To be, or not to be...

...transgender.

Transgender is a popular term heard across many media outlets. It is very hard to define transgender because its meaning differentiates between many people. However, the basic meaning (that which people stem from their own meaning), is:

"An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term may include but is not limited to: transsexuals, cross-dressers, and other gender-variant people. Transgender people may identify as female-to-male (FTM) or male-to-female (MTF). Use the descriptive term (transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, FTM or MTF) preferred by the individual. Transgender people may or may not choose to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically." (The Centre, 2012). Click here for further explanations and more definitions related to this topic.

So many terms are packed into that definition alone. In my opinion, I think transgender is very alike to gender dysmorphia, however, the person who claims to be transgender is pursuing their need to be part of the sex they biologically aren't. For example, a female who feels they are really a male in a female body, deciding to dress up as a male and/or surgically alter their genitalia to match that of a male.I think the difference between the two definitions is that transgenders are starting to change their physical appearance, whether it be just their attire, or surgically/hormonally modifying themselves.

Perhaps one of the most known transgender is Renée Richards. She was born Richard Raskind in 1934, undergoing a sex change in 1975 (NPR Books, 2007) (Link). She was the first MTF to play at the US Open (tennis) (The New York Times, 1977). She was originally denied entry to the US Open in 1976 unless she submitted chromosomal testing, in which she did not (The New York Times, 1977). She then sued the US Tennis Association in 1977 and won the right to play as a woman without submitting any testing. (The New York Times, 1977) (Link).

I think she opened up the doors for many people who wish to undergo sex reassignment surgery, and made society more receptive to such a procedure. She was not the first person to undergo a sex change, however she was the first MTF to be accepted into a national competition as her preferred gender. And just for that I think she made life just a little bit easier for those who contemplated, but never followed through with such a procedure.

(Image taken from Grant Land)

What does 'Gender' mean?

So what exactly is 'gender'? How is it different from 'sex'? Many times we see these words on various forms, assuming they mean the same thing. 

Sex is: "either of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species and that are distinguished respectively as female or male especially on the basis of their reproductive organs and structures." as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary (click here for Merriam-Webster's full definition).

Gender, on the other hand is: "the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex." also defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary (click here for Merriam-Webster's other definitions.)

Basically, sex is something predetermined by nature, and gender is something determined by which you associate with. Many people don't see what the big difference is between the two, but there is a term called gender dysphoria, which affects an approximated 1 in 11 500 people (National Health Service, 2012). It's more common than you think.

Gender dysphoria is described as: "a condition in which a person feels that there is a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity." (National Health Service, 2012.) Click here for more information.

I think the numbers of gender dysphoria is much higher than reported because it's such a hard issue to come forward with. Case studies are constantly being published and with it becoming a more known issue, many more are 'coming out', so to speak.

We will be looking at today's cases and discussing the issues and implications of this dysphoria.

(image taken from Freedom Requires Wings)