Gender
Identity
Gender identity refers to a person's sense of him, or herself as masculine or
feminine. The cause of gender dysphoria remains uncertain and may well be a
combination of internal hormonal and learning mechanisms in the early
environment. There is no clear evidence of an inherited or familial factor. Both
transvestism and transsexualism often lead to social consequences, which often
require skilled specialist counselling. Neither condition is amenable to
'change', any more than is homosexuality or left-handedness. At one end of the
scale is the occasional cross-dresser who perhaps adopts the clothing of the
opposite sex for fetishistic reasons while at the other end of the spectrum is
the transsexual who, with thoughtful and carefully directed therapy, usually
becomes happier as an individual after the gender affirmation process. Between
these two extremes are gradations, with the transvestite functioning somewhere
in between. The transvestite who knows that he, or she in rare cases, is not
alone and not insane is more able to come to terms with the condition and learn
to live with it. Gender possibilities are broad, as are those of sex. People can
exist anywhere along the continuum.
Transvestism
Transvestism tends to be little understood, though work in recent years to
change public attitudes means that it is, perhaps, no longer a subject of fear,
but is more seen as being harmless. It is a subject commonly treated in the
press in a way which exploits it for sensationalism, but women's magazines seem
to be more sympathetic. Perhaps it does not feel such a threat to women as it
does to men. When one is very close to the person, however, it may well be a
different matter. Among families it seems to be very threatening at first.
Understanding is not as good as it might be among people in the caring
professions, the clergy, police and social workers, who may be called on to
offer help.
The unhappiness often experienced by many transvestites comes from loneliness
and anxiety about their situation, and considerable confusion about their
feelings. In a sense they are a minority group, who fail to conform to what is
regarded as normal behaviour and may therefore fear the consequences should the
activity be discovered. Society's acceptance of females who choose to dress in
traditionally male clothes is widespread in the West, but cross-dressing by
males is much less accepted. Throughout history, women adopting the male role
have largely gone unremarked. Partners are often concerned that their man may
become homosexual or transsexual, though this is unlikely to happen, once the
person is sure of himself. Some transvestites do opt to live full time as women
and some may be homosexual or bisexual by coincidence.
In many transvestites, however, the urge to cross-dress is irresistible. Belief
in society's lack of approval may make the transvestite attempt to suppress the
behaviour, or to keep it secret from those whom he loves for fear of destroying
the relationship. This may lead to a depressive phase where counselling by
understanding professionals is crucial. The Beaumont Trust plays an important
part in offering support. The Beaumont Society & other groups provide an
outlet for transvestites and their wives to meet socially and to correspond with
others to help combat the sense of isolation, and there are other self-help
groups around the country.
Aspects Of
Transvestism
The majority of transvestites are heterosexual men, who are often married
with families. The desire to cross-dress seems usually to begin at an early age
when the only available clothes may be those belonging to female members of the
family. A transvestite boy may suffer feelings of isolation and guilt, but is
often too young to realise the reasons for the need. At first cross-dressing is
often non-sexual but during puberty may take on erotic overtones.
Transvestism is not a disease and therefore the term 'cure' does not apply. It
is a behaviour pattern which has underlying reasons which are not yet fully
understood. In some societies, it might be perceived as a harmless quirk. It may
however be regarded as threatening in a relationship. Often the transvestite has
avoided telling his partner, believing it may pass once he is married, only to
be discovered accidentally at a later stage when it re-emerges. The female
partner may feel let down or angry at not being told. Often cross-dressing is
simply a safety valve and a form of escape from the pressures and
responsibilities of work and social demands. A partner may react with complete
revulsion, leading to separation and divorce. At the other extreme, the partner
may find the behaviour pattern intriguing, perhaps even stimulating. The
majority probably fall in between these two extremes and form some sort of
compromise and tolerance without necessarily approval.
A transvestite who indulges in cross-dressing at the expense of time spent with
wife and family, and at the cost of purchasing a double wardrobe, risks
alienating both wife and family. If the couple can work together in mutual
acceptance of feelings, and to support the partnership, there is a real
possibility that the marriage may be strengthened and enhanced. Such
transvestites may have developed a better understanding of the opposite sex.
Many partners lack knowledge and assume that cross-dressing equates with
homosexuality. They may also fear the possibility of contracting a sexually
transmitted disease. A transvestite is no more at risk in this than any other
member of the public. More commonly a partner may feel inadequate and believe
that somehow she must have failed her husband as a woman. Often the most
damaging is the feeling of being deceived and that the secret has gone unshared
despite the intimate life which they otherwise have. Like the transvestite
himself the partner may fear adverse reaction from parents, relatives, friends,
and particularly the children of the marriage.
It is important to remember that people who cross-dress are primarily
individuals, and that labelling can do considerable damage. Individuals should
not be categorised and each person should be treated as an individual in their
own right.
Incidence
The incidence of transvestism is estimated at approximately one in a hundred
of the male population. It has never been accurately estimated in the female
population. The incidence of transsexualism is considerably rarer, probably
being of between 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 15,000 of the population. Thus a town of
100,000 people may have at least 500 males who cross-dress and five to eight
transsexuals. The actual figures are probably considerably higher. Many
transvestites cross dress in the utmost secrecy for fear of censure or ridicule,
while those who have overcome this problem can be said to have "come out of
the closet." It should be pointed out that, while some transvestites say
their dressing is an expression of their 'femininity,' transsexuals dress in a
way they feel is appropriate for their innately determined gender identity.
Transsexualism
This is usually characterised by a continuing conviction that the physical
anatomy is incompatible with the true gender identity. Thus a female to male
transsexual will feel she has "a man's mind trapped in a female body"
and vice versa. Surgical attempts to allow such individuals to live in their
chosen gender role, known as gender affirmation surgery, are less complex for
the male to female (mtf/M2F) than for the female to male (ftm/F2M) clients.
However, entering the adopted social role is often much simpler for the ftm.
Hormone prescription for mtf transsexuals is said to lower sexual appetite,
while for ftm's the reverse is said to be the case. However, it does not seem
likely that it will alter sexual interest. Transsexuals may be heterosexual or
homosexual, like the rest of the population. Sexual orientation is a variable,
and some transsexuals are content to remain celibate.
Fetishism
Erotic fetishism is the dependence on particular objects, or parts of the
body, to obtain sexual arousal. Clothing may come to be a fetish object for this
purpose and may enhance sexual stimulation during solitary, or partnered, sex.
Common fetish objects are female underwear, leather wear and rubber, but almost
anything can be identified and come to be used as a fetish object. The problem
seems recorded more frequently, and in more judgmental terms, for males than
females. Using female underwear for fetishistic purposes is one reason for
partial cross-dressing. While many transvestite adolescents may go through a
phase where the wearing or using clothes of their choice produces an erotic
experience, it has intrinsically a different motivation from fetishism.
Masochism
Masochists derive pleasure from pain or humiliation usually within a sexual
context. In their wish to play on their idea of the 'weaker sex' some males may
cross-dress in order to be dominated by a partner. It is the fantasy
experimentation with issues of power within relationships. Its opposite is
sadism.
Homosexuality - Gay Men and
Lesbians
People in the gay community are, in general, content with themselves as men
or women. Many gay men emphasise their masculinity. Some have more feminine
personalities and the distinction is clearly marked in some countries. Possibly
it is the more feminine gay men who cross-dress, though such behaviour is often
frowned on, and they may find an outlet in parodying women, as in 'drag' acts.
Entertainment.
Role-reversal in pantomime is part of theatrical tradition, and was a
recurring theme in Shakespeare's work. There are also many male or female
impersonators, drag (dressed as girls)
artists and comedy sketches involving cross-dressing. Drag balls, fancy dress
parties and student rag sessions afford an opportunity for the public to dress
for fun, highlighting the gender stereotypes by ridiculing both sexes.
Stages of Sexual Development.
John Money established seven criteria important for correct sexual
development after conception.
1. Chromosomal sex (normal male 46XY, normal female 46XX).
2. Gonadal Sex. The correct operation of the genes to produce normal ovaries or
testes.
3. Hormonal function in foetal development.
4. Internal genital morphology.
5. External genital morphology.
6. Assigned sex at birth (that is, as determined by the attending practitioner
and recorded on the birth certificate).
7. Gender identity development.
In transsexualism, as defined above, there is no abnormality known in the first
six of these variables though it is believed that prenatal hormone environment
affects areas of the lower brain, such as the hypothalamus, and, more
controversially, the organisation of the cortex.
Definitions.
Biological Sex
is being male or female, as determined by chromosomes,
and body chemistry. In puberty it is marked by the development of secondary
sexual characteristics, facial hair in men, breast development in women, and so
on.
Gender is expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity. It is how
people perceive themselves and how they expect others to behave. It is largely
culturally determined and does not have to be a bipolar state.
Cross-Dressing refers to the adoption, fully or partially, of the clothes
normally identified as belonging to the opposite sex. People may cross-dress for
a variety of reasons of which transvestism, transsexualism and fetishism are the
commonest. Some people may also cross-dress as part of a disguise or for
entertainment. Others may cross-dress as part of masochistic activities.
Transvestism is cross-dressing, with the desire to adopt the clothes,
appearance and behaviour normally associated with the opposite gender. For some
it is simply 'dressing up,' while for others, known as Dual Role Transvestites,
it is a need to adopt the opposite role as fully as possible on a temporary or
full-time basis.
Gender Dysphoria refers to the dissatisfaction with one's gender
(masculinity or femininity) which is in conflict with one's physical sex. The
term is usually restricted to those who seek medical and surgical assistance to
resolve their difficulty.
Transsexuality is a profound form of gender dysphoria where there is a
conviction of being "trapped in the wrong body" and the need to
express oneself and to be as far as is possible in the gender to which one feels
comfortable.
Hermaphroditism or Intersexuality
is where the physiological sex is ambiguous. The situation may, or may not, be
accompanied by various degrees of gender dysphoria. The condition may be due to
chromosomal complexes, such as Turner's
or Klinefelter's
syndromes, congenital errors of metabolism such as Androgen
Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and adrenogenital syndrome. There may also be
effects from the hormone balance in the foetus or the placenta.
Homosexuality or Bisexuality is a situation where sexual attraction is
felt for people of the same rather than the opposite sex. Bisexuality is where
sexual preference is for either or both sexes. In general, those who are
homosexual or bisexual are quite satisfied with their gender and body. Most men
who cross dress are not homosexual.
Gynemimetophilia A similar word "Gynandromorphophilia" has
been coined to describe those attracted to TSs, from a combination of "Gyne"
and "Andro" (female/male), "morph" (shape or
appearance" and "philia" (attraction). Gynandromorphs are people
of one sex presenting the physical characteristics of the other, and
gynandromorphophiliacs (cf Gynandrophilia attraction towards
Transsexuals, especially towards men with female breasts who have retained their
male organs, there is a lot of pornography directed at this market) are those
attracted to such people.
"Gynemimetophilia" would be a little different as it seems to mean an
attraction more specifically to those imitating ("mimetic") women,
i.e. TVs. Unfortunately, finding a name for something does not go any way
towards explaining it, but some people do feel more reassured to find there is a
name for people like them. Those who could be described as gynandromorphophiles
and gynemimetophiles are strongly attracted to TS and TV people. They find the
concept of an apparent female with concealed male attributes a powerful
aphrodisiac, but the situation has a lot of dilemmas and conflicts for them (not
least, that many of their prospective partners are repelled by the concept.)
Those in this situation often need as much support as any other transgendered
person. It's possible for them to find a fulfilling relationship, but not easy.
Autogynophilia a (male) self arousal at the concept of self as female.
This may result in that person having gender reassignment surgery. It is
not the same as transsexualism in that it seems to be driven by male
sexuality, rather than a personal conviction of gender as the important
component of that persons sense of identity.
Androgyne is a person who sees themselves as belonging to neither gender,
or both.
Transman a post op F2M TS
Transwoman a post op M2F TS
Transhomosexual a person who sees themselves erotically as a person
of the opposite sex who becomes, or fantasys about being a homosexual or lesbian
in that "new sex".
Transgender has come in the UK to mean a person who lives full time in the
role/dress of the opposite sex without recourse to drugs or surgical
intervention. In the USA this term includes all transpeople
Drag King a (female) person who enjoys cross-dressing as a man,
sometimes seeking to grow facial hair, but not usually wishing to have surgery.
Body Dysmorphophobia a disgust with ones body, or appearance, often
accompanied with self mutilation, agoraphobia, and obsessive compulsive
disorder. Skoptic Syndrome is a particular form of body Dysmorphophobia,
& is a revulsion of ones own genitals.
Gender Dysmorphophobia a disgust concerning the gender a person
is "supposed to be". It is not the same as believing ,or knowing
one belongs to the other gender but seems to be reactive rather than innate.
Hyperatism A disgust with ones body as a sexual entity, often accompanied
by paranoia, self hate, self mutilation and acute distress.
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