The Term Transsexualism - Research Paper Example

Transsexualism Transsexualism is a condition that makes an individual be identified with gender inconsistentthat is assigned to them culturally. In other words, transsexualism is gender assigned to a person at birth, but conflicts with that person’s psychological gender (Chiland and Alcorn 10). However, medical diagnoses can sometimes be conducted on persons experiencing discomfort with their originally assigned gender. Some of these discomforts may emerge when the victim has desires for the opposite sex to what an individual was assigned at birth or when the victim has impaired functioning as well as distress regarding the gender identification. Transsexualism has stigmatized many people across the world; notably, it effects have been enormously experienced in the western culture especially towards mid to late twentieth century. Nonetheless, the current advancement in technology especially in health care provision aims at enhancing sexual revolution in persons with sexuality problems. Sexuality change is often reverted through sex reassignment surgery (Chiland and Alcorn 24). Notably, Victims of transsexualism are often discriminated upon the society usually subjects them to numerous negative attitudes that undermine them from various quarters including cultural values, and religious believes. In fact, some cultures find it difficult to comprehend and integrate transsexualism conditions. The case is often worse if it involves change gender roles. Some cultures hold transsexualism with high regards and sometimes regarded to be holding two spiritual roles. This traditional believe, is often rampant among some Native American tribes (Chiland 37). Gender is often a linguistic term used across many languages to refer to masculine, natural, or feminine and a fully independent attributes to the words that applied therein. Different cultural groupings have different manifestation of gender or sexuality. Most cultural believes often recognizes only two genders that are female and male. Other cultures recognize the third gender called neuter. However, some cultures recognize none of these genders. Adapting to gender changes often take different dimension and tasks to fulfill (Chiland and Alcorn 70). In some societal settings, gender variation is only indicated by the variation in adjective or noun while other societies require a complex grammar changes. For instance, in English, gender transition often involves the change in the transsexual’s first name that is from either changes he/him to she/her or vice versa. However, in some cases where a person never wants to be referred to either sexes or gender usually uses “them” or “ze” and “hir” as gender natural pronouns or neutral pronouns (Chiland 52). Different societies treat transsexualism differently; thus, most persons never intend to reveal their sexuality especially concerning the gender complication since they fear the reception that the society may offer towards their complicated sexuality. The term transsexualism falls under the broader category of transgenderism that refers to people who are not often comfortable with the gender roles assigned to them. Most groups that fall under this category include transvestites, cross dressers, and genderqueer persons (Chiland and Alcorn 44). Nonetheless, transsexualism is a specific condition under transgender realm; however, it radically differs with both transsexual and crossdresser. Some people often use transsexualism and transgenderism interchangeably, but these terms are never synonymous (Chiland 84). There are many causes of transsexualism; however, many intersex data have revealed that genes never cause this gender variation since genes do not define nor determine gender identity. Additionally, the recent intersex infant surgeries have suggested that the same gender problem is never associated with gender identity since there is an enormous consistency between the genitals and upbringing. However, numerous scientific studies are currently suggesting that transsexualism is associated with neurobiological origin (Chiland and Alcorn 50). According these studies, transsexualism appears to be emanating or happening during the in-utero development of central nervous systems of the transsexual child. This condition leaves the child with inane, immense perceived cross gender self-perception and body feelings. However, the scientists have never been sure of what facilitates the development of this neurology. Nonetheless, the neurological direction for the explorations seems to be clear. For over four decades, many psychologists and psychiatrists have assumed that the transsexualism is a condition facilitated due to mental illness. Thus, they defined this condition within a social context but in relation to mental illness that have facilitated the establishment of numerous mental health professionals towards establishing transsexuals’ medical and societal views to understand psychopathological sexual deviants (Chiland 91). Notably, numerous theories have been forwarded to explain the transsexualism. The 1950s to 80s schools of thought left deep imprints of sexual and gender behavioral theories. Most of the behaviorists believed that the minds of infants are a blank slate where social conditioning and factors act to produce personality aspects that include gender (Chiland and Alcorn 30). They believed on assumptions that were not based on evidence but base their arguments upon that derive results. The belief on the “mind as a blank slate” made these behaviorists have faith in the "genitalia and upbringing" theory of John Money towards identifying gender formation. Later developments in technology and scientific knowledge revealed that Money’s theories were never realistic, and they were pegged on nothing but imaginations. Such scientific developments led to complete disregard of Money ideals whose application affected numerous lives of boys who were turned into girls only later to realize that they were actually boy (Chiland 84). Later in the 1980s, another extremely specific theory was introduced, the “two type” theory. This transsexualism theory was caught in psychiatric circles, and it examined and explained the causes of the transsexual to be mental illnesses. This theory introduced two types of sexual urge towards explaining the MtF transsexualism. The theory forwarded two types of transsexualism including extreme effeminate homosexuality and obsessive autogynephilic auto sexuality. Two-type theory explained these conditions as deviant adult practices (Chiland and Alcorn 189). The theory further regards transsexualism as a gradually conditioning transsexual in which a man wants to change into a woman. The two type theorists proclaimed that these are the only two sure causes of transsexualism. Concerning the understanding of these theories among other contributions, it is apparent that there are varied and different understandings regarding the cause of transsexualism. Interviews Interview with Singer Lauren Jane Grace on her Transsexualism Lauren Jane Grace is a musician. According to Tom Gabel, it was a difficult for the fans to realize that he was a transsexual, and he was planning to live her or his life as a woman. At the time of interview, Gabel was planning to change her transsexualism to a single sexualism; thus, Gabel was to change his name from Tom Gabel to Laura Jane Grace. According to Grace, revealing the sexuality was the most empowering thing she would have ever felt in her entire life. The 31-year-old rocker reveals that it is not easy to bear such gender dysphonia. Moreover, according to her, transsexualism is a medical condition only involving self-perception of a person about their gender. She further says that transsexualism becomes more of a reality with age especially on the realization that it is something that one lives with forever. Through the interview, Grace reveals that different people often have a different perception and reception about the transsexualism. In fact, one lives with this state of shaky mind and emotion for the rest of their lives a stigma. However, during childhood there are some excitements associated with this condition since the victim thinks that they have the opportunity in their hand to choose their adulthood sexuality. Despite his wife’s support throughout their marriage life, he is extremely worried how her daughter will treat her when she learns of these conditions. Towards the end of the interview, Grace is more concern of her daughter especially to explain to her that he is a transsexual. He notes that it is a bit easier to explain this state to others kids than his own. The most stigmatizing thing is that she is in a band. Interview Ashley on her Transsexualism Ashley is a 75-year-old Briton woman. She is Britain's first transsexual person who is confident of her status. She changes her sexuality almost 50 years ago when transsexualism had never become a vital gender issue among the westerners. She said during her time (youth) everyone admired her transgender state, and everyone wanted to go to bed with her. Notably, Ashley was a club dancer and according her, whenever she entered club everyone admired her. Her sexuality made her famous; however, she says that, at the end of everything, she remained to be herself. Despite her past life, Ashley has lived the rest of her life with her 18-year-old cat. However, Ashley admits that because of her sexuality, her life has been full of irritation. According to her, he body has been wasted her. She blames she current ill health on the sex correction she underwent about 50 years ago. Ashley adds that her mother and the family contributed most of her problems. During her childhood, Ashley notes that her mother used to carry her with her head down and bang her head on the floor. She blames her physical problems on her sexuality that subjected her to utter discrimination. Other social problems that she encountered include sexual abuse, DT poising of her mother, and death of all those who associated with her. The most traumatizing years of Ashley’s life was when she was in the Navy where attempted suicides and psychiatric confinement among other treatment agonies. Finally, Ashley noted that the most difficult of it all is when her state was only her without which she was alone she was isolated, and ever her family members including her sisters could not talk to her. Theoretical Analysis There are different schools of thoughts regarding the cause of transsexualism. Theorists and scientists have their own contributions with numerous contradictions. Regardless of the cause, transsexualism has immense social and cultural impacts to the affected persons. Behaviorist theories regard the effects of transsexualism to be pegged on mental illness an idea that scientists do not agree. It should be noted that, these theorists are never open to any scientific consideration but assumptions. For instance, they do not believe that transsexuals have innate gender feelings (Chiland and Alcorn 302). Additionally, the behaviorists deny any existence of gender identity in the minds of the inborn. To some extent, these may be a reality. Analyzing from the experience of both Grace and Ashley, it is apparent that, at their childhood, they did not actually define their gender roles or their sexuality. For instance, until at the age of 31 is when Grace feels that she should be a woman. From these theorists, if a child finds her or himself in the transgender triangle, the theorists often tend to remain men but not to change to women despite their otherwise sexual feelings towards opposite sexes. This may be justified by Money’s ideals that transsexualism is someone’s failure to socialize properly into a correct gender group during childhood, as well as adolescent (Chiland 217). According to Money, transsexualism usually leads to sexual deviant practices among adults thereby leading to mental illness that includes the urge to change sex. Other schools of thought often regard transsexualism as a psychopathological disorder. Notably, it is listed as a mental illness with the gender identity disorder. The reason of this general listing is that the stigma associated with nymphomania and homosexuality relates to transsexualism (Chiland and Alcorn 291). These gender orientations had serious social impacts that significantly affected the victims. However, currently, most of transgender and sexual orientations are seen as a norm among the affected persons. For example, homosexuality is currently regarded as a normal or natural, sexual orientation. However, some cultures and societal settings, just like experienced in Ashley’s society, disregard and undermine transsexualism. In most cases, they are mistreated and isolated from other persons including their families. Additionally, come cultural beliefs often view them as a curse as the earlier they get isolated from the society the better for that society (Chiland 301). The degree of isolation of these persons from the society stigmatized them. In some case, they fell useless; thus, some of them often feel like isolating themselves from the society completely. Some of them feel like committing suicide. Most schools of thought have accepted social stigmatization as mental illnesses. Therefore, according these schools of thought, it is apparent that transsexualism is contributed through a mental state. However, they never peg their reasons on any solid fact or evidence. Therefore, the emerging scientific explanations and understanding of gender identity provide empirical evidence that will successfully help the society in understanding gender transition (Chiland and Alcorn 310). These empirical understandings will also help and teach the society how to handle and treat the transsexuals. Importantly, the use of sophisticated and correct diagnostic mechanisms will help the medical community to evade misclassification of genders that often leads to terrible treatments. Proper medication could have made Ashley a healthy life no to experience medical conditions that she is experiencing in her late 70s. Moreover, proper identification and medication will help shape the future of the innocent children before their mind is contaminated with sexual experiences that they lead them to the stigma associated with transsexualism. Conclusion Transsexualism has been a rare social condition, and its causes have never been established properly. Since its emergence, many behaviorists, psychiatrists, and psychologist have frequently blamed this gender problem for sexual deviant mental illness. The claim of transsexualism being a mental illness has for many years made psychiatrists a chance to claim a responsibility for its treatment and cure; therefore, giving the society a rational for marginalizing, discriminating, and ghettoization of the transsexual persons. However, it is apparent that transsexualism is a neurological condition whose origin or cause is not yet established. Moreover, Scientists have dismissed the claim that transsexualism is a mental illness. Additionally, scientists argue that numerous, intense neurological conditions including chronic pain, bipolar, and depression disorders whose underlying causes are not yet known but suspected to be biological. Therefore, just as the society treats these neurological disorders, it should equally treat the transsexuals. Adopting such understanding with transsexualism will relieve the affected persons from numerous forms of stigma and sufferings that they are subjected. In additional, instead of giving the transsexuals social and psychological pressure, the society should ensure that they are provided with proper counseling, surgical and gender reassignment, and accommodative social transition. Quality treatment and validity will release these persons from suffering in an earlier time thereby enhancing their quality of life. Finally, early treatment will reduce stigmatization of these persons in the society. Works Cited Chiland, Colette, and David Alcorn. Exploring Transsexualism. London: Karnac, 2005. Print. Chiland, Colette. Transsexualism: Illusion and Reality. Middletown, Conn: Wesleyan University Press, 2003. Print. Read More