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 

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

.

tinkerbell

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. 
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 

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...

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

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

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