Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transgender talk => Topic started by: navygirl on May 11, 2015, 09:46:37 PM

Title: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: navygirl on May 11, 2015, 09:46:37 PM
Hi guys and gals, new here, hoping to get some opinions... I am curious how many people beleive that gender dysphoria can be due to circumstances. I have met lots of girls online that claim they have always felt like they were meant to be born as girls. The Nature argument.   Do you beleive that these feelings and desires to experince life as a woman can develope later in life and be related to specific circumstances in ones life, the Nurture argument.
Title: Re: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: Yenneffer on May 11, 2015, 09:52:38 PM
I believe its always with in you it just manifests later with others because of life/releationships
Title: Re: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: enigmaticrorschach on May 11, 2015, 09:56:59 PM
i dont think nurture comes into play as far as having it. sure nurture can come in because experiences can cause the dyphoria is accelerate but its more of a nature thing. its an inborn thing because you can't just one day wake up and say "i wanna be a girl or i wanna be a boy." however i'm not a doctor or a scientist so i can't honestly say for sure. all i know is that for me, its something i was born with.
Title: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: iKate on May 11, 2015, 10:21:45 PM
I grew up with my dad as my mom and dad divorced when I was little, yet I had very strong feminine feelings as a kid and as a teen. Even my mom when she first caught me dressing was shocked and scolded me. I wasn't close to my mom anyway.

The only "nurture" I had was from some of my dad's cousins who helped me dress as a kid (and I enjoyed it a lot.) But that was few and far between.

I also went to all boys schools.

So no, nurture doesn't seem to really be a part of my identity.

Nature seems to be. I do have some feminine characteristics such as the lack of a visible Adam's apple and a feminine carry angle. I've also had low T for a long while.
Title: Re: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: navygirl on May 11, 2015, 10:38:38 PM
thanks for the quick responses... I have also posted in the introductions section for anyone interested in learning a little more about me and why I feel it can be either nature or nurture... or even both.

Title: Re: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: kelly_aus on May 11, 2015, 10:43:04 PM
I don't believe it's nurture.. And the available research, limited as it is, tends to agree with me..
Title: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: Kitty June on May 11, 2015, 11:00:55 PM
I'd say nurture is the largest contributor to repression. Telling you to be a man, or woman, and fit in with society.
I have low t, my girlfriend has a more pronounced Adam's apple and my gate is only normal if I walk like a woman.
That last was a recent revelation lol.



Ella
Title: Re: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: LordKAT on May 11, 2015, 11:47:47 PM
I don't think nurture has anything to do with it. There are too many who know the feelings long before they can even express them.
Title: Re: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: suzifrommd on May 12, 2015, 06:47:09 AM
Quote from: navygirl on May 11, 2015, 09:46:37 PM
Hi guys and gals, new here, hoping to get some opinions... I am curious how many people beleive that gender dysphoria can be due to circumstances. I have met lots of girls online that claim they have always felt like they were meant to be born as girls. The Nature argument.   Do you beleive that these feelings and desires to experince life as a woman can develope later in life and be related to specific circumstances in ones life, the Nurture argument.

No one has ever found a shred of evidence that environment can cause someone to be trans.

On the contrary, brains of trans people have been proven to be different from brains of cisgender people of the same body sex. Certain assaults on the gestation process (DES babies, e.g.) can cause a baby to be born trans regardless of its upbringing.

So I'm am quite certain this is something we're born with.

That being said, being certain environmental factors may make it easier or harder to deal with being trans and may have an effect on whether a trans person needs to transition or can deal with dysphoria in some other way.
Title: Re: Nature vs. Nurture
Post by: Laura_7 on May 12, 2015, 07:21:27 AM
Quote from: suzifrommd on May 12, 2015, 06:47:09 AM
No one has ever found a shred of evidence that environment can cause someone to be trans.

On the contrary, brains of trans people have been proven to be different from brains of cisgender people of the same body sex. Certain assaults on the gestation process (DES babies, e.g.) can cause a baby to be born trans regardless of its upbringing.

So I'm am quite certain this is something we're born with.

That being said, being certain environmental factors may make it easier or harder to deal with being trans and may have an effect on whether a trans person needs to transition or can deal with dysphoria in some other way.
Yes.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,186458.msg1664590.html#msg1664590
Inside is a hint to a brochure with some pictures explaining, its easily understandable.
And it might help some with self acceptance.

People are individuals, with individual histories.

And people have transitioned at all ages.

Its a spectrum.
It might take some time, but I'd say keep at it.

A good  therapist should help you... maybe preferable a gender therapist... not a gatekeeper but a supportive person...if you feel they are not supportive you might look for another.
There was even another thread on online counseling.


hugs