Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I was talking to a friend of mine up North and she said that she had many friends who were gender challenged and that an alarming number of them had father's with military backgrounds of some sort. I thought that was pretty fascinating and would be curious to see how Susan's members would be. Thanks, Meghan

hmmm, let's see where this is going.....

No one in my family (besides my long deceased grandfathers) has been in the military.

I hate to throw a wrench in the works, but no, he wasn't. Nobody in my family until my 1 year older brother and myself was or has ever been in the military. My father was an avid hunter and gun collector though. Reloaded his own ammunition and butchered the meat himself. I'm not sure if that applies but then again...I'm unique just like everybody else. I am certainly gender challenged though.

I was in the military so if my son turns out to be "gender challenged" as well, we may be on to something here.

Lori, that's what I want to see, if there's any trends. Maybe the trend would be that kids with either with Dads who were in the military or weren't in the military tend to answer polls more often, thus throwing my scientific poll out the window  ;D

Quote from: MeghanAndrews on May 18, 2008, 08:48:30 AM
Lori, that's what I want to see, if there's any trends. Maybe the trend would be that kids with either with Dads who were in the military or weren't in the military tend to answer polls more often, thus throwing my scientific poll out the window  ;D

We have gone over many trends in the past here and there seems to always be somebody that bucks the trend. On average TS appear to be more intelligent. Seem to be into some geek related field (ie computers whether its programming, building, networking, repairing, whatever) and many appear to play guitar or have dabbled in guitar playing. Many seem to be in bands as well. Most seem to know at an early age, or at least know they are different, but yet many have different backgrounds and upbringings. It would be nice to find that one "smoking gun" thing to point to and say "ah ha!" that's it. If you have or do this...you are TS.

Good luck, most are still trying to find that.

Nooo, there's no smoking gun, I'm sure. I'm convinced that we'll never know in our lifetime what causes TS. It doesn't matter anyway, not like it really changes anything for any of us.

Quote from: MeghanAndrews on May 18, 2008, 09:58:34 AM
Nooo, there's no smoking gun, I'm sure. I'm convinced that we'll never know in our lifetime what causes TS. It doesn't matter anyway, not like it really changes anything for any of us.

No it doesn't change any thing, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I'm very interested in polls like this for the same reason most are. We would like to know why. In the event we stumble across something it would sure help every body else in the future. Don't give up....there may be a smoking gun. We don't know. If any thing, its fun to probe.

My father served in the navy long before I was born, but it didn't affect my life in any obvious way. It had mostly been forgotten by the time I came around.

~Kate~

I'm the first in my family to have military experience so I don't fit the trend unless you look at the techie type jobs. I worked as a tech on communication/navigation equipment for 14 years.

Karen Lyn

My father served in the Navy during WWII. He was out of the service when I was born. Actually, I really never knew my father.
Sheila

ok, i fit the poll to a certain varying degree, my dad served in the air force(my choice too if forced), dad's dad served in the army along with my uncles on that side, grandpa on the other side also served in the miltary(army?), my uncle served in the navy. my dad retired from being a corrections officer after 23 years because he was forced to and still tries to find jobs working in security.


Warrior Princess,
Mickie

I think it's quite unrelated and a US-only case. If you take a look, most people in the US have a relative who was or is in the military. With billions of dollars being poured into the military by every president and congress, it's usually more profitable for one and one's family to pursue a career in the military rather than in, say, education. Check out "Why we fight" for the pervasiveness of the military in US society.

My stepdad is a computer engineer and my father makes candy, by the way.

In my generation almost every father had military experience.  WWII.

I had military experience, Draft.

Sarah L.

No, my dad would not take orders from anyone... :icon_no:

gina

My great-grandfather (my father's father's father) came to the United States from Germany in 1848. Neither he, nor my father's father, nor my father, nor I, nor my 38-year-old son had military experience. My Dad was too old for WWII by days, as was I for Viet Nam. One of my mother's brothers was tail-gunner on a bomber during WWII, and another served in Germany during peacetime (the late 1950s). That's it for my family.

My father's mother and his sister were very active in the Women's International League for Peace and Justice (i.e., they were pacifists).

If it matters for the purposes of this poll, I am androgyne. Nero says we're mild mannered anyway.  :)

Peace,
S

No, but my grandpa does.

I was a computer programmer for thirty years.

S

no.

Nope,

My brother and I are the first.

I had a uncle who was in the Navy Seals before marrying into my family, but that was before I was born anyway so it would have no effect on me, especially sense I only see them around holidays lol.

-Chelsea
xoxoxoxo

My father was 4F.  My 3 uncles were in the army in WWII but too late to see action.

In three weeks, I will turn 71 and complete 52 years either in (24, including the Naval Academy years) or as a contractor (28) supporting the Navy.  Tomorrow morning, I will drive to the office in Virginia and work on common assessment procedures for submarines, surface ships and aircraft carriers, as well as specifications for a new big deck amphib, and a new management manual for Reliability Centered Maintenance.  Keeps me young and helps with retirement.

Robyn

Yes, WWII. But, it looks like the balance is going to "No."

My dad served a 2 year term in Korea. I believe he worked as an engineer in the service, radios, etc, not in combat. Then he went to collge on the GI Bill. I don't know about my grandparents.

Z

Yes he did.  His military career started in the Navy in SA, but as I said on a different thread.  He's a Saint, not your typical macho, loud military person.


tink :icon_chick:

yes WWII
me and a buddy went to sign up for the draft but were told prez ford had cut it.

Just out of curiosity, where is this going?

BTW, both grandfathers, two uncles and a brother all do, but not dad.  Guess that doesn't count.

Kristi

Yes both of my parents have military experience. They met in basic training. Awwww.

My father, no way in hell was he going military, he avoided it like the plague.

My grandfather (dad's side) was a drill instructor for the Marines during Vietnam (he went the full 20 to retire). He was the reason my dad would not. They did not exactly get along.


However, I was Air Force (just under 5 years).
My other grandfather (mom's side) was 4F and could not join, but would have for WW2.
My uncle (mom's side) tried Marines but was tossed out just after basic. His brother, may have also but I am not sure. If he did, he went a full 4 years.

I think the link would be 'absent father figure' rather than 'military.'

Since, you know, being deployed rather removes you from your child's life.

My father's a scientist who i can't really call having been a father figure. We'd play around when I was a kid and something would go wrong and I'd get upset or frustrated and he'd get frustrated and back off.

Of course, he's an immaculate father figure when it comes to endlessly providing for his family. I can't express how much I respect his putting up with my mother and myself and how much I recognize that my life is as good as it is solely because of him.

My dad was a physician in the Army reserves.  Held the rank of major.  He left teh military back in the 70's.

I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol (US Air Force Auxilery).  Captain.  I would still be in if the closest squadron wasn't 45 minutes one way!

Chaunte

These threads always seem to result in a "gee, what a representative cross section of society we are" feeling for me.

I have no idea where this post is going, lol. I'm really good at starting posts but letting them go on and on without guiding them in the right direction. Sorry about that. I wasn't trying to prove a point or anything, just an observation someone I knew made so I figured I'd see if it was accurate or not  ;D

Yes he served in the army.

My Dad served during WWII in the Army.  No one else has had any service,  I am 4F because of back trouble.

Perhaps a better question for the poll would be "Did your father make a career of the military?" 

Serving in the military influences all who have done it, some more so than others.  The four years that I served in the Coast Guard served me well.  A friend of mine retired from the Navy as a chief petty officer and he and his wife have three children.  He tells me that his home is run like the military.  There is a definite schedule for waking, baths, meals, and lights out.  He and his like it that way.

I have no idea if any of his kids are showing TS tendencies.

Wing Walker

Here's my two cents worth. I found this to be a very interesting topic so I looked up some statistics online and played around with some possibilities.

From this survey, it appears that approximately 40% of those who responded had fathers in the military while 60% did not have fathers in the military. Is this 40% a greater percentage than would be expected in the population at large?

For sake of simplicity, even if we assume that all who responded are US citizens (probably not true) and that this is an unbiased sample (maybe not true), this is not an easy question to answer.

The weighted average of Total United States Military Recruits: Army, Navy, Air Force (per capita) is 1 per 2,000 people (or about .05% of the population). Males make up about 80% of the military. So males in the military make up about .04% of the US population.

To examine just the fathers eligible to serve in the military, we would have to rule out about 25% of the US citizens who are under 18 years old and cannot serve, all females over 18 years old - about 38% population, and all the males over 18 who are not fathers - about 17% of the population. So now we are talking about 100% - (25% + 38% + 17%) = 20% of the US population are fathers who could potentially serve in the military.

While males in the military make up about .04% of the population, it is likely that about 5x's that many fathers are military fathers. So about .02% of all fathers are military fathers. If this is correct, then the 40% found here is considerably larger than the .02% expected in the population at large.

My father was in the army during WWII, but he kind of got a reputation as a trouble-maker.  He was a corporal, but got busted back to private after an incident when he was stationed in Madison, Wisconsin.  There was a 90-day Wonder that was particularly hated by the men in his platoon.  This type tended to be picky about being saluted, whereas the carreer officers were not.  So one day when all of his men had to drag themselves to attention, my father gave a command under his breath, "All together, but not too loud."  They all ended their salute with the words, "F*** you!"  I understand the officer was livid.

Quote from: feliciahawthorn on May 20, 2008, 01:49:28 AM
While males in the military make up about .04% of the population, it is likely that about 5x's that many fathers are military fathers. So about .02% of all fathers are military fathers. If this is correct, then the 40% found here is considerably larger than the .02% expected in the population at large.

The problem with your analysis is you need to find the percentage of people who have fathers who were ever in the military, not who are in the military now.

Quote from: feliciahawthorn on May 20, 2008, 01:49:28 AM
Here's my two cents worth. I found this to be a very interesting topic so I looked up some statistics online and played around with some possibilities.

From this survey, it appears that approximately 40% of those who responded had fathers in the military while 60% did not have fathers in the military. Is this 40% a greater percentage than would be expected in the population at large?

For sake of simplicity, even if we assume that all who responded are US citizens (probably not true) and that this is an unbiased sample (maybe not true), this is not an easy question to answer.

The weighted average of Total United States Military Recruits: Army, Navy, Air Force (per capita) is 1 per 2,000 people (or about .05% of the population). Males make up about 80% of the military. So males in the military make up about .04% of the US population.

To examine just the fathers eligible to serve in the military, we would have to rule out about 25% of the US citizens who are under 18 years old and cannot serve, all females over 18 years old - about 38% population, and all the males over 18 who are not fathers - about 17% of the population. So now we are talking about 100% - (25% + 38% + 17%) = 20% of the US population are fathers who could potentially serve in the military.

While males in the military make up about .04% of the population, it is likely that about 5x's that many fathers are military fathers. So about .02% of all fathers are military fathers. If this is correct, then the 40% found here is considerably larger than the .02% expected in the population at large.

Considering there are more per capita LGBT in the military than the general population as well (many trying to "fix" themselves), there is probably more about our parents than we are aware of. I don't remember the actual stats on the percentage, or where I saw, it but it is much higher.

Yes.

Hum...Both my parents served in the Air force. 

Beni

Yes, my Father was a Paratrooper.

I still think he was mad, who the hell in their right mind would jump out of planes.

Buffy

Quote from: Buffy on May 22, 2008, 11:09:03 PM
I still think he was mad, who the hell in their right mind would jump out of planes.

My 4x great grandfather was in the Continental Army, my great great grandfather was in the Confederate Army, my great grandfather was US Army during the Spanish-American war, grandfather was US Army during WWI, my father was career army 1942-45 and 1947-1967.  My brother was career army 82nd Airborne (Panama, Grenada, Iraq the first time).  So not only my father but darn near all my ancestors.  FWIW, I ducked during 'Nam and spent my time floating around on a B1rd Farm.

Buffy, I always told my brother only a fool jumps out of a perfectly good aircraft.  His reply was the Air Force took them everywhere and they didn't have any perfectly good aircraft. ::)

Beverly

My Dad became a 1st lieutenant in the Army through ROTC, and after graduation served two years during peacetime, during the Eisenhower administration. He did his 2-year tour of service in San Francisco. Not bad, huh. His father had fought in WWI. His older brothers fought in WWII, but my Dad was just a kid then. He lucked out, coming of age in the years between Korea and Vietnam. His service was over and done with before I was born, so absentee parenting wasn't an issue.

On my mother's side of the family, I'm descended from a Revolutionary War officer. Wouldn't it be a hoot if I joined the DAR...

I, on the other hand, grew up a civilian peacenik hippie. I've worked for the Defense Department, but only as a civilian contractor. No way could anyone ever have gotten me into a uniform.

What's any of that got to do with transgender?

Posted on: May 26, 2008, 01:11:18 AM

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Quote from: Wing Walker on May 20, 2008, 12:38:37 AMA friend of mine retired from the Navy as a chief petty officer and he and his wife have three children.  He tells me that his home is run like the military.  There is a definite schedule for waking, baths, meals, and lights out.  He and his like it that way.

This reminds me of Commander Von Trapp regulating his kids' every action with that navy whistle.

no. but my grandad was one of the first members of the refounded SAS in the 50s.

Quote from: Hypatia on May 26, 2008, 01:26:56 AM
On my mother's side of the family, I'm descended from a Revolutionary War officer. Wouldn't it be a hoot if I joined the DAR...

I thought about that at one time.  Even wrote them a letter.  Never heard back.

Quote from: Lisbeth on May 26, 2008, 08:32:45 AMI thought about that at one time.  Even wrote them a letter.  Never heard back.

Want to try? Here you go... http://services.dar.org/dar/darnet/pmd/prospective.cfm

I don't think there's any more correlation here than if your father was a preacher, cop, CEO, or anything else. Seems like fishing for cause and effect where this is none.

Lol, it's funny how many people took this poll to mean more than it did. I wasn't "fishing" for anything, just curious how many other people grew up in a military family. That's it. Poll dead.

Both my parents were in the army.  They met and married there, and my father was still serving when I was born on an army base.

My dad has. The draft, I think.

Did Your Father Have Military Experience?  No he didn't

Just like, my great grandfather...long long time ago. he's dead now though.

My great grandfather on my dad's side, yes.  My mom's dad, yes.  Anyone other than that, I honestly have no idea.  But my dad never served. :)

My father wasn't in the military, but almost everyone else in my family was. All my grandfathers, and quite a few uncles. Some grandmothers, too.

My father reluctantly did national service in the 1950s.

He had just started up is own business when he was notified he had to signup for it.

my dad was a combat medic in viet nam.  joined as a private.  rtd. as a flight surgeon and major.  his dad was stationed on uss missouri in ww2.  my uncle was marine in nam.  2great great grandads in civil war, one at rest on lookout mountain.  ane ggrandpa a southern baptist minister, 1 a deacon.  sev great uncles in france in ww1 and ww2.
     srry for bad typing. doing nails.

My father had no military experience.  My grandfather was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed.  He told me about it.

*raises paw* My daddy was. He got honourably(sp?) discharged though. Cause of differences between his moral and the army's moral. But, he was still an army man. I've been in school branches of the military myself. First Cadet Corps and then ROTC.

Again.. Iceland.. no military here what so ever..

Dad was a sailor though, from the day he turned 16. Before that he worked with boat-repair in dry-dock.
Old fashioned system.
He worked every day of his life and is built like a tank for it.