TransgenderismTransgenderism

By Maureen KimaniBy Maureen Kimani

April 24, 2005April 24, 2005

What is Transgenderism?What is Transgenderism?

People who were assigned a gender, People who were assigned a gender, usually at birth and based on their usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that this is a genitals, but who feel that this is a false or incomplete description of false or incomplete description of themselves.themselves.

Usually describes an umbrella of Usually describes an umbrella of people that include people that are people that include people that are between the two sexesbetween the two sexes

Directions of Directions of TransgenderTransgender

TransmanTransman Female to maleFemale to male

TranswomanTranswoman Male to femaleMale to female

Ratio is slowly Ratio is slowly

becoming 1:1becoming 1:1

Some sub-categories….Some sub-categories…. TranssexualsTranssexuals

Individuals that establish permanent identity Individuals that establish permanent identity with the opposite sexwith the opposite sex

Cross-dressersCross-dressers Individuals who enjoy wearing clothing of the Individuals who enjoy wearing clothing of the

opposite sexopposite sex Sometimes, sexual preference does not Sometimes, sexual preference does not

change, usually remain heterosexualchange, usually remain heterosexual TransgendersTransgenders

Androgynous representation of gender, Androgynous representation of gender, neither “male” or “female” neither “male” or “female”

TransvestitesTransvestites Individuals who behave or dresses in a manner Individuals who behave or dresses in a manner

that is characteristic of the other sexthat is characteristic of the other sex

How do we determine How do we determine gender?gender?

Genetic genderGenetic gender Our chromosomal inheritanceOur chromosomal inheritance

Physical genderPhysical gender Our primary and secondary sexual characteristicsOur primary and secondary sexual characteristics

““Brain gender”Brain gender” Functional structure of the brain, along gender Functional structure of the brain, along gender

lineslines ““Brain sex”Brain sex”

Love and sex patternsLove and sex patterns Gender IdentityGender Identity

Our subjective gender, what we feel ourselves to be Our subjective gender, what we feel ourselves to be

TypesTypes

1.1. Recognition that one’s brain gender Recognition that one’s brain gender is different from one’s physical is different from one’s physical gendergender

Largest group of transgendered (75-Largest group of transgendered (75-95%)95%)

Ex: “woman trapped in a man’s body” Ex: “woman trapped in a man’s body” and the need to express one’s feminine and the need to express one’s feminine side side

Usually results in surface changes Usually results in surface changes (wigs, makeup, crossdressing, etc)(wigs, makeup, crossdressing, etc)

Types (cont.)Types (cont.)

2.2. Accepting one’s true selfAccepting one’s true self Stage where one accepts the “instinct” Stage where one accepts the “instinct”

sex and begins to make lifestyle changes sex and begins to make lifestyle changes to accommodate thisto accommodate this

May publically appear as the other genderMay publically appear as the other gender Begins physical transition (hormones, Begins physical transition (hormones,

electrolysis, surgery, wigs, makeup, make-electrolysis, surgery, wigs, makeup, make-up, clothes)up, clothes)

Still believe physical form defines gender Still believe physical form defines gender (still under control of “innate” persona)(still under control of “innate” persona)

Types (cont.)Types (cont.)

3.3. Becoming one’s true selfBecoming one’s true self Least experienced stageLeast experienced stage Person born male is able to fully Person born male is able to fully

dismantle all male characteristics, and dismantle all male characteristics, and break free, allowing them to develop break free, allowing them to develop different values, temperament, and different values, temperament, and actions and vice versaactions and vice versa

Some info….Some info….

Symbol is the combination of the male, Symbol is the combination of the male, female and male-female signfemale and male-female sign

Term “transgender” also used to Term “transgender” also used to describe individuals that:describe individuals that: live with a gender role that was not assigned live with a gender role that was not assigned

at birth and do not wish to undergo medical at birth and do not wish to undergo medical optionsoptions

do not want to ID themselves as transsexuals do not want to ID themselves as transsexuals but can be characterized as suchbut can be characterized as such

fall between genders, neither male or femalefall between genders, neither male or female

Transgenderism and Transgenderism and ThailandThailand

Gatoei/Gatuhy/KathoeyGatoei/Gatuhy/Kathoey

Roughly 180k in ThailandRoughly 180k in Thailand Men view themselves as Men view themselves as

women, but still have male women, but still have male reproductive organs reproductive organs Because sex changes illegal Because sex changes illegal Still legally considered Still legally considered

malesmales More acceptable than More acceptable than

being homosexualbeing homosexual Embarrassment for Thai Embarrassment for Thai

middle class because middle class because western nations only have western nations only have males and femalesmales and females

Gatoei/Gatuhy/KathoeyGatoei/Gatuhy/Kathoey

There is a constant fear that a male There is a constant fear that a male seeking a female could find one and seeking a female could find one and discover that they are not really discover that they are not really females, but “gatoei” or physically females, but “gatoei” or physically malesmales

In Buddhism, Tipitaka literature In Buddhism, Tipitaka literature state that there are many genders state that there are many genders Because of violation of heterosexual Because of violation of heterosexual

moves in previous lifemoves in previous life

MaleMale or or FemaleFemale????????

MaleMale or or FemaleFemale????????

Males….Males….

Females….Females….

SourcesSources

www.wikipedia.org-www.wikipedia.org- Online Online encyclopediaencyclopedia

www.ntac.orgwww.ntac.org – National – National Transgender Advocacy CoalitionTransgender Advocacy Coalition

www.fridae.com- Gatoei informationwww.fridae.com- Gatoei information www.about.com- General www.about.com- General

transgender informationtransgender information