The last ten years of research seems to support the prevailing theory?

Question

The last ten years of research seems to support the prevailing theory among researchers and doctors, that gender dysphoriea [Transsexualisum] is not a mantel disorder, but rather a birth defect. Much the same as being born with a bad heart valve.
There is an anatomical difference between a male and a female brain. It possible to hand a medical student a human brain and ask the student; "Is this brain male or female?" and by checking certain structures IN the brain the student can say that the brain is either male or female. But the student may not be able to say if it's from a man or a woman it MAY be from a gender dysphoric person.
The most compelling and thorough research was performed postmortem on the brains of 18 Male-to-females. In ALL 18 cases the brains were anatomically female.
IF this research turns out to be right… Will you reevaluate your personal position regarding transsexuals?

Dear Amy,
Thank you so much for your input
I wish I could post a huggy smiley here for you.
I KNOW there has been other research dun as well.
I believe there is currently a study underway at U of M involving MRIs and CTscans of the brains of transsexual volunteers… It seems to me I remember reading that someplace but…
It took me a few minutes to find the link I was thinking of
http://www.genderpsychology.org/psychology/BSTc.html

Answer 1

I think you're referring to the research of Drs. Zhou, Gooren, Hofman and Swaab into the physical differences in the limbic nucleus....here are some links to the papers;

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/85/5/2034
http://www.symposion.com/ijt/ijtc0106.htm

(The second link is slightly easier to read, IMO.)

I have to say, it doesn't cause me to re-evaluate my personal position at all; I'm transsexual - I've ALWAYS known there is a difference. Transsexualism isn't a 'birth defect'; it's a congenital neurological condition.

Answer 2

A very good question but the link would have added validity to it.I know the study you are talking about but I'm not sure where I can find the link.Anyways the danish did the study and they autopsied straight men and women as well as gay men and lesbian women plus as you quoted 18 mtf transexual women and one ftm transman.The study of the brain was about comparing the amygdala(I hope I spelled that correctly)between men and women and gay men and women and transexual men and women.The amygdala is supposed to be gender specific and in a minute you'll hopefully understand why.The amydala in men is significantly larger then in women.The gay men the transman and the heterosexual men all had roughly the same size amygdala if I rember right about almond sized.The women lesbian and trans and hetero all had the smaller amygdala associated with a female gendered brain .The transexuals were all varying some had hormones and srs some didn't take any hormones or have surgery but simply professed to being transexual before death others simply took hormones.Forgive me for being vague as all of that information is of the top of my head from reading the study previously but I'm confident I got it right minus the exact total of participants and how many of each type of transexual was autopsied.As for will it change my opinion of transexuals probably not since I'm one myself and know the truth.Will it change my position on heterosexual bigots, still not enough to say I told you so in their own ignorant little way they'll figure out some stupid or petty way to deny the truth.

Answer 3

Yeah sure and next year a study at MIT will say the exact opposite, no doubt. Don't you ever watch the news? In the last 20 years, coffee has been bad for us and good for us at least 50 times. Back and forth the "studies" go.

I don't have an opinion though, about transsexuals. I figure that being a transsexual, they have enough problems without hearing my opinion.

Answer 4

NO. That would being denying the truth that the research is finding out.

(There is also evidence that gays and lesbians have brain structures that do not "Fit" within the typical male or female brain structure.)

Answer 5

My personal position regarding transsexuals has always been that they know better than anyone else what gender they really are, and they should do whatever they need to to be happy.

Answer 6

If this research is better than the research that comes up with a missing link every few years, or the research that proves evolution, maybe

Answer 7

I don't know anything about them to allow me to have a personal opinion. Seems to be a tough gig, though. One worked in a store I visited occasionally, seemed an okay person. Committed suicide, eventually.

Answer 8

My personal position is 'live and let live'. And I hope I never have to see their brains, by the way.

But I don't like the word 'defect' - it implies straight superiority, and I don't believe that.

Answer 9

Have they found the part of the brain that proves all men are sinners and all in need a savior?

Answer 10

It doesn't matter what the research says, I don't have a negative view of transsexuals.