy self-expression within the limitations of the gender cards I was dealt, just as I did in the 20th century.

Come to think of it, my parents have always been very accepting of my gender variant nature.  I wonder if their acceptance of me as a transgender woman could be a cultural echo of those distant Caddo values.  There's food for thought.

[fennec-fox]

I answered "probably not" because I almost certainly would not have known being nonbinary was a possibility, so I'm sure I would've just lived my life assuming my female body makes me a girl.

[Jacqueline]

I answered Probably not.

I imagine if I were born at least 100 years ago I would have been deeply hiding all of my symptoms. If I were catholic, I probably would have joined a monastery and tried to be secluded and purge those horrible thoughts that made me unworthy. As a protestant, I am not sure but still would have felt (as I had till not too long ago) that I was wrong, unworthy and full of guilt. I don't know if I would have been able to mentally survive. However, like others have pointed out, I don't know that I would have realized it was an option to transition or at least just assume the role of the other sex. I think it would just have been seen as odd or evil. This is all assuming that my heritage was generally the same(western European).

Joanna

[iKate]

I don't think I would have really had a choice. I am who I am.

[janetcgtv]

I would have transitioned if I would have been born native American. If born Asian,Egyptian, I would be a eunuch and live as a woman as I would gladly have them cut it off.

And like the movie I saw my name would probably been Women's Dress

When found out, my parents would have tested me by putting me in a temporary lodge and set in on fire. While racing out, I would pick up the clay basket and ignore the bow and arrow.My Grandmother and Mother would then take me to a stream. Then bathe me and put a dress on me where I would forever be living as a woman.

[sweetbriar9]

If born among europeans, I would've most likely been an alcoholic celibate blacksmith. So......um.....I'm going to have a cigarette and stare at an anvil while I think about that.

[warlockmaker]

I wasn't aware there was an option, thought it was straight or gay, until 15 years ago. Also females were treated terribly when brute strength reigned supreme. We've  come a long way.

[sweetbriar9]

Funny, but this question stuck with me. After thinking about it more, I might've joined a theater troupe or circus freak show. These were both traditionally places where cross-gender individuals were able to blend in and be somewhat accepted. In the early twentieth century, some circus performers were actually able to make pretty good money. I kind of enjoy the ambiance anyway.

[Peep]

If no one's heard of them already you should look up the Chevalier d'Eon and Anne "Gentleman Jack" Lister, Heliogabalus, Herculine Barbin* and Dr James Barry

These (plus a load of transgender saints...) are just a few i can think of off the top of my head. There's loads of others if you google trans history... I find it really interesting

Sorry if it's a bit off topic

*who was intersex and /forced/ to change from female to male, rather than electing to

[Futurist]

Nope. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a thing in most places back then, and without medical transition, there is not much point for me. I'd just be stuck miserable my whole life.

Actually, you could have probably still gotten rid of your testicles back then.

[Futurist]

I myself didn't transition yet but plan to transition to some extent in the future. That said, though, in response to this question: Probably not, due to the lack of hormone replacement therapy back then and due to my own ignorance in such a scenario.

[Eevee]

I just barely found out about it and accepted it in this far more progressive century. How would I have figured this out hundreds of years ago? I don't want to sound macabre, but I probably would have followed my depression to its end in an earlier time like I almost did even now with today's resources.

[Peep]

I sometimes think in some ways it would be easier... people used to wear very structured clothing, for example, and lots of layers and never being seen naked was p. common. Plus no digital footprint, no databases, people didn't travel much so you could have a whole new life just by going to a different city...

[Deborah]

Unless you were a serf and not allowed to leave.


Sapere Aude

[Kylo]

I think so. I'm an outsider in life anyway, I can't help being that way, and not living for the usual reasons. If I was myself born in another time, I still think I'd be the same and avoid social expectations just like I have in this time. If I was forced to have a child I'd probably have done something to myself to prevent it or destroy myself, or would have just left it once born. That's how I am... there are some things I'm just not meant to do and can't bring myself to do. I would probably have lived a short, miserable life.

[Colleen M]

I had to go with "probably not." 

Given my ancestry, I'd almost certainly have been murdered by the church as a heretic for huge stretches of history.  Considering average life expectancy, I'd also have been dead from something unrelated before it became too much to deal with. 

[WarGrowlmon1990]

If I had lived with my Native ancestors, then chances are that society would let me transition. But in other societies hundreds of years ago, people who were assigned female at birth lived very limiting lives. I'm not sure if any transgender and non-binary individuals back then were able to live the lives they wanted to. There's a good chance that cishet guys back then would severely beat or murder anybody that didn't conform to gender roles and gender "norms".

[jmyle]

I'm genuinely not sure about this. If there were no trans support groups and no place I can talk things out and read on trans experiences, I think I would have a) taken much, much longer to become more self aware of being a trans guy and b) might not have become self aware at all. If I lived hundreds of years ago I doubt that I would have been completely oblivious to my dysphoria and desire for a male body and to live as male, but I think I might have lacked the resources to connect the dots + understand what that meant, and then move forward practically to transition. It might have also been too dangerous.

It would depend on the context and where I lived + who I was hundreds of years ago I think.