Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Yes I realize this is a weird question! But, if you think about it, would it be the same for them?  They would know that they were either a male or female, but...how would they have GID?  I know this may seem ignorant but I've just never thought about it before.

What do you guys think?

this is probably the most ignorant question i've seen posted on this forum.

No I don't mean for it to be ignorant! I'm just trying to conceptualize it you know?  Because if blind people can't see...you know...I mean I just don't know! I'm not trying to be mean..

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmcguff1.googlepages.com%2FObamaFacepalm.jpg&hash=2f8b55895f161c9df199f5abd2fc7fdda522d28b)

That was total uncalled for, especially to a visitor. Mister

And to responded properly, why couldn't they?

Janet

Quote from: Janet Lynn on June 22, 2009, 01:03:38 AM
That was total uncalled for, especially to a visitor. Mister

And to responded properly, why couldn't they?

Janet

Uh...  it's ignorant.  no buts about it.  clear and dry pure ignorance.

Quote from: Mister on June 22, 2009, 01:04:54 AM
Uh...  it's ignorant.  no buts about it.  clear and dry pure ignorance.

Even if it is, there's no need to look down on others for not knowing yet...

And so was your comment.  Even if you think so, you really need to be less offensive.

Janet

Quote from: antarcticsake on June 22, 2009, 01:05:57 AM
Even if it is, there's no need to look down on others for not knowing yet...

For not knowing basic respect?  I'm pretty sure that's a prerequisite.

Possibly maybe, even if they were blind they will grow up knowing they are female or male because of their body, hearing, hormones and all. They know the difference between male and female, since seeing isn't the only sense.

I can't see why not. Blind folks have feelings too. Maybe some may wish to transition also

Let me break it own for you.

Not everyone who is blind can see nothing at all.  Being 'legally blind' means you still retain some sight.
Not everyone who is blind has always had affected sight.

I don't think the OP meant harm by this question, but it's like asking "Can mentally disable people love?"

Quote from: Paulina on June 22, 2009, 01:27:46 AM
I don't think the OP meant harm by this question, but it's like asking "Can mentally disable people love?"

No harm, just serious social foul.

I was temporarrilly blinded by an incident that occurred when I was younger. It scared the stuff out of me to think that I might never see again. My sight never fully returned and I wear glasses now. I'm just glad that most of my sight returned

I've heard this asked before, and I have to say that honestly this question is  offensive. Even though I know it wasn't meant that way. Not scolding you, I know you didn't mean any harm. GID is not only about sight. At night in the dark, can you not feel your own body? Touch it? And in blind people the other senses are usually well heightened and practiced.
GID has more than one component: it is physical and social. A blind transman can still feel his breasts and period. He still knows when people call him 'ma'am'. A blind transwoman can still feel her erections and body hair.
Now granted, some of the pain may or not be lessened by not having to actually see all this for themselves. Or not.

Quote from: Jessica Oz on June 22, 2009, 01:38:28 AMAs for iggnorance, most people are iggnorant on a subject until they gain the knowledge regarding that subject, so to ask a question may appear iggnorant but learning the facts about that subject makes that person no longer iggnorant.

In my opinion, being truly iggnorant is to refuse to learn about something, but acting like you know all about it.

This.

No one is born knowing everything.  If someone has a genuine and non-malicious question, what are they supposed to do?  Not ask, and remain ignorant?  How is asking a question 'lacking respect?'  Where else is he supposed to learn?  Remaining willfully ignorant is lightyears worse.  At least he knows what he doesn't know and isn't afraid to admit it, which is a lot more than I can say for many people. 

Most of the people here, of course, have a lot of knowledge of GID.  But the fact remains that most of the world is not as well-versed, which leads to "offensive" questions like this, which in fact are just born out of ignorance- which the OP admitted.  We can either bash all the ignorant people and push them away, or we can answer their questions, help them learn, and thus make the number of people who understand what GID is grow larger.  But if they haven't experienced it themselves, of course they're not going to have a perfect knowledge of what exactly it entails.  Trust me, I'm sure I've asked my gf some pretty stupid questions, myself.

But you know?  I don't mind when people ask me dumb questions about being gay, as long as they're genuine.  Because at least they want to learn.  That counts for a hell of a lot.

Let's not bash this person for having the guts to ask a simple question.  Let's instead operate under the "There are no stupid questions" state of mind.  It is the most productive, and the most conducive to actual learning.

Now, for the question.  Even someone who is completely blind, would still be able to tell that they are a certain gender, and would still know of the differences between genders.  Vision is not the only way you experience life or gain knowledge of the world, after all.  Completely blind people might not have the whole "wrong face in the mirror" experience, but they could experience other feelings associated with GID.  For example, a ftm would still be able to tell that he had breasts and that they shouldn't be there.  He doesn't need a mirror for that.  Etc.

I have a friend who was totally blind from birth. She never ever saw what she looked like or what anyone else looked like, yet she still knew she was female and, being straight, she still fell in love with a man, a few men, in fact. IOW her blindness did not stop her feeling and acting like the straight woman she is. No-one would consider it strange that someone like her would be this way, so it should not be strange to also expect a blind lesbian to fall for another woman or for a TG person to feel GID. We are far more than just what one of our senses tell us we are.

I have to disagree with much of what was written in here. Nero is right about having seen this question before. Either Kate or I brought this up years ago. I think it is a very valid question I think some people here are just being flat rude about being offended. I understand that the part, "how would they have GID"  could be offensive to some, but sheesh. Lighten up already. 

To the OP, antarticsake, I say this. I finally decided that  you are born with GID and you would still have GID whether you are blind or deaf or both. But I cannot help but to wonder if it would be as severe. I know certainly seeing women everyday really helps push me over the edge. It certainly raises my level of GID to dangerous levels. If I could not see, maybe it would still be bad enough to force a transition but I don't know if I would have the same level of depression. Seeing is believing. For me, this is something deep inside that has nothing to do with whether I can see or not. The problem is much deeper in my brain. Its about feeling my body, my skin, breasts, curves. Its about feeling feminine, smelling feminine, and being feminine, all of those things I can do with my eyes closed.

I think it is a very good question and I also think it really makes people stop and think. Having GID has very little to do with me having sight.

To actually answer the question, instead of just pummeling the questioner, yes.  I know a blind person who transitioned, so I'm pretty sure you can be blind and have GID.

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,16977.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,16977.0.html)

Wow, a post and some answer without the snarky reply from the overly sensitive.

Ok...
thanks for the people that have understood this was my first time pondering the question.
to those of you who are so rude, please understand that not everybody can attain the level of knowledge that you have and that yes, even YOU are ignorant in other areas! So spare us some humility and get a damn life and waste your precious anger on something else...

Quote from: antarcticsake on June 22, 2009, 09:47:24 PM
Ok...
thanks for the people that have understood this was my first time pondering the question.
to those of you who are so rude, please understand that not everybody can attain the level of knowledge that you have and that yes, even YOU are ignorant in other areas! So spare us some humility and get a damn life and waste your precious anger on something else...

Hi antarctic.
I think the question causes a gut reaction. At first glance, it reads like perhaps GID is such a frivolous condition that's only about people dissatisfied with their looks. That was my first thought. I thought the exact same thing when another poster asked it in the link provided (especially given that the person was not TS themselves). I and perhaps others haven't known you long enough to remember whether you are transsexual or not, so it was a gut reaction.
That's just how I felt when I saw the question. Right or wrong. I realize now you didn't mean any harm.

Oh I understand what you mean.
I believe I am MTF but I'm still trying to investigate it further.A LOTTT of social pressure and internalized fear!
So we shall see.
I'm trying to see for myself lol.

Just be who you are inside  :) Welcome to Susan's