Susan's Place Transgender Resources

What is a Transsexual?

A Transsexual is person who self-identifies as a member of the gender opposite to the one assigned to them at birth.

Born biological males or females, most Transsexual individuals have known from earliest childhood their mental gender and their physical bodies do not match.  Later in life, Transsexual men and women often seek medical help to allow them to live in the anatomically 'opposite' gender as closely as possible.

Transsexualism is frequently misunderstood.  Part of the problem is the terminology itself.  There is nothing sexual about it.  Transsexualism is about gender, not about sex.

Gender is one's identity expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity in non-physical, non-sexual aspects.  It is how people perceive themselves and social behaviors.  Gender roles and acceptable gender behaviors are largely culturally determined.  Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

Transsexual individuals often manifest an agonizing dysphoria of their own biological birth sex, and difficulty or inability living in its social role.  If untreated, it can lead to mental and emotional problems, and sometimes, suicide.  Research estimates indicate 40% of untreated Transsexual persons are either institutionalized or die prematurely.  With proper treatment, Transsexual individuals often become fully functional members of society.  The suicide statistics of treated transsexual people do not remarkably differ from the non-transsexual populations.

Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is widely accepted as the physiological/psychological condition that lies at the heart of Transsexualism.  Treatment is provided under accepted medical standards with case management of a gender therapist, and usually involves a combination of hormonal and surgical treatment with a period of diagnostic cross living.  The process of change, called transition, is difficult for the individual, his/her family, in the workplace, and the community.  Transsexualism gives rise to a variety of legal, social, and ethical challenges.

The estimated frequency of Transsexualism in the general population is 1 in 250 biological males and 1 in 500 biological females.

-Emerald  :icon_mrgreen:

QuoteTranssexual individuals often manifest an agonizing dysphoria of their own biological birth sex, and difficulty or inability living in its social role.

Yes indeed!  This is what I had to say about transsexualism or gender dysphoria (as it is known in the medical community.)

Quote from: Tinkerbell on July 19, 2006, 11:22:09 PM
Wow...I could say a lot of things right now, but I'm going to try to put it in a single sentence.  To me gender dysphoria is a constant agonizing, torturing, sophocating feeling of hatred and repugnance towards my male anatomy. :'(


tinkerbell :icon_chick:

.

tinkerbell :icon_chick:

If this is to be an accepted definition for this forum and someone wants to use this to define what I am then we need to know who's definition this is.  The source of the statistics provided must also be quoted to validate the definition, otherwise it is simply someone's idea of what/who a transsexual is.  I would also challenge "most Transsexual individuals have known from earliest childhood their mental gender and their physical bodies do not match."  I would agree that "many" may have, but most would be stretching it.

Additionally this is a controversial definition and needs to be identified as such.

Steph

Quote from: Emerald on August 27, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

Quote from: Tink
gender dysphoria is a constant agonizing, torturing, sophocating feeling of hatred and repugnance towards my male anatomy

While I realize many if not most transsexuals feel this way, it's not quite the same way for me. I don't find being male repugnant, but perhaps uncomfortable, inaccurate, the wrong context. I dislike my maleness because it reminds me that I'm not female - but I don't hate my maleness in and of itself. If anything, seeing my maleness just makes me incredibly sad - because it means I'm not female.

That's why I posted it! To get the bugs out.  :icon_biggrin:
It is not so much a definition as it is an understandable and reasonably short, accurate answer to a commonly asked question by those who are new here, Steph.  As for the statistics, I've seen those numbers cited many times in the gender research and work I've done over the last two years. Yes, I do take my job on Chat seriously.
Dutch researcher, Peggy Cohen-Kettenis is the source of the statistics.
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/TSprevalence.html

Constructive criticism is most welcome! This is a work in progress to meet the needs of the TG community.

-Emerald  :icon_mrgreen:

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM

Quote from: Emerald on August 27, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us as to exactly what you mean.
I must say that I'm increasingly concerned about the use of the term 'Gender Dysphoria'.  An implied incongruity between mind and body.

The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind.
Apples and oranges.

If you are suggesting that one is 'born into the wrong body'; that somehow one's physical attributes are incorrect and that surgical alteration is the solution, then in my mind that lies far nearer body dysmorphia than gender dysphoria. 
(and yes I'm aware of the body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community, to dispute this notion)


elleane
xxx

Hi Emerald... ;D

This is a bold, interesting  and difficult challenge trying to define a single definition for both transsexualism and Gender Identity Disorder. Difficult in such that everyone will have their own views as to where they fit within the spectrum and how far they go towards resolving that.

It is something that the Medical profession have difficulty in defining. I think we all agree it is NOT a mental disorder and should not be classified as such. Most medical conditions are either cured, go into remission, or become fatal (or someone lives with that condition for years?), so how do we define (if it is a medical condition) that someone has been cured, what are the criteria? or indeed the diagnosis?

Like Steph, I have seen many different numbers for the frequency rates of transsexualism, which are a lot higher than the ones quoted. This does not mean they are wrong, but reflect the data obtained in the study. How many undiagnosed cases end up in suicide for instance?

I think we can say that transsexuals are born, rather than becoming transsexual out of choice over a period of time and it is inherent within the gentic make up of that person. I agree with what Steph wrote in one of her earlier posts in that "true classic transsexuals" as defined in your post will undoubtedly transition, to seek relief from the condition..... but many people do (because of circumstances remain in there current Gender).

Agreement on a single, defined statement may not be possible, but we can certainly define the "statements" that go into making up the the many versions, which people identify with.

Rebecca

:icon_help:

Quote from: elleane on January 14, 1970, 03:17:47 AM

If you are suggesting that one is 'born into the wrong body'; that somehow one's physical attributes are incorrect and that surgical alteration is the solution, then in my mind that lies far nearer body dysmorphia than gender dysphoria. 
(and yes I'm aware of the body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community, to dispute this notion)

elleane
xxx

If a man was born with a third leg and wished it removed, would he be accused of body dysmorphia?

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM

Quote from: Emerald on August 27, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

I too strongly disagree with that statement.
TS in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures may be more content with their place in that society, but I highly doubt they are more content with their bodies.
Even if the world saw me as a man, I would still feel great distress over the fact I have breasts.
Example: I bind, concealing them from all eyes but my own, and yet I still want a masectomy.
Not for society, but for my own well-being.

Quote from: Emerald on August 27, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
  Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

I vote for the removal of this statement.

Nero

Yup yup!^^

I'm sorry but if feel that this is another example of those who do not understand TS/who cannot possibly be expected to understand what TS are, what makes us tick trying to define "Us".  I find it quite interesting that people have this need to explain to me how I feel, and how I should feel about my body, my mind and any other "thing" that causes my disphoria, if that is in fact what I have.

I think it is safe to say that we transsexuals have endured several hundred years of collective therapy and yet the only viable explanation is that "body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community", and why shouldn't we as TS use that body of work.  I find the remark "Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us as to exactly what you mean.  " a little typical of someone who is not TS as "An implied incongruity between mind and body."  seems imply that we don't know what we are talking about.  Of course "The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind." we are talking about the congruency between the two (in agreement with, or in harmony with) that is the disphoria.

Steph

Quote from: Steph on August 27, 2006, 11:09:41 AM
I'm sorry but if feel that this is another example of those who do not understand TS/who cannot possibly be expected to understand what TS are, what makes us tick trying to define "Us".  I find it quite interesting that people have this need to explain to me how I feel, and how I should feel about my body, my mind and any other "thing" that causes my disphoria, if that is in fact what I have.

I think it is safe to say that we transsexuals have endured several hundred years of collective therapy and yet the only viable explanation is that "body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community", and why shouldn't we as TS use that body of work.  I find the remark "Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us as to exactly what you mean.  " a little typical of someone who is not TS as "An implied incongruity between mind and body."  seems imply that we don't know what we are talking about.  Of course "The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind." we are talking about the congruency between the two (in agreement with, or in harmony with) that is the disphoria.

Steph

Amen, atta girl!

tinkerbell :icon_chick:

Quote from: elleane on August 27, 2006, 03:33:46 AM

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM

Quote from: Emerald on August 27, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us as to exactly what you mean.

I believe she means, like I, that society is not my reason to do this.

IF this society had a clue and allowed me to express myself as I pleased from birth I would still NOT LIKE the bottom parts I was born with. I say this in part because I have given it a lot of thought in the past and in part because I do not WANT to be a "woman", I wish to have my body match ME, and the male body did NOT. Society has no part in that, just a slight disagreement between my bod and I.

As Kate said, "I have no specific desire to be a 'woman' (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female."

As Nero said, "Not for society, but for my own well-being."

Just a little sand in the wind...

Quote from: elleane on August 27, 2006, 03:33:46 AM
Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us as to exactly what you mean.
I must say that I'm increasingly concerned about the use of the term 'Gender Dysphoria'.  An implied incongruity between mind and body.

The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind.
Apples and oranges.

If you are suggesting that one is 'born into the wrong body'; that somehow one's physical attributes are incorrect and that surgical alteration is the solution, then in my mind that lies far nearer body dysmorphia than gender dysphoria. 
(and yes I'm aware of the body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community, to dispute this notion)

elleane
xxx

Wow!  "The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind. Apples and oranges."

Funny, they're all connected together, more like the apple and the tree or the orange and the tree than apples and oranges.  Your metaphor is suspect and very inflammatory.  Body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria.  Maybe they're the same thing.  One can have many body dysmorphias but perhaps when gender is involved, gender dysphoria is the result, maybe a subset of body dysmorphia.  Fact is, they're all stupid labels.  If a man or woman is considering ending their life because of a life-long dysphoria/dysmorphia, I don't really care what you call it, and if surgery is the cure, then surgery is the cure, the same for a heart bypass patient--the body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the non-TS, doubting, bigoted community aside.

Dawn

And now you know why I say I'm a pickle. The term "Transsexual" is an umbrella term for those that change gender/sex and in only that change, that definition could be correct for those that have transitioned.

The self identification thing.....wow. See, that is where I think the term Transsexual is all screwed up because there is such a varying spectrum of ppl and feelings to say somebody is and somebody isn't based on a single list of rules is perposterous. They would have to interview 30 thousand ppl that have changed and are wanting to change to come up with a better list and or idea of what is and isn't a Transsexual.

To say a Transsexual is a person that has changed genders would be correct to me. To say it is a person that changed sex may be correct if they changed genders as well. You can be a male with a vagina and all you have done is changed sex. If you still live and work as a male, you have not become a female/woman. A person that just changes thier sex would not be a transsexual in my book.

I would think a Transsexual is a man that changed into a woman in everyday life, or a woman that changed into a man in everyday life regardless of what is between their legs.

To me, Gender is in-between the ears, not between the legs. Either you identify as a woman or a man regardless of plumbing/sex/innie or outie. Gender is how you feel, identify, and naturaly feel at ease with yourself as being, with no dysphoric issues of who you are with acting or playing out life as others want you to be based on your outer appearence.


There is a huge difference between sex and gender and that must be seperated.

QuoteI think it is safe to say that we transsexuals have endured several hundred years of collective therapy and yet the only viable explanation is that "body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community", and why shouldn't we as TS use that body of work.  I find the remark "Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us as to exactly what you mean.  " a little typical of someone who is not TS as "An implied incongruity between mind and body."  seems imply that we don't know what we are talking about.  Of course "The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind." we are talking about the congruency between the two (in agreement with, or in harmony with) that is the disphoria.

Quote
Wow!  "The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind. Apples and oranges."

Funny, they're all connected together, more like the apple and the tree or the orange and the tree than apples and oranges.  Your metaphor is suspect and very inflammatory.  Body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria.  Maybe they're the same thing.  One can have many body dysmorphias but perhaps when gender is involved, gender dysphoria is the result, maybe a subset of body dysmorphia.  Fact is, they're all stupid labels.  If a man or woman is considering ending their life because of a life-long dysphoria/dysmorphia, I don't really care what you call it, and if surgery is the cure, then surgery is the cure, the same for a heart bypass patient--the body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the non-TS, doubting, bigoted community aside.

<sigh>
And so the TS territorial one-upmanship begins.

One thing that really irks me, is people telling me that "you don't or can't understand what it means to be TS".
I've taken the hormones, I've seen the doctors (who diagnosed me TS), I've been through the self-hatred (loathing one's physical body, belief that I was born 'wrong'),  I've 'come out' to my family...
I understand more than you might think! ;)
I went through the process of self-hatred, self-discovery and gender exploration. I came out loving myself!
The most expensive surgery, the world's best endocrinologist could not have achieved that.

I'm not telling you who you are - I'm telling you how your opinions come across to others (TS or not - HUMANS to be precise)- and offering some of my own thoughts.
It's a big world out there - it's not all defined by whether you're TS or not - or by gender for that matter.
Time and time again I've been slammed in these forums for the same reasons by the same people.

see ya,


elleane
xxx

In my opinion, I think what Emerald wrote is pretty close. I think it is very general in the fact that we as people are very diversified. Not one of us can you think in one term or many terms. We are all different. If you look a GM or GG (I Think those are right initials) there is a wide difference in how they act in their own Gender. Why are we not like that. Just look at this board, not one of us are that similiar except that we have this Gender Identity problem going on. It isn't a problem to me, but to some it is very much a problem. No matter what difinition you put on Transsexuality you are not going to hit the majority. There are some attributes that we all conform to but they are vague in how we perceive ourselves and the world around us and how the world perceives us. To get into a discussion on terminology, you can go back and forth and never come to a consesus. The only one part of Emeralds piece that I will disagree on and that she stated that there are less FtoM's. I think that comes from an old statistic. I would believe that the numbers would reflect the same. In our culture and many others the female can get away with a lot of cross gendering. Its like how many female crossdressers do you see out there?
This is my opinion, not the expressed views of this station nor management here.
Sheila

Quote from: Sheila on August 28, 2006, 11:10:33 AM
The only one part of Emeralds piece that I will disagree on and that she stated that there are less FtoM's. I think that comes from an old statistic. I would believe that the numbers would reflect the same. In our culture and many others the female can get away with a lot of cross gendering. Its like how many female crossdressers do you see out there?
This is my opinion, not the expressed views of this station nor management here.
Sheila

I agree. I think the statistic is low because so many FtMs don't have genital surgery.

Nero

__________________________________________________________________

QuoteAnd so the TS territorial one-upmanship begins.

One thing that really irks me, is people telling me that "you don't or can't understand what it means to be TS".
I've taken the hormones, I've seen the doctors (who diagnosed me TS), I've been through the self-hatred (loathing one's physical body, belief that I was born 'wrong'),  I've 'come out' to my family...
I understand more than you might think! Wink
I went through the process of self-hatred, self-discovery and gender exploration. I came out loving myself!
The most expensive surgery, the world's best endocrinologist could not have achieved that.

I'm not telling you who you are - I'm telling you how your opinions come across to others (TS or not - HUMANS to be precise)- and offering some of my own thoughts.
It's a big world out there - it's not all defined by whether you're TS or not - or by gender for that matter.
Time and time again I've been slammed in these forums for the same reasons by the same people.

see ya,


elleane

____________________________________________________________________


I can Identify with most of what you said because that is the way it went for me as well. Family? They are the quickest to desert or excommunicate me. I was lucky I had lady friends in town who supported me through my coming out. I didn't loose my job and no one threw rocks at me not even rotten vegetables. And I live in a small rural town. The town folks accepted me and I don't think it was my good looks that turned the trick either. Like I have mentioned in other threads here i was pretty much androgynous in looks.  I have had SRS and  been full time for past six years and I really don't think much about the tittle transsexual anymore I am just me.  :)

Ok now I leave before people throw rotten veggies at me.

Cin

edit: fixed tags for quote - Karen

FYI for Everyone:

Please have a look at this website: ts-symposium.org   It is for the Transsexual Symposium and might be worth a peek.

Hoping this helps,

PK

To start I want to go out on a limb here. Nobody knows why our brains developed the way they did for sure. I even wonder how much thes studies are fact and how much is guessing. But I want to put forth something I saw in the news as maybe a reason for our brains developing this way. A woman almost lost her child due to the two of them having different DNA. However, when they took DNA from the mother's thyroid area the DNA matched her daughter. Experts said this is not as uncommon as one thinks. They said the mother had 2 types of DNA due to the fact she was probably suppose to be a twin but both her and her twin developed into one body and that body has 2 DNA. Ok, so I got thinking what if A TS was in same boat but instead of gaining new DNA we gained our twin's brain which is female? hmmm.  I know it's far fetched but if experts wanna guess about us why can't we?
   But my real feeling on all this is stop dissecting us and trying to explain us. I am Kimberly-Anne, a female human who gained an the wrong genitallia at birth. I do not feel this needs to be explained until I walk this earth one end to the other naked with a female upper body and a male lower body. I am not sick and do not have dysphoria or anything diseased, I'm just special and lovable that's all. I'm no different than the person next door. As for the scientist who feel I may be slamming them here, get a hobby will ya. Oh wait. If they want to explain something they can explain why my little dog thinks he is a cat!!lol

I'm a transsexual. So you are you asking what I am.
I really don't know but:
As a MTF TS my soul/spirit part of me is female. But this body is totally male. I shave pluck hairs out and make it look more female the way I think it should only to have it fight back with regrouping all of the hair. 
Should I take hormone to try to change this male body? How much will it cost is and is it worth the health risk?
What about living full time? If it doesn't work I will still have lost all that I knew before and than where will I be.
My mind doesn't want to be male and the mere though of it is revolting to me.
All of my friends and family know me as a male.
I have for many years conformed to that image even to the point of almost fooling myself.
But I can't do that anymore.
I am now in a dangerous place and have shattered my marriage my relationships with my family.
But I can't stop I need to be the woman that is the really me. Will I destroy my friendship with people who know me as a man? Will I lose my job?
What will I become when I have followed this path (TS) to the end? I don't know. Will it be worth the pain and lose? Will I be happy?  Will I even make it?  Can I go on or should I just lie down and die?

The feel of silk and satin on me. Smooth legs with soft nylons. The joy of being treated like a woman when I am dress. Becoming the real me buried deep inside. These are the things I live for. These are the things that I die for.

I am driven forward always forward to the goaled of becoming what my mind and spirit says I am. Never mind the doubt never mind the fear never mind the consequences always forward.
I'm a TS and all I know for sure is that I can't turn back because I would self destruct. 
Jillieann

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM

I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.


While I realize many if not most transsexuals feel this way, it's not quite the same way for me. I don't find being male repugnant, but perhaps uncomfortable, inaccurate, the wrong context. I dislike my maleness because it reminds me that I'm not female - but I don't hate my maleness in and of itself. If anything, seeing my maleness just makes me incredibly sad - because it means I'm not female.

You have vocalized ( in text, obviously) what I have been trying to get out of my head for the longest. Thank you.

Lately, in response to questions I've received, I've done some thinking...

I don't feel a woman trapped in a male body so much a a woman trapped in the societal role of a man.  By the same train of thought, I don't harbor any particular ill will toward the penis my body was born with (per se,) but I HATE what it caused society to do to me -- basically forcing me into a particular role I wasn't really suited for.

That having been said, I do look forward to SRS, when the bits I was born with will be rearranged into something I wish I had been initially been born with, and will allow certain functions I've always dreamed of having (of course, certain OTHER desired functions are still medically out of reach...)

Does THAT make me a Transsexual?

Karen

Hiee,

  Is it not fair to make the classification this way. Transexuals are Gender Dysphoric like all other members of the Transgender continium. Transexuals ALSO have GENDER IDENTITY DISORDER which the other members DO NOT.
  Also what is early onset anyhow. I have seen countless numbers stating that 'I knew from the time I was 3 or 4 years old', given that most people can't recal memories before 5 years of age I certainly have to wonder about those statements myself not to mention the idea of differing anatomies being understood at that age. For myself  the earliest I can recall would be age 12 and that was somewhat intelleculized when it did happen.
  I can recall having TEA parties when I was 4 maybe even 3, BUT there is no memory of gender issues surronding that. I did have a life altering event transpire when I was nearly 5 years old so perhaps this is why I am able to remember somethings from early childhood.
  I reached a point where the safest thing for me to do was to act the role that my body presented. I was semi-able to pull this off. While I was not what one would consider succesful neither was I a total failure. In looking back, had I been able to live as a loving nuturing woman I believe I would have been truly happier for it. Do I dispise my Penis NO, rather the hair on my face instead. I will be happier though when things are right side in as I will FEEL correct physically about myself at last.

Byee,
  Brina

Quote from: brina on November 16, 2006, 03:56:23 PM
Hiee,

  Is it not fair to make the classification this way. Transexuals are Gender Dysphoric like all other members of the Transgender continium. Transexuals ALSO have GENDER IDENTITY DISORDER which the other members DO NOT.
  Also what is early onset anyhow. I have seen countless numbers stating that 'I knew from the time I was 3 or 4 years old', given that most people can't recal memories before 5 years of age I certainly have to wonder about those statements myself not to mention the idea of differing anatomies being understood at that age. For myself  the earliest I can recall would be age 12 and that was somewhat intelleculized when it did happen.
  I can recall having TEA parties when I was 4 maybe even 3, BUT there is no memory of gender issues surronding that. I did have a life altering event transpire when I was nearly 5 years old so perhaps this is why I am able to remember somethings from early childhood.
  I reached a point where the safest thing for me to do was to act the role that my body presented. I was semi-able to pull this off. While I was not what one would consider succesful neither was I a total failure. In looking back, had I been able to live as a loving nuturing woman I believe I would have been truly happier for it. Do I dispise my Penis NO, rather the hair on my face instead. I will be happier though when things are right side in as I will FEEL correct physically about myself at last.

Byee,
  Brina

GLBs say that in looking back on it they always knew they were GLB.  While there are always exceptions, Ts at 3 or 4 don't know, and I mean KNOW, they're T any more then GLBs do.  Yeah there may be tons of "cross gender" behavior, but having been around the gay community as long as I've been there are just about equal amounts of happy, well adjusted gay men that had dolls, cross dressed, or did any of the other "cross gender" things when they were growing up.  The difference between the two?  At least as far as their willing to admit to, no one's said they raided their sister's closet in high school, etc.  Its more appropriate to say they knew their whole life looking back on it.  The emphasis being on "looking back on it" even though they didn't KNOW until they were older. 

Quote from: brina on November 16, 2006, 03:56:23 PM
Hiee,

I have seen countless numbers stating that 'I knew from the time I was 3 or 4 years old', given that most people can't recal memories before 5 years of age I certainly have to wonder about those statements myself not to mention the idea of differing anatomies being understood at that age.

As I have said a zillion times in these forums, I can't speak for other people, only for myself.  I do remember my life since I was three years old.  I might have not known about the differences in anatomy between a boy and a girl, but I certainly understood that girls were treated differently than I was, and they wore different clothing than I did, and they had their hair longer than mine.........and you know what?  I wanted to be a girl since the age of three, I wanted to have my hair long, I wanted to wear dresses, I wanted to wear bobby pins on my hair, I wanted to have my nails polished like the other girls.  I did not know about maleness and femaleness, penises, and vaginas,  but I did know that girls were different than I was.


tinkerbell :icon_chick:

Well stated Tinkerbell, you said it better than I ever could have.

Sarah L.

Quote from: Tinkerbell on November 16, 2006, 05:55:08 PM
As I have said a zillion times in these forums, I can't speak for other people, only for myself.  I do remember my life since I was three years old.  I might have not known about the differences in anatomy between a boy and a girl, but I certainly understood that girls were treated differently than I was, and they wore different clothing than I did, and they had their hair longer than mine.........and you know what?  I wanted to be a girl since the age of three, I wanted to have my hair long, I wanted to wear dresses, I wanted to wear bobby pins on my hair, I wanted to have my nails polished like the other girls.  I did not know about maleness and femaleness, penises, and vaginas,  but I did know that girls were different than I was.

^^^ what she said ;)

I was telling my wife last night that I distinctly remember how sad I was when we shopped for my first school clothes... I must have been 4 or 5. We bought a Winnie The Pooh outfit. It's not that I specifically craved girl's clothes necessarily, but it just hammered home the fact that I wasn't a girl, and wasn't going to be treated like one, not even in school.

I remember attending kindergarten, meeting Diane and Brenda, and desperately wishing I could BE them. I was four or five.

I will admit that the idea of crossdressing didn't occur to me until perhaps my teen years, though it was just a passing thought at the time. I never actually tried it until my early thirties, when I became desperate to find SOME way to alleviate the GID. I just never made a connection between being female and wearing female things, though I certainly *tried* to make the connection in order to lessen the angst. It didn't work.

Otherwise, I cannot trace any memories back *before* wishing I was a girl. It was just always there. I've never known a world without it.

Quote from: Kate on November 16, 2006, 10:16:07 PM
I was telling my wife last night that I distinctly remember how sad I was when we shopped for my first school clothes... I must have been 4 or 5. We bought a Winnie The Pooh outfit. It's not that I specifically craved girl's clothes necessarily, but it just hammered home the fact that I wasn't a girl, and wasn't going to be treated like one, not even in school.

I remember hating the fact that my cousin had wonderwoman underroos and I didn't.   ;D

My personal version of the definition of transsexual:

I was born a girl. 
Then I began to realize people saw me as a boy and treated me as a boy.
I soon found out if I didn't act like a boy there would be hell to pay.
I became very good at pretending.
I started to believe I should do this all my life.
Unhappiness and frustration set in.
People reminded me again of the hell I'd have to pay if I didn't act like a boy.
I straightened up my act.
Unhappiness and frustration increased.
As I got older I found more people in my life who wanted me to be a guy.
I played the part the best I could.
I got tired of the act, but I thought there was no escape.
I buried myself in anything and everything I could.
Nothing helped and misery set in.
I woke up.
I saw the clouds part and felt the sun shine warmly on my face.
I started believing in myself.
I changed paths.
Happiness and contentment set in.
I began HRT & saw physical changes.
Friends who had already been there helped me see the real me.
Then one day I looked in the mirror and saw a woman.
I was back to where I started, a bit older but still a girl.

Julie

Hmmm,

  The rules as to what I think constitues a transexual. I can only speak for my situation as a M->F as I simply don't have enough understanding of F->M's although many of the same rules would apply I feel.

1) Acceptance of the fact that ones body does not match their inner image
2) The taking of hormones to influence the developement of the target genders seconday sexual characteristics
3) The removal of the wrong gendered secondary sexual characteristics
4) Legal change of name (first) to reflect the targeted gender that they feel they are
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Sorry but these are pretty much the basics for me to accept someone as TRULY being transexual. Anything less to me indicates that someone is moving towards being a transexual but has not really arrived there yet. Sorry if ya haven't paid the dues you don't have access to the club!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(edit to add the following)
They must be living full time in their target gender ie both Work/Leisure
(end edit)
Now the biggie, surgory. It might sound harsh but the organs responsible for producing the wrong gendered hormones have to go. Sorry but anti androgens don't cut it any more as they can be stopped and reversion is possible. Once the the slice is made its permanent. These proceedures are not outlandishly expensive and can be achieved by the average transexual.

Byee,
  Brina
PS This presumes that in this case the word transexual is being used as an adjective.

Quote from: brina on November 22, 2006, 07:05:15 PM
Hmmm,

  The rules as to what I think constitues a transexual. I can only speak for my situation as a M->F as I simply don't have enough understanding of F->M's although many of the same rules would apply I feel.

1) Acceptance of the fact that ones body does not match their inner image
2) The taking of hormones to influence the developement of the target genders seconday sexual characteristics
3) The removal of the wrong gendered secondary sexual characteristics
4) Legal change of name (first) to reflect the targeted gender that they feel they are
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Sorry but these are pretty much the basics for me to accept someone as TRULY being transexual. Anything less to me indicates that someone is moving towards being a transexual but has not really arrived there yet. Sorry if ya haven't paid the dues you don't have access to the club!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(edit to add the following)
They must be living full time in their target gender ie both Work/Leisure
(end edit)
Now the biggie, surgory. It might sound harsh but the organs responsible for producing the wrong gendered hormones have to go. Sorry but anti androgens don't cut it any more as they can be stopped and reversion is possible. Once the the slice is made its permanent. These proceedures are not outlandishly expensive and can be achieved by the average transexual.

Byee,
  Brina
PS This presumes that in this case the word transexual is being used as an adjective.

It seems to me that these are things that a transsexual does, but someone who does these things isn't necessarily TS, therefore the converse is not true, therefore your theory fails.  Also I would contest your notion :

Quote"Anything less to me indicates that someone is moving towards being a transexual but has not really arrived there yet. Sorry if ya haven't paid the dues you don't have access to the club!".

Firstly I would propose that you don't move towards being TS as that would indicate that you could treated as you move towards becoming TS and therefore be cured.  You I put forth that you are born with the condition. It seems that to gain access to the club you must be dealing with, or have dealt with the physical.  How about a diagnosis of GID, would that gain access to the club, as the club seems to be concentrating only on the physical.

Steph

Hiee Steph,

  Yes the club is exclusionary. There are simply to dammed many phonies on the internet and in these types of groups. As should be obvious I do tend to be Bi-Polar in my outlook on genders although I do think modifications need to be made for both the female and male classifications.
Taking the premise that M->F transexuals are female in essence and not body then altering the body to fit their self image poses no problem. Part of that process is losing the functionality of Mr Penis to a large degree. I have yet to meet a man who identifies as such to redily agree to such circumstances.
I have met a number of crossdressers and transvestites most interested in my breast developement,BUT, when they are informed that in order to realistically achieve that they will have to surrender their male erections, how quickly they loose any interest. That being said for me I think the first 4 items work fairly well in weeding out the males.

  Many claim to be transexual but always find all kinds of lame excuses NOT to transition. I suppose I should explain that I think anyone who is really transexual will transiton as the pressure simply builds to the point where one can no longer deny it to themselves. If someone is not in the state of transition then I think of them as having transexual tendencies, but not actually being transexual. Transition is a healing process is it not. Given that it is a healing process the hopefully the outcome will be a cure or very near to it.

  Like it or not bi-lateral orchiectomies and non-radical hystorectomies are the gender altering operations whether they are part of the SRS experience or not. Orchies are not all the expensive and very inexpensive relative to the cost of SRS in general. I think that the average TS can likely afford to have it performed.

  My disclaimer at the begining of my post stated quite clearly that these criteria are what I use personally. I have simply run into to many fakes and phonies and several predators as well. For me actions speak much louder then words. My criteria may be somewhat tight and narrow but I find that it works for me.

Byee,
  Brina

Quote from: brina on November 22, 2006, 10:17:07 PM
Hiee Steph,

  Yes the club is exclusionary. There are simply to dammed many phonies on the internet and in these types of groups. ....

But Brina by this statement are you yourself becoming one of those gate keepers you despise so much?  Like those at the Clarke for instance, who do their best to make sure that a person gets the diagnosis first before allowing a person through the gate?

Steph

Hiee Steph,

  I certainly hope not otherwise I suppose I am becoming cold and callous like a number of other TS's I have met over time. The only real control the gatekeepers have now is over surgory and even that is diminished by the Thailand option. I simply DO NOT enjoy being in the company of men who pretend for a short while to be woman, and when they have had their fix, resort back to being men and more often then not impede my rights to gender equality or worse. Like I said I know my criteria are tight and narrow, but consider them to be MY safeguards for self-preservation.

Byee,
  Brina

Quote from: Nero on August 27, 2006, 10:23:48 AM

Quote from: elleane on January 14, 1970, 03:17:47 AM

If you are suggesting that one is 'born into the wrong body'; that somehow one's physical attributes are incorrect and that surgical alteration is the solution, then in my mind that lies far nearer body dysmorphia than gender dysphoria. 
(and yes I'm aware of the body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community, to dispute this notion)

elleane
xxx

If a man was born with a third leg and wished it removed, would he be accused of body dysmorphia?

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM

Quote from: Emerald on August 27, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

I too strongly disagree with that statement.
TS in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures may be more content with their place in that society, but I highly doubt they are more content with their bodies.
Even if the world saw me as a man, I would still feel great distress over the fact I have breasts.
Example: I bind, concealing them from all eyes but my own, and yet I still want a masectomy.
Not for society, but for my own well-being.

Quote from: Emerald on August 27, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
  Transsexual people who live in more accepting and/or enlightened cultures have less dysphoria and are more content with their bodies and lives.

I vote for the removal of this statement.

Nero

ok wait a sec....

I understand that no amount of open culture removes the underlying problem however the open acceptance within other cultures at the very least allows a TS individual to stop hiding and so many of you in one way or another have spoken of the despair of *keeping the secret* and the mental anguish is unhealthy for anyone. So that being said, there is some value to the statement IMHO.

To sum up my general feelings on this topic I will steal a line that was said in Transamerica "Isn't funny how a cosmetic surgery cures my mental illness?" Mull it over for a minute or two.

Quote from: Renae.Lupini on May 24, 2007, 09:30:32 PM
To sum up my general feelings on this topic I will steal a line that was said in Transamerica "Isn't funny how a cosmetic surgery cures my mental illness?" Mull it over for a minute or two.

Hmmmm...yeah, but you have to understand that some of us don't consider SRS to be a cosmetic procedure.  For some of us, it is a necessity, a second chance to keep on living... :)

tink :icon_chick:

Before I post my next question I do want to make it abundantly clear that I do not discount anyone's chosen path to self-discovery. I merely offer questions and comments to provoke thoughts outside of the everyday TS box. Do not take offense to what I say.

Are saying that by having a vagina then a person is in fact a woman and solely due to the fact of having a vagina?

The reason I say GRS is cosmetic is that it is simply turning one body part into something different. There is nothing mentally entailed with a GRS procedure. The only part that deal with the mental aspects is a person's own perception of who they are. From my point of view, I was not born with a mental disorder but with a birth defect. Having the birth defect removed would be the reason for GRS thus making it a cosmetic procedure.  ;)

QuoteAre saying that by having a vagina then a person is in fact a woman and solely due to the fact of having a vagina?

No, I'm merely saying that for some of us, having a body that matches who we are on the inside is the reason for our existence.  True, medically, SRS is viewed as a cosmetic procedure (that's the reason why we have to pay for it in most instances), but emotionally speaking (at least, in my case), the entire experience of having an anatomy congruent with my gender goes much deeper than a correction of a birth defect since the entire aspect of the surgery pertains to my indentity as an individual, a very painful struggle which I have had to endure since I can remember. 

Furthermore and IMHO, I don't believe that there's anything in life which we can compare with GID, for transsexualism is (IMO) the most difficult, painful path in humanity anyone can endure. 

BTW  I know that everyone has their own opinion based on their individual experiences, and I, of course, respect them.  :)

tink :icon_chick:

as do I and will leave well enough alone.

Quote from: Tink on May 24, 2007, 09:33:24 PM

Hmmmm...yeah, but you have to understand that some of us dont consider SRS to be a cosmetic procedure.  For some of us, it is a necessity, a second chance to keep on living... :)

tink :icon_chick:

Quote from: Tinkfor some of us, having a body that matches who we are on the inside is the reason for our existence.  True, medically, SRS is viewed as a cosmetic procedure (thats the reason why we have to pay for it in most instances), but emotionally speaking (at least, in my case), the entire experience of having an anatomy congruent with my gender goes much deeper than a correction of a birth defect since the entire aspect of the surgery pertains to my indentity as an individual, a very painful struggle which I have had to endure since I can remember.

Furthermore and IMHO, I dont believe that there is anything in life which we can compare with GID, for transsexualism is (IMO) the most difficult, painful path in humanity anyone can endure.

Alas my answer to a poll that I have just answered:

QuoteAcute GID - I have unrelenting GID, obtaining SRS is an absolutely necessity to resolve my situation.

I concur, Tink because I wholly understand.  :)

Quote from: Tink on May 24, 2007, 10:26:15 PM

Furthermore and IMHO, I don't believe that there's anything in life which we can compare with GID, for transsexualism is (IMO) the most difficult, painful path in humanity anyone can endure. 

Is being TS really as difficult as we all want it to be or do we make it harder than it has to be?

I am not pointing fingers. I am simply asking questions.

Quote from: Renae Lupini on May 26, 2007, 02:33:23 PM

Quote from: Tink on May 24, 2007, 10:26:15 PM

Furthermore and IMHO, I don\'t believe that there\'s anything in life which we can compare with GID, for transsexualism is (IMO) the most difficult, painful path in humanity anyone can endure. 

Is being TS really as difficult as we all want it to be or do we make it harder than it has to be?

I am not pointing fingers. I am simply asking questions.

It is to me.  If I didnt have to deal with any of this, my life would be more simplistic and less excruciating. 

QuoteWhat is a transsexual?

A very unhappy person that has been denied life since birth.

A transsexual is an automaton until the day he/she breaks free.

I don't think being TS/having GID is the worst thing that can happen.

There is treatment available that can make things much easier for us (HRT+SRS). Would someone here be rather wholly paralyzed and spend the rest of their time in a hospital? I think that would be worse from a personal perspective.

Quote from: Fer on May 26, 2007, 02:07:32 PM

Quote from: Tink on May 24, 2007, 09:33:24 PM

Hmmmm...yeah, but you have to understand that some of us dont consider SRS to be a cosmetic procedure.  For some of us, it is a necessity, a second chance to keep on living... :)

tink :icon_chick:

Alas my answer to a poll that I have just answered:

QuoteAcute GID - I have unrelenting GID, obtaining SRS is an absolutely necessity to resolve my situation.

I concur, Tink because I wholly understand.  :)

This is the deal folks, having [unrelenting] gid is a....ahem...disgrace. hence, if you don't suffer from [unrelenting] gid, you'll never understand why some ts women feel the way they do.  believe me, if there were another option for me, i'd take it in the blink of an eye, yet there isn't.  i can't think of anything that could be worse than [unrelenting] gid either.  being burnt alive maybe? death? i guess my questions will remain unanswered since i've never been dead or burnt alive.

Being transsexual isn't all that bad. It is the social stigma's which society places on us that mess us up and make it bad.

My $.02

Quote from: Renae Lupini on May 27, 2007, 08:09:04 AM
Being transsexual isn't all that bad. It is the social stigma's which society places on us that mess us up and make it bad.

My $.02

My opinion as well.

I have seen people suffer from bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia, trust me, those are much much worse, and you are considered lucky if that can be treated even partially. 

Being transsexual is something that may be tough to face, but easily treated.  In many cases it is social stigma and fear that hold us back from facing these issues, as well as having a negative impact on our life.   

Quote from: Amy T. on June 01, 2007, 01:24:43 PM
Being transsexual is something that may be tough to face, but easily treated.  In many cases it is social stigma and fear that hold us back from facing these issues, as well as having a negative impact on our life.   

Exactly. And I'm beginning to think most of the "social stigma" that kept me imprisoned for so long existed mostly in my head, a projection of my own insecurities and fears.

I don't think it's the worst thing possible. I actually owe a LOT to growing up with this struggle... it's taught me things, pushed me to look at the world in ways I may have missed otherwise. I've always said that my favorite taste and mood is best described as "bittersweet," and TSism certainly has given me a bittersweet life. There's a certain tragic beauty to being TS. I look around and see how lost many people are, how they spend their lives searching for meaning, for a purpose. I've never had to do that, my purpose and destiny was always right there, in my face, pushing me every second of every day since the day I was born.

That's tragic.. but it's beautiful too.

~Kate~

Quote from: taru on May 27, 2007, 02:55:21 AM
I don't think being TS/having GID is the worst thing that can happen.

There is treatment available that can make things much easier for us (HRT+SRS). Would someone here be rather wholly paralyzed and spend the rest of their time in a hospital? I think that would be worse from a personal perspective.

Quote from: Amy T. on June 01, 2007, 01:24:43 PM

Quote from: Renae Lupini on May 27, 2007, 08:09:04 AM
Being transsexual isn't all that bad. It is the social stigma's which society places on us that mess us up and make it bad.

My $.02

My opinion as well.

I have seen people suffer from bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia, trust me, those are much much worse, and you are considered lucky if that can be treated even partially. 

Being transsexual is something that may be tough to face, but easily treated.  In many cases it is social stigma and fear that hold us back from facing these issues, as well as having a negative impact on our life.   

I don't feel this way. Parapalegics and schizophrenics are not denied their very identity. (I've known a schizophrenic, too and I agree it is very sad) Of course these things are great hardships, but these people don't have to face being told they are someone they are not every moment of their life. When I tell people who I am, I am called a liar or delusional. I would rather be born a disabled man in a wheelchair than be born female and have to live out my whole life as someone I am not.
That's just how I feel. That is the degree of my dysphoria.
Yes, I think it is the worst thing possible a human could ever be born with.

Just my own feelings.

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM

I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

Absolutely spot on Kate.....for me it's got nothing to do with clothes (If I look like a genetic female in a boiler suit I'm reaching my goal). Too many generalisations are made on the subject and many variations of people end up under the 'transsexual' banner... that may or may not be suffering from gender dysphoria..

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM
I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

So you would have no problem living as a man with a female body?

Edit: Fixed quotes ~ Kate

Quote from: asiangurliee on July 29, 2007, 03:19:33 PM

Quote from: Kate on August 27, 2006, 02:06:48 AM
I strongly disagree with this. For me at least, the unavoidable fact that I'm not physically female is the source of my dysphoria. No amount of freedom regarding gender expression or roles will cure my problem. Even if society let me crossdress and act feminine for the rest of my life - I'd still be miserable inside. I have no specific desire to be a "woman" (culturally defined female role). I do however feel a compulsion to be female.

So you would have no problem living as a man with a female body?

LOL, who WAS that naive, silly Kate girl from a year ago?

I've done a LOT of backpedaling with things I've said this last year. I think my point back then was to say it wasn't *just* about freedom of expression; that even if I could act any way I wanted, it still wouldn't be enough. I needed the physical changes too.

But it's a package deal for me. I need to be both physically female (however I define that) AND socially female. One just can't stand without the other for me. I need the female LIFE, which is more than the sum of it's parts (physical and social).

So no, I can't live as a man socially. I never DID though, not really, though it wasn't due to being feminine or anything. People just seemed to always see through my facade, which scared me half to death. In fact, my wife tried to insist I didn't need to transition physically because she said I already had the life I wanted: to be treated as a female by people.

But it wasn't enough. Sooner or later, Facts would override Truth.

So now the physical changes are coming into place, but I'm struggling to grow up into a woman now at age 43. But I need it SO badly... so unbelievably, heartbreakingly badly...

I'm trying though. I really am ;)

~Kate~

Compulsion to be female is the right word.
Why would I take hormones at age 21 if
not to be female bodied.

I didn't think of the social dysphoria at that time.
It was centered on the physical,

Cross dressing only brought very mild relief and I
stopped doing it past the age of 20, but I did
dress quite androgynely and routinely confused
people.

A transsexual is a person that only has a mind but lacks a body.

Hi Katia

Ive never been dead or burned alive..... hmmmmmm, no I guess not because if your dead you don't have to worry about being burned alive.*->-bleeped-<- wit*, ;D Just pullin your leg hun.

Cindy 

Quote from: Tink on August 27, 2006, 04:39:18 AM
Oh...so many ideas of what we are or what we are not.  All I have to say is that I can only speak for myself and not for all the people out there who identify as transsexual.  I wish there were a solid definition that we all could relate to, unfortunately there isn't, and we, transsexuals, can only share what we personally experience, nothing more and nothing less, just that.

By the way, I don't like the term gender dysphoria either, so I will use the word TRANSSEXUALISM.  If I may, I have to say that I'd rather use the word transsexual instead of transgender.  Although I am aware that transsexuality has nothing to do with sex, to me TRANSSEXUAL implies that I am TRANScending from one sex to the other (anatomically speaking), and this is, in fact, true.  I have never changed my gender, for my gender has always been female, what I am changing is my physical sex to be congruent with my female gender.

Given that, to me, transsexualism is a state of conflict between my female gender and my physical sex.  And based on my own experience as a transsexual person, who has known her true gender since before the age of five, I can tell you that I was born into the wrong anatomy. I'm not suggesting it; I know.   I also know that this may seem impossible for some to comprehend, but just because we can't understand certain things, we can't conclude that they are not so. 

...If I were not able to have SRS,  I would be better six feet under.

tinkerbell :icon_chick:

It's an odd twist of fate that the term "transgender" was coined by a cross-dresser which, by definition also, is a heterosexual male who is not looking for GRS because they are not interested in being anything but a hetero male.  As Tink said above, it is not sexuality with which we have a problem, it is with our gender. 

I don't like gender dysphoria as a term, either.  Given what's left in the lexicon I will call myself transsexual, however, for me I will use "transsexuality" instead of "transsexualism." It reminds me too much of alcoholism, another condition I am dealing with.  I am transsexual and a recovering alcoholic, recovering from alcoholism, and recovering from transsexuality.

I provided the bold face type above because it is what is in my heart, too. 

Borrowed from Tink's quote above:  "...I have never changed my gender, for my gender has always been female, what I am changing is my physical sex to be congruent with my female gender. 

Therefore, I am transitioning female-to-female, says me.

Thank you for hearing me out.

Wing Walker
Flying By My Own Maps

These days there seems to be such a wide spectrum of people under the transsexual banner that there doesn't seem to be a true or definative definition. I prefer the term 'gender dysphoria' as some quaters of the general population still percieve transsexual as a another term for a transvestite.

Other dirivatives such as 'Transman' or 'Transwomen' to me sound rediculas and only seem to enphasise that 'this person is different or weird' and not normal and almost makes a person sound like a 'superhero' or an 'alien'. I personally can't stand the terminology.

I live as a normal female and I never use any of those titles and don't feel I ever should do. A transition is a transition from a male to a female or vise versa, not a transition from a male to a transwoman. What on earth is that? and who started the crazy 'transperson' terminology in the first place?

Hi Berliegh
I quite agree with you. I present myself as the short maturing sometimes funny lady I am, nothing else. Actually I am quite active mentally and physically for my age, so it's amazing to watch how people react to me out there. But I have not had a soul out there address me as anything else then Lady, Mam, Hon, Miss, Mrs, even the B word once etc. and I don't present as anything else then who I present except in a couple of TS message boards.

Cindy 

I wish this thread would quit popping up. I don't agree with the original post at all. Thank god it's no longer stickied!

Quote from: steph on August 27, 2006, 11:09:41 AM
I'm sorry but if feel that this is another example of those who do not understand TS/who cannot possibly be expected to understand what TS are, what makes us tick trying to define "Us".  I find it quite interesting that people have this need to explain to me how I feel, and how I should feel about my body, my mind and any other "thing" that causes my disphoria, if that is in fact what I have.

I think it is safe to say that we transsexuals have endured several hundred years of collective therapy and yet the only viable explanation is that "body of work that is oft quoted/referenced, largely by the TS community", and why shouldn't we as TS use that body of work.  I find the remark "Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us as to exactly what you mean.  " a little typical of someone who is not TS as "An implied incongruity between mind and body."  seems imply that we don't know what we are talking about.  Of course "The mind is not the body - the body is not the mind." we are talking about the congruency between the two (in agreement with, or in harmony with) that is the disphoria.

Steph

Amen to that, Sis!  You rock! 

Hugs!

Quote from: seldom on June 01, 2007, 01:24:43 PM
I have seen people suffer from bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia, trust me, those are much much worse, and you are considered lucky if that can be treated even partially. 

Being transsexual is something that may be tough to face, but easily treated.  In many cases it is social stigma and fear that hold us back from facing these issues, as well as having a negative impact on our life.

Actually, I would disagree.  And I'm not coming at this from some random PoV.  I have bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, and PTSD to go along with my "GID".  It's a lot easier to get a diagnosis of bipolar, etc (whatever else I have) just by going to the doctor and giving them your symptoms.  You don't have to be confused forever, forced in the wrong direction, told you're something you're not, and then try to rebel against socially dictated norms through a painful "transition" if you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  Yes, getting used to the medications is a pain in the butt and sometimes you get hospitalized and it's especially horrid when there are co-morbid problems.  But you can end up dead due to problems with being trans just as you can from being bipolar... and you have to figure out that your trans on your own most of the time.

You are seen as abnormal if you have a mental disease, but FOR THE MOST PART people don't disown you, shut you out of their lives, etc. At least not in this day and age. Your parents and friends still love you and often try to do things to help you.  When you're trans, you can get shut out of everything that's important to you while simultaneously not even having a footing in life on which to hold.

Also, you can't be discriminated against for mental disease, but you can for "GID" (and I use quotes because I don't think my identity is a disorder).

All in all, being trans has consumed a lot more of my brain power, made me a lot more confused, and complicated my already weird enough mental problems.  GID has made all aspects of my childhood and adolescence miserable, where as my mental illnesses only permeated certain arenas.

I will not give a perspective on schizophrenia because I do not have it and don't want to offend anyone dealing with that issue.