Explaining Transgenderism, It's Terminology and Categories
It's important to note that the term transgendered describes several distinct but related
groups of people, many of whom use a variety of other terms to self-identify. For
example, many transsexuals see themselves as a separate group, and do not want to be
included under the umbrella term transgendered. Many post-operative transsexuals no
longer consider themselves to be transsexual. Some non-operative transsexuals identify
themselves as transgender. Genderqueer refers to a gender variant person whose gender
identity is neither male nor female, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination
of genders.
Despite this variation in terminology, most trans people will agree that their selfidentification
is an important personal right.
Who are crossdressers?
Crossdressers are the largest group of transgendered persons. Although most
crossdressers are heterosexual men, there are also gay and bisexual men, as well as
lesbians, bisexual and straight women, who crossdress. Most male crossdressers are
married and many have children. The vast majority live in secrecy about their
transgendered status. Unlike transsexuals, they do not wish to change their physical sex.
Who are intersexed people?
Intersex people are born with chromosomal anomalies or ambiguous genitalia. Those
with unusual genitalia are often subjected to surgical "normalization" procedures from
infancy to adolescence, which usually results in loss of sexual response in adulthood. The
Intersexed Society of North America has labeled this practice Infant Genital Mutilation.
Some intersexed infants have even been sexually reassigned - without their consent - and
later in life develop gender identity issues as transsexual people.
What causes transsexualism?
No one really knows for sure, but there have been many studies, research and investigations
into the subject of Transsexualism that leads to the belief it is caused by the bathing of
the fetus by opposite birth sex hormones while in utero, or perhaps by some spontaneous
genetic mutation, which is also one of the theories of the origin of homosexuality.
Transsexual persons include female-to-male (FTM) transmen as well as the more familiar
male-to female (MTF) transwomen. Due to the intensity of their gender dysphoria, they
come to feel they can no longer continue living in the gender associated with their
physical (birth) sex. Studies have been performed on cadaver brains comparing genetic female
brains to Male to Female Transsexual brains and have found that both are very similiar in
comparison. The comparison has also been done comparing Genetic male brains to Male to
Female Transsexual brains and found that they actually do not resemble a genetic male brain
in comparison. Australian researchers have identified a significant link between a gene
involved in testosterone action and male-to-female transsexualism. DNA analysis from 112
male-to-female transsexual volunteers showed they were more likely to have a longer version
of the androgen receptor gene. However, other genes are also likely to play a part, they
stressed. Increasingly, biological factors are being implicated in gender identity.
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