It's been over a month now since my last blog, which kills me, so I am now committed to blogging twice a week regardless of my crazy job or upcoming exams.
Today, an issue that hits close to home for me: transsexuality. I'm sure many of you have heard the age-old argument that being transgendered is little more than a psychological disorder. So I guess I want to explore the basis for a genetic explanation and also the idea that even psychological disorders stem from a biological cause- hormonal, structural, or otherwise.
Lets start with a bit of terminology; I have already used both the terms transgender and transexual and many people use them interchangeably. However, there are distinct differences between the two words. The first being the obvious discord between "gender" and "sex", the first being a social construct and the later a biological phenotype.
Transexualism refers to an individual who identifies with a gender which is different to their sex at birth. It was first described by Magnus Hirshfeld who wrote a journal paper in the 1930s with reference to the first genital reassignment surgery. However, the english term "transexual" was not introduced until 1949 by D. O Cauldwell (who interestingly shares the same surname as my first girl crush). He used the term to refer to people who wished to change their physiological sex.
In contrast, transgender has come to be used as more of an "umbrella term" (only standing under this umbrella will get you wet). Transgenderism refers to people who do not typically conform to gender roles associated with their sex and may identify with a different gender without the overwhelming necessity to change their physiological sex. The term is thought to have been coined by Charles "Virginia" Prince. She wrote, "I know the difference between gender and sex and have simply elected to change the former and not the latter".
So, moving on to the science, kids.
Firstly, correlations do exist between transgenderism and genetics. One of these is a gene variant described in 2008 in Vienna which is associated with female-to-male transgendered individuals. The variation relates to an enzymes involved in metabolizing sex hormones and can influence early brain development via increased testosterone levels. 44% of the 50 trans-men involved in this Austrian study carried the gene.
Transgenderism has long been identified as a psychological disorder described as "Gender Dysphoria". Many trans individuals are upset by this and while I would argue that transgenderism is definitely NOT a "mental disorder" - homosexuality was also described as a mental disorder in the Psychiatric Handbook until the 1970s - I am hesitant to dismiss the evidence supporting the idea that the brain does play a role. That is not to say it is not genetic or present at birth, simply that the cause centres around neurological changes (most likely hormonal).
So what is Gender Dysphoria?Essentially, it is described as discontentment with the sex one is born with. By definition, it is present from very early childhood, with reports of confusion about physiological body features starting from as young as 2 years of age. Perhaps the most alarming facet of this is that self-harm commonly occurs by 8 years of age, when individuals try to change body parts which do not match with perceived gender identity. Every year children are taken to hospital with mutilated penises and breasts from desperate attempts to remove them.
One parent "Sally Jones" says her daughter "Nick", who was born male, has identified as female since she was 5 years old and first attempted suicide at 13 because her body disgusted her and the ridicule she faced for opting to wear girls' clothing was just too much.
It is because of this self-harm in children that a huge medical debate is underway internationally as to whether or not we should allow the use of hormone-suppressant drugs to stop the onset of puberty in transgendered children to allow them time to consider gender reassignment surgery without the often unbearable changes to their bodies which commence with puberty.
Clinics in the Netherlands have now began prescribing "puberty blockers" to children as young as 11. They claim that no one has ever come to them regretting the treatment. I think this is a wonderful step forward and yet, at the same time, the United Kingdom and much of the US and our own country refuse to give intervention treatments until age 16, when they believe children are "old enough to decide". However, the irreversible developmental bodily changes (such as breasts or facial hair) are well underway by the age of 16.
The first case in Australia to allow for hormone suppressants occurred in 2004 and (after a long court battle) was allowed. I would elaborate on the case but I have been unable to find more than vague references on the matter. More recently, a male-identified twelve-year-old in Victoria was also granted permission by the Family Court to undergo puberty-blocking treatment as well apply for passports and medicare documents under his preferred gender.
The controversy this was met with and furthermore the fact it had to be taken to court is ridiculous. The hormone-suppressant treatment is reversible and more importantly, life-saving.
I leave you today I hope not depressed but informed,
This is Z singing out.
Good luck for exams!
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