The term ‘transgender’ is defined as an individual who believes that their gender identity does align with the biological sex for which was assigned at birth. It is critical to note that one’s gender and biological sex are two very different things. Biological Sex is derived from one’s anatomy, which essentially includes: genitals, chromosomes, and hormones. The ‘gender’ is derived from social/cultural stated norms; gender is also completely subjective from an individual standpoint to be speculated and influenced by society. To aid in differentiating these concepts, bring oneself back to the 1900s, were in an article (The Social Construction of Sexuality) by Seidman, he reveals that: “Some scientist believed that the homosexual was a type
Gender dysphoria, formerly referred to as gender identity disorder by Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by American Psychiatric Association 4th edition and earlier (American Psychiatric Association 2013; gender dysphoria fact sheet.pdf), is marked by irreconcilable differences in one’s biologically expressed gender and the preference for a cross-gender identity (American Psychiatric Association 2000; asset_upload_file155_30369.pdf). It is expressed as a varying level of discomfort living as a gender they do not identify themselves with, and may be distressing enough to undergo a gender reassignment surgery. The preoperational period – change of clothing, name and hormone therapy – which often precede such surgery, has had mixed results, with some reverting back to their biological gender, and others who move onto gender reassignment surgery stage (Green, R 2007; 1-s2.0-S1476179306005568-main.pdf).
Gender dysphoria, also known as transsexualism, is the incongruence between gender and biological sex. Biological males who are gender dysphoric receive treatment with estrogens and anti-androgens to become feminized, while gender dysphoric biological females will receive androgen treatments to become masculinized. Many adolescents diagnosed with this condition are given hormones to suppress puberty to make the process easier. Social marginalization and barriers to proper care are typical issues for people with gender dysphoria.
Gender Dysphoria is one of the most important issues associated with problems people have with their gender identity. Aspects of Gender Dysphoria include
Gender Dysphoria is a name given to the condition of children who express a gender that is opposite of their biologically given gender. Children and teens who present and verbalize the desire to be of the opposite gender for at least six months are then diagnosed and treated medically. This issue is ethically controversial due to many parents, medical doctors, mental professionals, and myself believing that biological gender identification is not fully understood until puberty has taken place, noticing that children are exposed to transgender terminology and situations on the internet that are persuasive and confusing, and being concerned about the medications used to treat a disorder that can barely be explained and is misunderstood. Medications such as hormone blockers and opposite-sex hormones have become readily available to them without any long term testing. Not only should parents, doctors, professionals, and society be concerned about the safety of these medications, we should be asking ourselves, is gender dysphoria even a medical condition that should be treated with drugs or is it a psychological disorder that should be treated with therapy? Gender Dysphoria is a condition in children and teens that the general population does not understand, however, after doing research I believe the definition of gender dysphoria is
Perhaps, you are asking yourself this question, what is gender dysphoria? I have the answer. Gender dysphoria is “ the diagnosis typically given to a person whose assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify.” However, let’s not confuse this with sexual orientation, this does not mean they are homosexual, this means they do not identify who they are as their given birth
In class, we have learned and discussed how during the period of adolescence, it is known that this is the period of time where individuals are finding themselves and figuring out where they belong. It is during this time where individuals are the most sensitive and personal problems tend to arise more commonly during this stage. A major issue adolescents struggle during this stage is gender identity and sexuality. Adolescents are trying to figure out who they are attracted to and how they perceive themselves to be. While the norm is to identify oneself as their biological gender, there are those who develop gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is a reoccurring feeling that one’s biological gender is the opposite of one’s sexual identity (Cole,
Living a life feeling out of place, with the wrong feelings, and in the wrong body, for a person with Gender Identity Disorder, this is how they feel day to day. According to the DSM-IV-TR, Gender Identity Disorder is characterized by a strong, persistent cross-gender identification, persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of inappropriateness in their gender role of that sex. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), children, adolescents and adults who exhibit a preoccupation with getting rid of or losing their primary and secondary sex characteristics, associated with different mannerisms and actions of the opposite sex; while holding a belief that he or she was born the wrong sex are believed to be classified
Every 8 seconds a new baby is born in the U.S. About 10,800 babies in a day, 75,600 every week, and close to 4 (3,931,200) million each year. However, out of those 4 million, 2 thousand, about 0.06% will grow up to identify themselves as transgender. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, they suffer from gender dysphoria, a condition in which there are incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender. This illness is accompanied by clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
“One’s sense of gender resides in the brain” (“Gender Identity Disorder”), and this sense of gender is often there before you are born. Dr. Eric Vilain, a professor at the University of California, “identifies fifty-four genes that play a role in the expression of sex in a fetus before hormones are even released” (Windfeild 71&73). One of the biggest mental health issues that are out there is gender identity disorder which “may be as old as humanity (“Gender identity Disorder”). This disorder cause a person, normally a kid, to have a feeling of being the opposite sex . Another reason people need to be aware of people who have gender identity disorder is because if they feel as if they are not safe they may turn to a thing like suicide. “Suicide attempts and substance abuse are common” (“GID”) in people with Gender Identity Disorder. This is so because they often grow up feeling out of place or rejected by family and friends. To help with the mental health of these people with GID people should learn more about
When people identify themselves as transgender, they are told they suffer from “gender identity disorder.” Gender identity disorder is defined as “a condition in which a person has been assigned one gender, usually on the basis of their birth, but identifies as belonging to another gender, and feels significant discomfort or being unable to deal with this condition” (Thomas, 2010). One of the leading symptoms of gender identity disorder is gender
I must start out by saying that this story has brought tears to my eyes and is so incredibly disheartening. I am angry at the parents for making such, in my opinion, a terrible decision in turning their baby boy, into a girl. It breaks my heart for him in that he was never given a choice or a chance at living a normal, happy life. I am not an expert on how to fix a penis if it is burned off, but I have to believe there was a better way.
They know it will not change throughout life. Even though children begin to see the difference of male and females, children born boys may feel and identify as girls and girls may feel and identify as boys. Parents might dismiss their child’s claim as a simple phase because of the expectations they have about their sons and daughters. However it is not a phase. Gender dysphoria, also known as gender identity disorder, is a condition of feeling one’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female to be opposite to one’s biological sex. Children with gender dysphoria are affected both psychologically and sociologically; however, with the proper diagnosis and treatment parents will have the knowledge to properly bring up a child with gender dysphoria. Psychologically a child may have suicidal tendencies, be depressed, have emotional problems, and have high levels of stress and anxiety. Sociologically a child tends to be alone, tormented by peers and frightened of never being accepted by
Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published an article by Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis and Daniel Klink titled Adolescents with gender dysphoria in 2015. The article discusses the increase of youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria and receiving medical treatment and possibly surgery as well. The authors stressed the importance for psychotherapy and/or family therapy. The article also discussed the factors that influence gender development psychological, social, and biological. There are not many studies on determinants of gender dysphoria, and no epidemiological studies in children younger than 15 exist at all. Although, more recently research has focused on histological and brain imagining studies on individuals diagnosed