Consequences of Transphobia
Jenny Freedman
April 25, 2019
As social media has a growing presence in everyone’s lives, especially the lives of America’s youth, the spread of new ideas and identities are becoming increasingly prevalent as well. As celebrities and figures in the public eye also become more open and exposed, their influence can have a major impact on the way youth of today think and act. Partly spurred by the transition of Caitlin Jenner, gender fluidity and the validity of transgender individuals has become an increasingly popular topic. It is important for each person to develop their own take on this topic based on facts, research, and morals due to its growing importance in the U.S. Today, transgender youth are extremely relevant in shaping the views and beliefs of the future generations. Additionally, it is important to consider the research and commentaries from all sides when it comes to legislature concerning transgender people. Part of gaining insight is examining scientific research and articles in order to develop an intensive study on transsexualism. Most studies have led to the circumstance that being transgender is not a choice. Transgenderism is influenced by human physiology and inheritance more than environmental circumstances.
It is important to explain and emphasize the differences between sex and gender, as they are often mistakenly used interchangeably. A person’s “‘biological sex’ refers to [their] reproductive organs, ‘gender identity’ to [their] inner sense of being a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’, and ‘gender presentation’ to how we express gender on a ‘feminine’ to ‘masculine’ scale. This is defined by local culture and opinion.”[1] These definitions infer that there must be clear female and male characteristics and personalities to divide humans into these two categories; however, this is not the case. Many people fall into a ‘gray area’ of gender. While the majority of people subscribe to societal gender regulations, the feelings and actions of people are not largely defined by their gender. An article, Similarities between Genders, in the journal “The Psychology of Gender” describes that, “in many ways, men and women within any culture are more alike than they are different. On most behavioral dimensions, there are probably more differences within a sex than between the sexes. This holds true for spatial abilities, verbal intelligence, friendliness, and many other characteristics. Some women are better than most men at solving spatial problems; some men have higher verbal intelligence than most women. At first glance, such overlap makes it difficult to imagine universal sex differences in behavior that compare to the universal sex differences in morphology (e.g., having testicles or a uterus). Even many of the morphological sex differences show overlap.”[2] While there may be overarching genetic factors that dictate different aspects of the biological sexes, there are always outliers. Separating all of humanity into two categories largely ignores those that do not fit into those boxes.
There are females that express themselves in a more stereotypically masculine way, informally called ‘tomboys’, and males with more feminine traits or behaviors. Human identities are complex and cannot be defined by a list of imposed traits. As Sean Atkinson and Darren Russel outline in ‘Gender Dysphoria’, “Sex and gender are more likely to fall on continuums rather than in neat, dichotomous categories. Variation in how people position themselves on these continuums depends on factors such as developmental stage, past and present environment and experience, and nature of relationship with self.”[3] What society defines as masculine and feminine involves the interplay between biology and culture. Charles Darwin, a notorious 19th century naturalist and biologist,“
April 25, 2019
As social media has a growing presence in everyone’s lives, especially the lives of America’s youth, the spread of new ideas and identities are becoming increasingly prevalent as well. As celebrities and figures in the public eye also become more open and exposed, their influence can have a major impact on the way youth of today think and act. Partly spurred by the transition of Caitlin Jenner, gender fluidity and the validity of transgender individuals has become an increasingly popular topic. It is important for each person to develop their own take on this topic based on facts, research, and morals due to its growing importance in the U.S. Today, transgender youth are extremely relevant in shaping the views and beliefs of the future generations. Additionally, it is important to consider the research and commentaries from all sides when it comes to legislature concerning transgender people. Part of gaining insight is examining scientific research and articles in order to develop an intensive study on transsexualism. Most studies have led to the circumstance that being transgender is not a choice. Transgenderism is influenced by human physiology and inheritance more than environmental circumstances.
It is important to explain and emphasize the differences between sex and gender, as they are often mistakenly used interchangeably. A person’s “‘biological sex’ refers to [their] reproductive organs, ‘gender identity’ to [their] inner sense of being a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’, and ‘gender presentation’ to how we express gender on a ‘feminine’ to ‘masculine’ scale. This is defined by local culture and opinion.”[1] These definitions infer that there must be clear female and male characteristics and personalities to divide humans into these two categories; however, this is not the case. Many people fall into a ‘gray area’ of gender. While the majority of people subscribe to societal gender regulations, the feelings and actions of people are not largely defined by their gender. An article, Similarities between Genders, in the journal “The Psychology of Gender” describes that, “in many ways, men and women within any culture are more alike than they are different. On most behavioral dimensions, there are probably more differences within a sex than between the sexes. This holds true for spatial abilities, verbal intelligence, friendliness, and many other characteristics. Some women are better than most men at solving spatial problems; some men have higher verbal intelligence than most women. At first glance, such overlap makes it difficult to imagine universal sex differences in behavior that compare to the universal sex differences in morphology (e.g., having testicles or a uterus). Even many of the morphological sex differences show overlap.”[2] While there may be overarching genetic factors that dictate different aspects of the biological sexes, there are always outliers. Separating all of humanity into two categories largely ignores those that do not fit into those boxes.
There are females that express themselves in a more stereotypically masculine way, informally called ‘tomboys’, and males with more feminine traits or behaviors. Human identities are complex and cannot be defined by a list of imposed traits. As Sean Atkinson and Darren Russel outline in ‘Gender Dysphoria’, “Sex and gender are more likely to fall on continuums rather than in neat, dichotomous categories. Variation in how people position themselves on these continuums depends on factors such as developmental stage, past and present environment and experience, and nature of relationship with self.”[3] What society defines as masculine and feminine involves the interplay between biology and culture. Charles Darwin, a notorious 19th century naturalist and biologist,“
suggested that epigamic sexual selection could explain why male vertebrates tend to be larger, showier, and more dominance-oriented. The mechanism seems to link back to differential parental investment. Because females invest more in any given offspring, an ill-chosen mating is more costly for a female than for a male. Thus, females, compared to males, tend to be relatively more selective in choosing mates.” [4]
Biology and evolution set a precedent for men to more often display dominance and strength, which directly affects the social view on gender roles and our placement in society. There are some inherent differences between the genders, in terms of both physique and behavior, but not all humans can be divided to fit those two categories.
On the other hand, culture and environmental distinctions alter what people believe to be acceptable. As Anne Beall explains in The Psychology of Gender,
On the other hand, culture and environmental distinctions alter what people believe to be acceptable. As Anne Beall explains in The Psychology of Gender,
“Our evolutionary heritage is expressed through genetic predispositions that interact with the social environment. Genetic predispositions have a direct influence on biochemical and structural differences between men and women, and also indirectly influence learning experiences and cognition. Cultural influences can oppose or exaggerate these biological differences between men and women. However, those cultural influences are themselves the products of interactions between human genetic predispositions and past conditions of human existence.” [5]
This commentary describes the complex relationship between human nature versus nurture. Parental and peer influences are a major factor in human action and emotion.
In the early 20th century, when transgender knowledge was exceptionally minimal, those that did not identify with or act accordingly with their biological sex were placed into the category of transsexual. Because the concept of transgenderism was so foreign and generally disregarded as a mental illness or disease, transgender research remained stagnant for the most part. Cristan Williams writes in his article from Transgender Studies Quarterly, “In 1965… Dr. John Oliven proposed that the term transsexualism be replaced by the term transgenderism, arguing that the concept of sexuality could not account for the ‘all consuming belief that [transsexuals] are women who by some incredible error were given the bodies of men.’ … By 1975, transvestite/transsexual groups began using “transgenderism” as a term inclusive of transsexuals and transvestites (Dowell 1975).”[6] The development of awareness in terms of phrasing and semantics was just the beginning of transgender education. The usage of ‘transgender’ sprouted from a need for a description of the wide range of gender identities and communities in the U.S. during the early 1990s.[7] Thereafter, “the coinage, uptake, and diffusion of ‘transgender’ was an organic, grass-roots process that emerged from many sources, in many conversations happening in many different social locations. This new understanding of transgender's etymology not only has important implications for tracing the complex recent history of gender and sexuality; it can also intervene in contentious identitarian disputes within and among various contemporary trans communities.”[8] The spread of knowledge about transgender individuals has two distinct sides. Negativity and disgust can arise from new or foreign view, which is extremely detrimental to transgender people, often leading to physical or emotional abuse. However, increased awareness of transgenderism also leads to increased empathy, which is extremely important in education.
A metaphorical magnifying glass has been placed upon the subject of transgenderism within the past decade. This development is largely due to social media’s influence on our perceptions of gender identity and sexuality. The successes of the LGBT pride movement was accelerated by
In the early 20th century, when transgender knowledge was exceptionally minimal, those that did not identify with or act accordingly with their biological sex were placed into the category of transsexual. Because the concept of transgenderism was so foreign and generally disregarded as a mental illness or disease, transgender research remained stagnant for the most part. Cristan Williams writes in his article from Transgender Studies Quarterly, “In 1965… Dr. John Oliven proposed that the term transsexualism be replaced by the term transgenderism, arguing that the concept of sexuality could not account for the ‘all consuming belief that [transsexuals] are women who by some incredible error were given the bodies of men.’ … By 1975, transvestite/transsexual groups began using “transgenderism” as a term inclusive of transsexuals and transvestites (Dowell 1975).”[6] The development of awareness in terms of phrasing and semantics was just the beginning of transgender education. The usage of ‘transgender’ sprouted from a need for a description of the wide range of gender identities and communities in the U.S. during the early 1990s.[7] Thereafter, “the coinage, uptake, and diffusion of ‘transgender’ was an organic, grass-roots process that emerged from many sources, in many conversations happening in many different social locations. This new understanding of transgender's etymology not only has important implications for tracing the complex recent history of gender and sexuality; it can also intervene in contentious identitarian disputes within and among various contemporary trans communities.”[8] The spread of knowledge about transgender individuals has two distinct sides. Negativity and disgust can arise from new or foreign view, which is extremely detrimental to transgender people, often leading to physical or emotional abuse. However, increased awareness of transgenderism also leads to increased empathy, which is extremely important in education.
A metaphorical magnifying glass has been placed upon the subject of transgenderism within the past decade. This development is largely due to social media’s influence on our perceptions of gender identity and sexuality. The successes of the LGBT pride movement was accelerated by
“Barack Obama’s prophetic affirmation of LGBT rights (and the support of openly gay White House staff) in response to the suicide of gay youth in the United States, and the reporting of David Kato’s murder under oppressive circumstances in Uganda, offer contrapuntal visions of gay (and LGBT) identity in a transnational world... Online communities affirm the civil rights ideals of the United States, at the same time an African country is represented as primitive and punitive in response to gay rights. Race, identity, sexuality, community, social responsibility and the political world stage encompass the transactional possibilities of transnational communication.”[9]
Through people in powerful political positions addressing LGBTQ+ rights, overall awareness internationally increases. By 2014, Time Magazine stated that the U.S. had come to a “transgender tipping point” due to the “media visibility of transgender individuals at an all-time high. Prior to this peak, media depictions of transgender people—that is, individuals whose gender identity does not align with their birth sex—were rare. Since 2014, the quantity of transgender portrayals has remained elevated across a variety of platforms and formats, indicating increased transgender visibility is more than a passing fad in entertainment.”[10] This relatively recent development with the media can often lead to an increase in empathy and awareness for transgender individuals. On the other hand, visibility can come along with intensified backlash and opposition. In the end, consciousness surrounding the subject of transgenderism is necessary in order to alter societal views.
In 2015, transgender people and policy issues were frequently in the news, in contrast to their historically sparse presence. More specifically, lawsuits over bathroom policies received a lot of media attention. News stories discussing the risks and benefits of transitioning as an adolescent were also emerging. However, the extensive media coverage of Caitlyn Jenner’s transition, which was ongoing during the study period, generally eclipsed other transgender-related news. Although many Americans were familiar with Bruce Jenner, the 1976 world record-setting Olympic champion and member of the Kardashian family of reality TV, throughout decades in the limelight Jenner’s gender identity-related struggles remained private. Then, on April 24, 2015, more than 20 million people watched Jenner’s ABC 20/20 interview with reporter Diane Sawyer in which Jenner discussed her decision to transition from her birth sex (male) to her true gender identity (female). On June 1, Vanity Fair released its iconic “Call Me Caitlyn” cover, and on July 26 the E! reality series “I am Cait” premiered. During this time, fictional portrayals of transgender characters also increased in quantity.[11] Increased transgender representation within the media spreads knowledge about trans issues and lifestyles. Growing awareness and empathy for the transgender community is essential in supporting the growth and transition processes of transgender individuals and combatting the exponentially high suicide and depression rates.
It is common for harassment and hostility to be directed at newer gender identifications or gender nonconformity. Due to gender roles ingrained in society, anti-trans prejudice and polarization often arises. For humans, the “need for closure is defined as a person’s desire for order, structure, and nonambiguity. Persons who possess a high need for closure are motivated to avoid states of uncertainty that threaten their ability to attain cognitive closure.”[12] Social dominance and unfamiliarity factor into rejection of transgenderism. People tend to react negatively or reject ideas divergent of their own thinking or beliefs. Jemma Tosh notes in her article “Psychology and Gender Dysphoria: Feminist and transgender perspectives”, “The hostility directed towards those who did not conform to gender norms, then [are] deeply embedded within societal understandings and perceptions of women and femininity... This increasing polarization of the sexes led to fewer experiences of cross-gendered behavior and less tolerance for those who did, particularly men. When men did show an interest in femininity or interests considered feminine, they were often ostracized and victimized.”[13] When children begin to express behaviors opposing their sex, they are often judged or criticized. If a child identifies as transgender, many studies display extreme psychological distress due to harmful perceptions from others. Transgender children face harassment, discrimination, abuse, and physical violence. Their situations worsen “when schools prevent transgender children from using the restrooms and locker rooms of their choice, they fertilize the stigmatization and victimization that lead to psychological distress.”[14] No matter where a person falls in the vast range of transgender individuals, he or she risks abuse from society. Youths are harassed by classmates for being different and in some cases may not be able to turn to their families for support because they will encounter more negative attitudes. Adults can face the same intolerance from peers and family as well as workplace discrimination and denial of parental rights.[15]
Gender dysphoria, or Gender Identity Disorder, is defined as the distress or discomfort that may occur when a person’s biological sex and gender identity do not align. The diagnosis of GID is caused by a persistent sense inappropriateness about one's anatomic sex and desire to live as a member of the opposite sex. In early studies, diagnostic criteria included nonconformity to masculine gender stereotypes and the display of feminine attributes for males. Some explain the cause of GID to be “developmental malleability and plasticity. It is possible, for example, that gender identity shows relative malleability during childhood, with a gradual narrowing of plasticity as the gendered sense of self consolidates as one approaches adolescence. As noted above, some support for this idea comes from follow-up studies of adolescents with GD, who appear to show a much higher rate of GD persistence as they are followed into young adulthood.”[16] However, Gender Dysphoria or Gender Identity Disorder can be viewed as a disturbance or mental disorder, which can paint transgenderism as a whole in a negative light or a condition that needs to be fixed or cured. This would suggest that transgender individuals could not thrive in normal conditions when accepted by peers and family; however, studies show that the suicide and depression rates for transgender individuals dramatically decrease when they have proper support. As Kelley Winters clarifies in Gender Madness in American Psychiatry, “The very name, Gender Identity Disorder, implies "disordered" gender identity: that our identities are themselves disordered or deficient; that our gender identities are not legitimate, but represent perversion, delusion or immature development. In other words, the current GID diagnosis in the DSMIV-TR implies that transwomen are nothing more than mentally ill women.”[17] Individuals who identify as transgender are vulnerable, and have higher rates of discrimination, depression, and suicidality, when compared with the general population. By a mean age of 13.5 years, 10% of transgender patients have attempted suicide. This number increases to 30% by a mean age of 19.2 years. Transgender adults have a lifetime suicide attempt rate of approximately 41%. Depression has been reported to affect 16.6% of the total population, and combined anxiety disorders affect 28.8% of the United States population.[18] Oftentimes, social stigma and exclusion play an important role on their mental health. Most humans worry about their acceptance by society, but this factor is amplified for those transitioning; the results of multiple studies reflect this conclusion.
Recent studies suggest that familial support and positive environments can restrict the rates of anxiety and depression for transgender youth. With the right support system, mental harm to transgender youth can be minimized. According to Jack Turban in Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth,
In 2015, transgender people and policy issues were frequently in the news, in contrast to their historically sparse presence. More specifically, lawsuits over bathroom policies received a lot of media attention. News stories discussing the risks and benefits of transitioning as an adolescent were also emerging. However, the extensive media coverage of Caitlyn Jenner’s transition, which was ongoing during the study period, generally eclipsed other transgender-related news. Although many Americans were familiar with Bruce Jenner, the 1976 world record-setting Olympic champion and member of the Kardashian family of reality TV, throughout decades in the limelight Jenner’s gender identity-related struggles remained private. Then, on April 24, 2015, more than 20 million people watched Jenner’s ABC 20/20 interview with reporter Diane Sawyer in which Jenner discussed her decision to transition from her birth sex (male) to her true gender identity (female). On June 1, Vanity Fair released its iconic “Call Me Caitlyn” cover, and on July 26 the E! reality series “I am Cait” premiered. During this time, fictional portrayals of transgender characters also increased in quantity.[11] Increased transgender representation within the media spreads knowledge about trans issues and lifestyles. Growing awareness and empathy for the transgender community is essential in supporting the growth and transition processes of transgender individuals and combatting the exponentially high suicide and depression rates.
It is common for harassment and hostility to be directed at newer gender identifications or gender nonconformity. Due to gender roles ingrained in society, anti-trans prejudice and polarization often arises. For humans, the “need for closure is defined as a person’s desire for order, structure, and nonambiguity. Persons who possess a high need for closure are motivated to avoid states of uncertainty that threaten their ability to attain cognitive closure.”[12] Social dominance and unfamiliarity factor into rejection of transgenderism. People tend to react negatively or reject ideas divergent of their own thinking or beliefs. Jemma Tosh notes in her article “Psychology and Gender Dysphoria: Feminist and transgender perspectives”, “The hostility directed towards those who did not conform to gender norms, then [are] deeply embedded within societal understandings and perceptions of women and femininity... This increasing polarization of the sexes led to fewer experiences of cross-gendered behavior and less tolerance for those who did, particularly men. When men did show an interest in femininity or interests considered feminine, they were often ostracized and victimized.”[13] When children begin to express behaviors opposing their sex, they are often judged or criticized. If a child identifies as transgender, many studies display extreme psychological distress due to harmful perceptions from others. Transgender children face harassment, discrimination, abuse, and physical violence. Their situations worsen “when schools prevent transgender children from using the restrooms and locker rooms of their choice, they fertilize the stigmatization and victimization that lead to psychological distress.”[14] No matter where a person falls in the vast range of transgender individuals, he or she risks abuse from society. Youths are harassed by classmates for being different and in some cases may not be able to turn to their families for support because they will encounter more negative attitudes. Adults can face the same intolerance from peers and family as well as workplace discrimination and denial of parental rights.[15]
Gender dysphoria, or Gender Identity Disorder, is defined as the distress or discomfort that may occur when a person’s biological sex and gender identity do not align. The diagnosis of GID is caused by a persistent sense inappropriateness about one's anatomic sex and desire to live as a member of the opposite sex. In early studies, diagnostic criteria included nonconformity to masculine gender stereotypes and the display of feminine attributes for males. Some explain the cause of GID to be “developmental malleability and plasticity. It is possible, for example, that gender identity shows relative malleability during childhood, with a gradual narrowing of plasticity as the gendered sense of self consolidates as one approaches adolescence. As noted above, some support for this idea comes from follow-up studies of adolescents with GD, who appear to show a much higher rate of GD persistence as they are followed into young adulthood.”[16] However, Gender Dysphoria or Gender Identity Disorder can be viewed as a disturbance or mental disorder, which can paint transgenderism as a whole in a negative light or a condition that needs to be fixed or cured. This would suggest that transgender individuals could not thrive in normal conditions when accepted by peers and family; however, studies show that the suicide and depression rates for transgender individuals dramatically decrease when they have proper support. As Kelley Winters clarifies in Gender Madness in American Psychiatry, “The very name, Gender Identity Disorder, implies "disordered" gender identity: that our identities are themselves disordered or deficient; that our gender identities are not legitimate, but represent perversion, delusion or immature development. In other words, the current GID diagnosis in the DSMIV-TR implies that transwomen are nothing more than mentally ill women.”[17] Individuals who identify as transgender are vulnerable, and have higher rates of discrimination, depression, and suicidality, when compared with the general population. By a mean age of 13.5 years, 10% of transgender patients have attempted suicide. This number increases to 30% by a mean age of 19.2 years. Transgender adults have a lifetime suicide attempt rate of approximately 41%. Depression has been reported to affect 16.6% of the total population, and combined anxiety disorders affect 28.8% of the United States population.[18] Oftentimes, social stigma and exclusion play an important role on their mental health. Most humans worry about their acceptance by society, but this factor is amplified for those transitioning; the results of multiple studies reflect this conclusion.
Recent studies suggest that familial support and positive environments can restrict the rates of anxiety and depression for transgender youth. With the right support system, mental harm to transgender youth can be minimized. According to Jack Turban in Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth,
“in a study of 55 transgender individuals who were followed from late childhood into young adulthood, gender affirmative hormonal and surgical care resulted in a population of transgender adults with global functioning indistinguishable from the general population. Data from the TransYouth project showed that pre-pubertal transgender children who are affirmed in their gender identities and allowed to socially transition (i.e., their families allow them to adopt names, dress, and pronouns in line with their gender identity) have developmentally normative rates of anxiety and depression.”[19]
It is extremely significant to note learn from the positive results of studies in aiding transitions for transgender youth. Acceptance can be difficult for parents who do not understand concepts of gender fluidly or refuse to acknowledge the possibility of having a transgender child. Emphasizing the benefits of transgender support by one’s families and communities can overweigh the hardships of acceptance. It is important to directly address transgender mental health issues in order to find solutions.
Hormones and surgery also have a major impact on the mental and physical states of transgender individuals. Transgender people who are in the beginning of their gender transition may be more likely to experience more distress due to denial, hiding, and suppression of their transgender identity, and they “may avoid social situations due to concerns about being judged by others for their appearance, especially if they do not ‘pass’ (i.e., are not perceived by others as their gender identity). Without taking the reasons behind these social patterns into account, transgender people may be assumed to be socially introverted or to have social deficits.”[20] Individuals who are in the beginning stages of their transition process use more avoidant coping, and thus experience more distress. Rejection or fear of exclusion can cause social withdrawals within trans youth. This reaction is often amplified by the disapproval of parental figures.
It is important to note that males and female do have certain distinct biological differences. More specifically, the brains of males and females have both structural and functional differences. Males generally have a larger cerebrum, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Females have a higher density in the left frontal lobes and larger volumes in the right frontal lobes Studies have shown that transgender brains align more similarly in terms of both structure and function with their gender identity rather than biological sex. In terms of brain structure, one study showed that transgender individuals’ hypothalamuses have a more similar thickness to their experienced gender than their sex. One study revealed that when individuals with gender dysphoria were exposed to the pheromone Androstadienone, which causes different hypothalamus responses in male and female brains, their hypothalamus’ responses aligned with their perceived gender rather than sex. This result can infer a split between the anatomical self and one’s psyche. Many studies point to the fact that the masculinization or feminization of the gonads do not always match with the brain. There can be major differences between one’s biological makeup and how one’s brain perceives their own body. Additionally, some scientists suggest that there is a genetic component in terms of how one perceives their gender identity. It has been said that gender incongruence can be an inherited trait. The CYP17 gene, which controls the body’s level of sex hormones, has a changed allele which is frequently found in trans men.[21]
The research literature for mental health outcomes in transgender individuals is more limited than the research on mental health outcomes in LGB populations. Because people openly identifying as transgender make up a very small proportion of the population, large population-based surveys and studies of such individuals are difficult if not impossible to conduct. Nevertheless, the limited available research strongly suggests that trans- gender people have increased risks of poor mental health outcomes. The question arises “whether gender identity is a fixed, innate, and biological trait, even when it does not correspond to biological sex, or whether environmental or psychological causes con- tribute to the development of a sense of gender identity in such cases.”[22] The issue is that there are no serial, longitudinal, or prospective studies looking at the brains of cross-gender identifying children who develop to later identify as transgender adults. Lack of this research severely limits our ability to understand causal relationships between brain morphology, or functional activity, and the later development of gender identity different from biological sex.[23]
Good research should include the corrupt parts and glorious parts of the present situation. Readers can learn from both the past and present. Describing the unpleasant points will help events like them not occur again, while describing the gratifying points can give readers a more hopeful outlook as well, so more people will to push for a better future. Also, when researchers pick and choose what is included, people base their opinions on incomplete information; It is a scientist’s job to be truthful. Objectivity is unattainable because everyone has a bias based on their values, experiences, race, gender, religion, lifestyle, and more. Objectivity should be kept it mind because one needs to recognize how other people think and why they may think that way. If one person’s point of view is the only thing a reader knows about an event, they will most likely heavily base their opinion on the author’s opinion. It isn’t possible for one person to know about all the points of view of one event without talking to others, so it is up to them to seek others out for their points of view and include the information they receive. Transgender struggles can be easily glorified, so it is the a researcher’s job to not twist facts and state events exactly how they happened.
Many research studies point to the deduction that anxiety and depressive rates are exponentially higher for trans youth when they are not accepted into mainstream society. This inference leads to the overarching dispute of what steps need to be taken in order to support transgender individuals and improve their mental health. The solution to accelerating the process of aiding and supporting transgender youth begins with increased education on transgender issues and emphasize the differences between gender and sex. The school system must alter the curriculum to support transgender youth and teach about gender roles and issues from a young age. Additionally, it is necessary to drastically expand the number and variety of research studies on transgender youth to be able to come to concrete conclusions about the physiology and health of transgender individuals. For the good of the transgender community and the empathy of everyone, transgender individuals must be accepted and supported by peers and family.
[1] Sean R. Atkinson and Darren Russell, AFP, vol. 44, Gender Dysphoria (n.p.: The Royal Australian College of General practitioners, 2015), Page 792, https://www.american.edu/library/.
[2] Alice H. Eagly, Anne E. Beall, and Robert J. Sternberg, eds., The Psychology of Gender, 2nd ed. (New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2004), 75-76.
[3] Sean R. Atkinson and Darren Russell, AFP, vol. 44, Gender Dysphoria (n.p.: The Royal Australian College of General practitioners, 2015), 792, https://www.american.edu/library/.
[4] Alice H. Eagly, Anne E. Beall, and Robert J. Sternberg, eds., The Psychology of Gender, 2nd ed. (New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2004), 74.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Cristan Williams, "Transgender," Transgender Studies Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-2400136.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Cristan Williams, "Transgender," Transgender Studies Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-2400136.
[10] Tracy K. Gillig et al., "More than a Media Moment: The Influence of Televised Storylines on Viewers' Attitudes toward Transgender People and Policies," Sex Roles, 516, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0816-1.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Esther N. Tebbe and Bonnie Moradi, "Anti-Transgender Prejudice: A Structural Equation Model of Associated Constructs," Journal of Counseling Psychology 59, no. 2 (2012), https://www.american.edu/library/.
[13] Jemma Tosh, Psychology and Gender Dysphoria: Feminist and transgender perspectives (London, UK: Routledge, 2016), 50.
[14] Alberto Arenas, Kristin L. Gunckel, and William L. Smith, "7 reasons for accommodating transgender students at school," The Phi Delta Kappan International 98, no. 1 (September 2016): 21, https://www.jstor.org/stable/24893302.
[15] Rebecca Callahan, "Bending Gender, Ending Gender: Theoretical Foundations for Social Work Practice with the Transgender Community," Social Work 54, no. 1 (January 2009): 88, https://www.jstor.org/stable/23721714.
[16] Michael Lewis and Karen D. Rudolph, eds., Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology, 3rd ed. (New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2014), 4008, https://www.american.edu/library/.
[17] Kelley Winters, Gender Madness in American Psychiatry: Essays from the Struggle for Dignity, text revision ed. (Dillon, CO: GID Reform Advocates, 2008), 46.
[18] Stephanie L. Budge, Jill L. Adelson, and Kimberly A. S. Howard, "Anxiety and Depression in Transgender Individuals: The Roles of Transition Status, Loss, Social Support, and Coping," Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 81, no. 3 (2013), https://www.american.edu/library/.
[19] Jack L. Turban, "Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth," abstract, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2018, 4008, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3603-0.
[20] Jack L. Turban, "Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth," abstract, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2018, 4008, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3603-0.
[21] Lawrence S. Mayer and Paul R. McHugh, "Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological, and Social Sciences," Center for the Study of Technology and Society, 75, https://www.jstor.org/stable/43893424.
[22] Lawrence S. Mayer and Paul R. McHugh, "Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological, and Social Sciences," Center for the Study of Technology and Society, 102, https://www.jstor.org/stable/43893424.
[23] Ibid.
Hormones and surgery also have a major impact on the mental and physical states of transgender individuals. Transgender people who are in the beginning of their gender transition may be more likely to experience more distress due to denial, hiding, and suppression of their transgender identity, and they “may avoid social situations due to concerns about being judged by others for their appearance, especially if they do not ‘pass’ (i.e., are not perceived by others as their gender identity). Without taking the reasons behind these social patterns into account, transgender people may be assumed to be socially introverted or to have social deficits.”[20] Individuals who are in the beginning stages of their transition process use more avoidant coping, and thus experience more distress. Rejection or fear of exclusion can cause social withdrawals within trans youth. This reaction is often amplified by the disapproval of parental figures.
It is important to note that males and female do have certain distinct biological differences. More specifically, the brains of males and females have both structural and functional differences. Males generally have a larger cerebrum, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Females have a higher density in the left frontal lobes and larger volumes in the right frontal lobes Studies have shown that transgender brains align more similarly in terms of both structure and function with their gender identity rather than biological sex. In terms of brain structure, one study showed that transgender individuals’ hypothalamuses have a more similar thickness to their experienced gender than their sex. One study revealed that when individuals with gender dysphoria were exposed to the pheromone Androstadienone, which causes different hypothalamus responses in male and female brains, their hypothalamus’ responses aligned with their perceived gender rather than sex. This result can infer a split between the anatomical self and one’s psyche. Many studies point to the fact that the masculinization or feminization of the gonads do not always match with the brain. There can be major differences between one’s biological makeup and how one’s brain perceives their own body. Additionally, some scientists suggest that there is a genetic component in terms of how one perceives their gender identity. It has been said that gender incongruence can be an inherited trait. The CYP17 gene, which controls the body’s level of sex hormones, has a changed allele which is frequently found in trans men.[21]
The research literature for mental health outcomes in transgender individuals is more limited than the research on mental health outcomes in LGB populations. Because people openly identifying as transgender make up a very small proportion of the population, large population-based surveys and studies of such individuals are difficult if not impossible to conduct. Nevertheless, the limited available research strongly suggests that trans- gender people have increased risks of poor mental health outcomes. The question arises “whether gender identity is a fixed, innate, and biological trait, even when it does not correspond to biological sex, or whether environmental or psychological causes con- tribute to the development of a sense of gender identity in such cases.”[22] The issue is that there are no serial, longitudinal, or prospective studies looking at the brains of cross-gender identifying children who develop to later identify as transgender adults. Lack of this research severely limits our ability to understand causal relationships between brain morphology, or functional activity, and the later development of gender identity different from biological sex.[23]
Good research should include the corrupt parts and glorious parts of the present situation. Readers can learn from both the past and present. Describing the unpleasant points will help events like them not occur again, while describing the gratifying points can give readers a more hopeful outlook as well, so more people will to push for a better future. Also, when researchers pick and choose what is included, people base their opinions on incomplete information; It is a scientist’s job to be truthful. Objectivity is unattainable because everyone has a bias based on their values, experiences, race, gender, religion, lifestyle, and more. Objectivity should be kept it mind because one needs to recognize how other people think and why they may think that way. If one person’s point of view is the only thing a reader knows about an event, they will most likely heavily base their opinion on the author’s opinion. It isn’t possible for one person to know about all the points of view of one event without talking to others, so it is up to them to seek others out for their points of view and include the information they receive. Transgender struggles can be easily glorified, so it is the a researcher’s job to not twist facts and state events exactly how they happened.
Many research studies point to the deduction that anxiety and depressive rates are exponentially higher for trans youth when they are not accepted into mainstream society. This inference leads to the overarching dispute of what steps need to be taken in order to support transgender individuals and improve their mental health. The solution to accelerating the process of aiding and supporting transgender youth begins with increased education on transgender issues and emphasize the differences between gender and sex. The school system must alter the curriculum to support transgender youth and teach about gender roles and issues from a young age. Additionally, it is necessary to drastically expand the number and variety of research studies on transgender youth to be able to come to concrete conclusions about the physiology and health of transgender individuals. For the good of the transgender community and the empathy of everyone, transgender individuals must be accepted and supported by peers and family.
[1] Sean R. Atkinson and Darren Russell, AFP, vol. 44, Gender Dysphoria (n.p.: The Royal Australian College of General practitioners, 2015), Page 792, https://www.american.edu/library/.
[2] Alice H. Eagly, Anne E. Beall, and Robert J. Sternberg, eds., The Psychology of Gender, 2nd ed. (New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2004), 75-76.
[3] Sean R. Atkinson and Darren Russell, AFP, vol. 44, Gender Dysphoria (n.p.: The Royal Australian College of General practitioners, 2015), 792, https://www.american.edu/library/.
[4] Alice H. Eagly, Anne E. Beall, and Robert J. Sternberg, eds., The Psychology of Gender, 2nd ed. (New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2004), 74.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Cristan Williams, "Transgender," Transgender Studies Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-2400136.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Cristan Williams, "Transgender," Transgender Studies Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-2400136.
[10] Tracy K. Gillig et al., "More than a Media Moment: The Influence of Televised Storylines on Viewers' Attitudes toward Transgender People and Policies," Sex Roles, 516, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0816-1.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Esther N. Tebbe and Bonnie Moradi, "Anti-Transgender Prejudice: A Structural Equation Model of Associated Constructs," Journal of Counseling Psychology 59, no. 2 (2012), https://www.american.edu/library/.
[13] Jemma Tosh, Psychology and Gender Dysphoria: Feminist and transgender perspectives (London, UK: Routledge, 2016), 50.
[14] Alberto Arenas, Kristin L. Gunckel, and William L. Smith, "7 reasons for accommodating transgender students at school," The Phi Delta Kappan International 98, no. 1 (September 2016): 21, https://www.jstor.org/stable/24893302.
[15] Rebecca Callahan, "Bending Gender, Ending Gender: Theoretical Foundations for Social Work Practice with the Transgender Community," Social Work 54, no. 1 (January 2009): 88, https://www.jstor.org/stable/23721714.
[16] Michael Lewis and Karen D. Rudolph, eds., Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology, 3rd ed. (New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2014), 4008, https://www.american.edu/library/.
[17] Kelley Winters, Gender Madness in American Psychiatry: Essays from the Struggle for Dignity, text revision ed. (Dillon, CO: GID Reform Advocates, 2008), 46.
[18] Stephanie L. Budge, Jill L. Adelson, and Kimberly A. S. Howard, "Anxiety and Depression in Transgender Individuals: The Roles of Transition Status, Loss, Social Support, and Coping," Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 81, no. 3 (2013), https://www.american.edu/library/.
[19] Jack L. Turban, "Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth," abstract, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2018, 4008, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3603-0.
[20] Jack L. Turban, "Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth," abstract, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2018, 4008, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3603-0.
[21] Lawrence S. Mayer and Paul R. McHugh, "Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological, and Social Sciences," Center for the Study of Technology and Society, 75, https://www.jstor.org/stable/43893424.
[22] Lawrence S. Mayer and Paul R. McHugh, "Sexuality and Gender: Findings from the Biological, Psychological, and Social Sciences," Center for the Study of Technology and Society, 102, https://www.jstor.org/stable/43893424.
[23] Ibid.
Works Cited
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Budge, Stephanie L., Jill L. Adelson, and Kimberly A. S. Howard. "Anxiety and Depression in Transgender Individuals: The Roles of Transition Status, Loss, Social Support, and Coping." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 81, no. 3 (2013): 545-57. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Crisler, Joan C., and Donald R. McCreary, eds. Gender Research in General and Experimental Psychology. Vol. 1 of Handbook of Gender Research in Psychology. New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2010. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Eagly, Alice H., Anne E. Beall, and Robert J. Sternberg, eds. The Psychology of Gender. 2nd ed. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2004.
Fast, Irene. Advances in Psychoanalysis Theory, Research, and Practice. Vol. 2 of Gender Identity: A Differentiation Model. Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press, 1984.
Hausman, Bernice L. Changing Sex: Transsexualism, Technology, and the Idea of Gender. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1995.
Keo-Meier, Colton L., Sari L. Reisner, Levi I. Herman, and Seth T. Pardo. "Testosterone Treatment and MMPI–2 Improvement in Transgender Men: A Prospective Controlled Study." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 83, no. 1 (2015): 143-56. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Lewis, Michael, and Karen D. Rudolph, eds. Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2014. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Matthis, Irene, ed. Dialogues on Sexuality, Gender, and Psychoanalysis. London, UK: Karnac, 2004.
Nagoshi, Julie L., Craig T. Nagoshi, and Stephan/ie Brzuzy. Gender and Sexual Identity: Transcending Feminist and Queer Theory. New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2014.
Pullen, Christopher, ed. LGBT Transnational Identity and the Media. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Tebbe, Esther N., and Bonnie Moradi. "Anti-Transgender Prejudice: A Structural Equation Model of Associated Constructs." Journal of Counseling Psychology 59, no. 2 (2012): 251-61. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Tosh, Jemma. Psychology and Gender Dysphoria: Feminist and transgender perspectives. London, UK: Routledge, 2016.
Turban, Jack L. "Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth." Abstract. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2018, 4007-09. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3603-0.
Winters, Kelley. Gender Madness in American Psychiatry: Essays from the Struggle for Dignity. Text Revision ed. Dillon, CO: GID Reform Advocates, 2008.
Budge, Stephanie L., Jill L. Adelson, and Kimberly A. S. Howard. "Anxiety and Depression in Transgender Individuals: The Roles of Transition Status, Loss, Social Support, and Coping." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 81, no. 3 (2013): 545-57. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Crisler, Joan C., and Donald R. McCreary, eds. Gender Research in General and Experimental Psychology. Vol. 1 of Handbook of Gender Research in Psychology. New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2010. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Eagly, Alice H., Anne E. Beall, and Robert J. Sternberg, eds. The Psychology of Gender. 2nd ed. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2004.
Fast, Irene. Advances in Psychoanalysis Theory, Research, and Practice. Vol. 2 of Gender Identity: A Differentiation Model. Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press, 1984.
Hausman, Bernice L. Changing Sex: Transsexualism, Technology, and the Idea of Gender. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1995.
Keo-Meier, Colton L., Sari L. Reisner, Levi I. Herman, and Seth T. Pardo. "Testosterone Treatment and MMPI–2 Improvement in Transgender Men: A Prospective Controlled Study." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 83, no. 1 (2015): 143-56. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Lewis, Michael, and Karen D. Rudolph, eds. Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2014. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Matthis, Irene, ed. Dialogues on Sexuality, Gender, and Psychoanalysis. London, UK: Karnac, 2004.
Nagoshi, Julie L., Craig T. Nagoshi, and Stephan/ie Brzuzy. Gender and Sexual Identity: Transcending Feminist and Queer Theory. New York, NY: Springer Science and Business Media, 2014.
Pullen, Christopher, ed. LGBT Transnational Identity and the Media. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Tebbe, Esther N., and Bonnie Moradi. "Anti-Transgender Prejudice: A Structural Equation Model of Associated Constructs." Journal of Counseling Psychology 59, no. 2 (2012): 251-61. https://www.american.edu/library/.
Tosh, Jemma. Psychology and Gender Dysphoria: Feminist and transgender perspectives. London, UK: Routledge, 2016.
Turban, Jack L. "Potentially Reversible Social Deficits Among Transgender Youth." Abstract. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2018, 4007-09. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3603-0.
Winters, Kelley. Gender Madness in American Psychiatry: Essays from the Struggle for Dignity. Text Revision ed. Dillon, CO: GID Reform Advocates, 2008.