As a person who have a very close member of my family who is a transsexual, I had to read and learn a lot about this subject, and I have been listening and living the experience of how society reject and judge this group of human been who's mayor problem is that they are misunderstood because society don't understand that transsexualism is not a choice, is not a decision is a condition that the person have to deal with. They are labeled as sexual perverts, people who only place in the society is the prostitution, as low living human been. Is very sad to look at a very nice sweet person, who came from a high middle class family, with a bachelor degree, graduated with honors, with more than 10 years of labor experience, having to conform with a minimum wage salary job, been rejected by an insensible and ignorant society and over all, knowing that nobody will see her as a suitable couple in a love relationship and all because people believe that gender is determined by your anatomy.
2006-11-29 00:42:12 · 8 answers · asked by oyanze 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Hey there, I really like your question and I'm glad you've taken the time to understand what it's like for transsexuals. I myself, am a transsexual. I am female to male though. I'm 100% "passable" though, so now I don't get many problems from people other than that they think I'm a gay man, which I find a little funny.
After reading some of the other answers, it still never ceases to amaze me how many people think that your biological sex organs defines you as male or female. It is true, your chromosomes define your birth sex, however, it does NOT define you as "male" or "female". "Male" and "female" are GENDER terms as well, and a persons GENDER, (which is the role they play in society in regards to cultural norms for that birth sex) are not clearly defined, because they lie in the mind of the individual and their own gender identification.
SEX on the other hand, is the biological chomosomal makeup that makes one "male" or "female". It is the XX or XY chromosomes. A person can be a male SEX but a female GENDER, or a FEMALE sex and a MALE gender. THAT'S where a lot of misunderstanding occurs when trying to understand transsexualism. The best way I've explained it before is that SEX is between the legs and GENDER is between the ears.
Some people have answered that if they have a "thingy" or "organ" they are male and if they don't, they are female. This is not entirely true either. Sometimes, a baby can be born with ambiguous genetalia, or a male can be born with no penis, but still have the inside reproductive system of a male (like with undescended testicles). External genetalia is NOT a true indicator of a person's sex. Says who? A doctor that looks down and announces "it's a girl" or "it's a boy"? So we develop our whole lives based on someone else's perceptions?? And no one has ever questioned it??? I'm sorry, but that sounds a bit odd to me. Why do we always trust doctor's so much? Just because the doctor that delivered me said "it has a vagina, it's a girl" does NOT mean that's how I feel in my mind. That doctor had no way of knowing the role I'd play in society at my birth.
And also, I wanted to mention that you are completely correct on the treatment of transsexuals. A lot of people think they are only good for pornography because that's all MANY of them can find. You wanna complain about how they are prostitutes, but no one wants to give them a chance for honest, decent employment either. Many lose their families, their jobs, and much more when they decide to undergo their transition process. People view us as freaks and worse, simply because they don't UNDERSTAND us. Many transsexuals are actually VERY intelligent people. That's obvious just by seeing how many people DONT understand the difference between sex and gender and how WE do. Relationships are also hard because a lot of people don't want to step out of that "comfort zone". That's the same reason they are afraid of us. We're out of their "comfort zone". We make them think, and especially if a non trans person finds themself attracted to a trans person, it forces them to question THEMSELVES, and rather than question themselves, or their OWN sexuality, they question ours. It's a defense mechanism.
I really wish some day people would wake up and realize that we are people too, and we still think, breathe, and have feelings that can and DO get hurt just like any other human being. We're all here on the planet for only a limited amount of time. Why can't we all just live and let live so that everyone has the opportunity to make the most of it?
2006-11-29 01:55:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with most of what you say. I am a man because:
1. I have the tools
2. I feel comfortable and happy as a man, I would not feel comfortable in the body of a woman.
Sexual identification and gender identification is two seperate issues. A transexual is not necessarily gay. It is rather his/her gender that is the problem and not his/her attraction to a specific gender.
I do not understand much about transgerdered people, but believe they fight even WORSE battles of discrimination than us gays.
2006-11-29 01:17:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well... certainly your biological id (chromosomes), but to our days your sex is also defined and from your social status, meaning the sex you'll choose during your social encounters. From the other hand, is there any biological difference between me (straight man) and your relative (TS)? I guess there is none... So what's our difference then? Can't we say that the only difference is just mental? So, following this logic, can't we at least show some understanding to those who misunderstand TS's and lead to their social isolation? Bottom line... male or female makes us all our biological, mental and social entities!
2006-11-29 01:16:37 · answer #3 · answered by plutonas2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
X and Y chromozones are what science says makes you male or female.
but when it comes to pre-existence of the spirit and judgment of God there may be terms of justice and choice mixxed in with the production of DNA.
2006-11-29 00:45:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's a pretty loaded question when you have already made your opinion so adament
2006-11-29 00:45:17 · answer #5 · answered by Johnny T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were born with a thingy then you are male if you weren't born with one then you are female.
2006-11-29 01:30:55 · answer #6 · answered by ncc742 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my sex organ and sexual characteristics
2006-11-29 00:59:30 · answer #7 · answered by venus11224 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my organ
2006-11-29 00:45:17 · answer #8 · answered by Dr Dee 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋