Gender Dysphoria Or Gender Identity Disorder

In a world moving advancing with near instantaneous publication worldwide the fringe edges of society have become more visible. One group of people that has had the spotlight shined on them is those suffering from gender dysphoria–persons who are not comfortable living in the bodies that they are born with and are often referred to as transsexual. As of 2010, there was an estimated population of less than 1,000 of these fringe members of our society incarcerated in state and federal facilities. (Brown)

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

Transsexuals rank lowest in overall wellbeing (Gates). SIRS researcher writes, “The American Psychiatric Association uses the term ‘gender dysphonia’ as the medical diagnosis for people who feel their birth-assigned sex and their gender identity do not match.” Civilians need a better understanding that transgender people need better protection. People against transsexuals believe that transgender are “ghastly” and are having an “identity crisis.” Transsexuals need protection in the workplace, public facilities, and in athletics/sports.

Gender dysphoria is one of the characterizing aspects of being transgender, and while not all transgender people experience this, for those who do mental health often suffers; for this reason many consider medical treatment necessary to improve their well-being. Gender dysphoria, as described by the DSM-5, “manifests in a variety of ways, including strong desires to be treated as the other gender or to be rid of one’s sex characteristics” (Kupfer). It’s often accompanied with distress, which can lead to depression, anxiety, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. In fact, suicide is all too common in transgender people. A survey of over 6,000 transgender people done in 2010 found that 41% had attempted suicide at some point in their lives (Grant 82). This high number is a trend that continues to be reflected in other surveys, such as one in

There’s been a lot of debate on the treatment of transgenders, in efforts to better the lives of those who suffer from gender dysphoria, both in a social and medical context. However, there isn’t much scientific understanding of the important ideas and questions that have sparked these debates. For instance, there haven’t been any explanations as to why, even after gender affirming and sex reassignment, transgenders are still at higher risks of mortality and suicidal behaviour than the general population (Dhejne et al. 2011). Despite this lack of understanding physicians and mental health care providers have arrived at a number of methods for treating individuals with gender dysphoria. One such practice is “gender-affirming,” rather than challenging, the therapist accepts

Chapter eleven focuses on sexual disorders and gender identity disorders. For this discussion I wanted to talk about gender identity disorder. For ordinary individuals they can describe themselves or identify themselves as either males or females since we are a child. But, there are some individuals who do not experienced this type of clarity. For some individuals it is a sense that their identity is different from the gender category which they were born with or that it is something that lies outside of the usual male versus female categories. These individuals are known as transgender experiences. It is something that we are seeing more and more of in society today. Many of these transgender individuals come to terms with themselves and they find

However, many people whose “appearance or behavior is gender nonconforming will identify as a transgender person” (APA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns Office). There are many different types of transgender as well. People who identify as other than transgender usually self-identify as genderqueer, genderfluid, “androgynous, multigendered, gender nonconforming, third gender, and two-spirit” (APA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns Office). The meanings of these labels vary from individual to individual. Gender identity is a very personal subject, shaped by and individual’s experiences and values. Gender variance can be seen on a spectrum, varying between cross-dressing individuals who are comfortable with their biological sex, to individuals who experience extreme dysphoria when dealing with the conflict between their gender and sex. There is not yet a determined cause for the reason people identify as transgender. Scientists have reasoned that “genetic influences and prenatal hormone levels, early experiences, and experiences later in adolescence or adulthood” likely contribute, but are not the sole causes (APA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns Office). Lack of research into the psychology of gender variance is likely due to the social stigma attached to people whose identities fall outside the socially accepted gender

However, the opposition largely classifies gender dysphoria as a disorder that needs to be cured, like any other severe delusion. They view transitioning as the irrational mutilation of a mentally ill person, and as such, they reject trans people’s identities. Each side calls for extremity though with absolute acceptance or absolute rejection of the identities and paths that trans people choose. I, however, believe that a middle course between the two extremes would be the best road taken when it comes to treating gender

There are concerns for the physical and psychological well-being of transgender people particularly for those who identify as transgender at a later stage in life. Many of the issues surrounding the transgender community challenges the current binary assumptions of gender, gender expression, sex, and sexual orientations (Norton & Herek, 2013). According to Budge (2013), there are two reasons transgender clients seek therapy: 1) personal growth and 2) help with gender

Gender dysphoria is a complex struggle between a person’s physical gender and who he or she identifies, and this could be an individual physically born as a male that identifies as being female and vice versa. Biological sex is determined at birth based upon the appearance of the infant, but gender identity is how the person feels or how they identify themselves, which is where the dysphoria comes in. It is from highly complex genetic, neurodevelopmental, and psychological factors (Mandal, 2012), and is not the same as homosexuality or gender nonconformity. Symptoms and signs of gender dysphoria may vary depending upon age and gender. Gender dysphoria becomes known as a disorder when it fits certain criteria. Treatment is available when needed. There are speculations on the cause, but no real answer.

Gender Dysphoria is described as “the condition of feeling one's emotional and psychological identity as male or female to be opposite to one's biological sex.” according to google.For me, it's knowing that during any moment there's a chance that I will experience some kind of dysphoria in relation to my body and expression. I've never really thought about my gender because I didn't have the vocabulary to describe how I felt. I identify as genderfluid; it took me all of high school to discover and accept this about myself. It wasn’t until one of my classmates came out as a non-binary trans boy, that I started to find the words to how I’ve been feeling.

This is a huge shift from the DSM-IV that used the term “gender identity disorder” to diagnosis and treat individuals who felt dissonance between their biological sex and their chosen gender. Due to the fact that it was seen as a disorder, much like homosexuality until 1973, gender identity disorder often gave society the ammunition needed to discriminate against transgender individuals. By labeling transgender individuals with a disorder, it was placing it in the same category as Borderline Personality Disorder or Obsessive Personality Disorders – disorders that could be treated and need a “cure.” The criteria for gender dysphoria makes it clear that the issue isn’t in the inability to conform to gender stereotypes. Instead, a problem occurs when there is great distress of a person’s biological gender and gender identity. In order to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria, there are criteria that must first be met. Though not every criteria needs to be met for a diagnosis, it is a good start. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) The symptoms are as

In a lot of places around the world more and more people are coming out as “Transgender.” The term transgender means that the person’s gender identity does not correspond with the gender they were assigned as having at birth. From personally having a transgender boyfriend I have since realized that these people experience a lot of discrimination in and from society. Many people simply just do not understand what the term transgender means and they see it as someone just “wants to be a man” or “wants to be a woman.” While there may be people who present it this way, it is more so that the individual just “feels” different, and “feels” as if they are “in the wrong body.” Some people experience this feeling at a young age as my boyfriend did in his elementary age. We live in a world who put these people down for being who they truly are, and no human being wants or needs that.

Gender Dysphoria, formerly known as Gender Identity Disorder, is described by the DSM-IV as a persistent and strong cross-gender identification and a persistent unease with ones sex. However, gender identity is not diagnosed as such if it is comorbid with a physical intersex condition. Gender dysphoria is not to be confused with sexual orientation, as people with gender dysphoria could be attracted to men, women, or both.

In this paper, I will define and use the term “transgender” according to how it has been described by Bilodeau (2005) and Bilodeau and Renn (2005). Traditionally gendered (or cisgendered) individuals are those whose biological sex at birth aligns with their male or female gender identity and behaviors. Conversely, transgendered (also referred to in this paper as trans) individuals’ gender identity or gender expression is incongruent with their biological sex and/or societal expectations. “Transgender” serves as a sort of