Most people are likely to know at least one transgendered person amongst their circle of friends and relatives.
(BUT they may not know that they are transgendered!) There are very many people who are transgendered witnessed by the number of support groups and web sites now increasingly available.
The term transgender describes the numerous people who do not fit neatly into the stereotype male or female gender role. The following questions and answers provide a basic introduction and attempt to cover some of the key concerns most frequently raised regarding transgender :-
Q. Why are some people transgendered?
A. As yet there are no positive conclusions. Recent scientific / medical research has advanced the theory that gender confusion may be caused by an imbalance of pre-natal hormone production in the mother's body. One thing that has so far been concluded is that the transgender condition is not ‘curable’ by psychiatrists or physicians. Society has a tendency to try and define everything in black and white terms whereas nature creates life in endless variation.
Q. At what age is this usually discovered?
A. Frequently evidence of transgender manifests itself in early childhood although with some people it can be triggered by an incident much later in life. With many the first inclination toward a transgender lifestyle starts at an early age with cases recorded of children being diagnosed as young as 3-4 years old but in other cases the first signs don't appear until quite late in life and can even be in adults well into their 70's.
Q. Is transgendered behaviour hereditary?
A. There is no evidence that transgender is a hereditary condition.
Q. Are transgendered people mentally ill ?
A. Transgender behaviour is not a mental illness. It is an expression of personality where the individual has a partial or complete cross-gender identity. It is a very natural trait and there is evidence of transgendered behaviour existing in about every society since pre-history. In some Asian and Native American societies transgendered people have even been viewed as very special people.
Q. What kinds of transgendered people are there?
A. Society feels the need to place labels on just about everything, the following are just some of the labels sometimes used to describe transgender :-
Cross-dresser or Transvestite - A person who dresses partially or fully in the clothes normally ascribed to the opposite genetic sex. Motivations for cross-dressing vary and can range from sexual gratification to a need to change self- image. A cross-dresser may adopt a dual gender identity of both male and female "personas" to suit their personal circumstances at the time.
Cross-living or full time Transvestite - A person who has elected to live the majority or full-time in the gender role assigned to the opposite genetic sex. This person may alter their body through cosmetic surgery and hormone treatment to appear more like the opposite genetic sex but not to the extent of undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
Transsexual - A person who disassociates with their assigned gender role based on genetic sex and has adopted a gender identity of the opposite genetic sex. This individual completely alters their body through hormone treatment and sex reassignment surgery in order to align their physical appearance with their gender identity.
Androgynous (or hermaphrodite) - A person who appears neither definitively male nor definitively female, their gender role is ambivalent, typically a combination of both roles. These people will very often have been born with some physical characteristics of both sexes.
Drag queen - The drag queen typically dresses in flamboyant styles to demonstrate a parody of women usually for entertainment purposes.
Q. What is gender role and gender identity?
A. Gender role is an artificial model of behavioural expectations by society based on anatomical sex (stereotypes for male and female behaviour). Gender identity is independent of anatomical sex and is the primary / predominant gender adopted by the individual.
Q. Does dressing in clothing of the opposite genetic sex mean they are homosexual?
A. Gender orientation is independent of sexual orientation or preference. The vast majority of cross-dressers are heterosexual in terms of their anatomical sex. The occurrence of homosexuality or bi-sexuality amongst the transgender community is thought to be similar to that found in the general population.
Q. What about their sexuality?
A. Transgendered people can sometimes have dual gendered sexuality but with most their sexual relations are typically "conventional" with many having a spouse and family. It is important to understand that they are not sexual deviants, child molesters, or exhibitionists just because they are transgendered. A transgendered person's sexual activity covers the same spectrum as that in society generally. A loving and understanding spouse or partner is the most important thing for both the sexual satisfaction as well as the general well being of a transgendered person and their family.
Q. Why do they use another name for their other "persona"?
A. It just serves to complete that "persona". In most situations it wouldn't be appropriate to call a person who appears to be a woman, Ralph or Jimmy. It is perfectly natural that someone who presents themselves as a woman expects to be called by a woman's name!
Q. Does transgendered behaviour change as a person gets older?
A. Quite frequently what happens is an increasing interest in the development of a more complete opposite gender "persona". Most often this occurs in the mid-thirties to mid-forties in life. Interaction of the "persona" with other people (often in public) becomes very important to the "reality" of their transgendered personality.
Q. Why do some feel ashamed or guilty about their transgendered behaviour?
A. Because historically society has determined that transgendered behaviour is inappropriate and many of us have been brainwashed since early childhood concerning gender roles and behaviours! As a result many transgendered people initially feel a degree of guilt and shame and unable to be open about their gender identity. This is the area that causes the most significant problems for many transgendered people. Finding a good support group can be most important for them to help build self confidence and improve their self image.
Q. What do I do if I find my partner is transgendered?
A. Because of the historic negative social stigma attached to transgender, transgendered people usually keep their transgendered nature very private. Should you find out that your spouse / partner is transgendered remember that they are the same person they always were! You have only learned about another facet of their character that probably contributed to the reasons you married them in the first place. When you find out about their transgender side you can do great personal damage to their self-esteem by rejection as their feelings of self- worth can already be very fragile. Open and frank communication with your spouse/partner is the most important thing you can do. An ongoing dialogue is essential if you value the relationship that exists between you.
Q. Is this behaviour a result of any inadequacy on my part?
A. Your spouse/partner was this way when you met them as it is their nature. They were born like it so you should not think that you are to blame for their behaviour. If you examine your relationship carefully you will in most cases realize that they still love you very much and they will still value the relationship as much as you.
Q. What about the family?
A. Telling the children and the rest of the family depends on a lot of factors: the level of transgendered behaviour, the ages of the children, your best estimate of how well they can handle it and other such considerations. Preservation of your children's self- esteem (and yours) and their position in their peer group is important. You may wish to consult with an experienced family counsellor or child psychologist on the matter.
Q. What about their job?
A. In spite of gender equality legislation society still has some problems coping with transgendered behaviour and so too will some employers although in recent years things are improving on this front. In the majority of cases problems do not need to arise as the cross dressing will normally be confined to periods of time out side of the workplace. However if they are planning on living full-time in the opposite gender role, they will obviously have to inform their employer. Recent gender equality legislation provides some protection against gender discrimination but experience shows that in practice there are very mixed results.
Q. What about getting professional counselling?
A. Counselling can only help a transgendered person cope with the conflicts of their transgendered behaviour and societal expectations as there is no known "cure" for transgendered behaviour.
Q. What restrooms do they use in public when cross-dressed?
A. In most situations the one that is most appropriate for their appearance. Their motivation for using the restroom is the same as for anyone else.
Q. What is the function of transgender support groups?
A. These groups are normally made up of transgendered individuals, their spouses and friends. They are mostly ‘not for profit’ and depend on volunteer help to keep the organization running. Most major cities in the United Kingdom will have at least one support group. The groups vary in level of activity depending on their membership and motivations. Many will organise social functions and other activities.
Some groups also publish some sort of newsletter or have a web site for their members to visit and obtain additional information. All the support groups provide a very valuable service in peer group support for transgendered people. We strongly recommend that transgender people find a support group that meets their needs as involvement and socialising with others will reinforce their self esteem and improve confidence in their preferred gender identity.
Q. Where can I find out about support groups?
A. Increasingly the Internet is one of the best places to seek a support group, or from the listings in the transgendered magazines that are published by organisations such as the Beaumont Society and other groups. There are many web sites that provide contact details and information about local support groups.
Q. Where can I find out more about transgender issues?
A. The Beaumont Society is a UK national charity which both provides information and also promotes better understanding of transgender issues to anyone that contacts them. As well as providing assistance to members of the transgender community the Beaumont Society arranges talks for many organisations whose work may bring them into contact with members of the transgender community eg Police or other emergency services, members of the medical profession and local authority / government departments.
The Beaumont Society publishes a quarterly newsletter for the membership and also provides a wealth of information on it’s website : www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
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