What Is Transsexualism: Definition And Reasons

A common theme in science fiction films of the 20th century is the transfer of consciousness from one body to another. After going through many adventures and dangers, the hero finds himself in his own mortal shell and feels as if he had returned home from a dangerous journey. Everyone is happy, happy end!

The content of the article

• 1 What is transsexualism?
• 2 First sex reassignment surgery
• 3 Causes of the Transgender Mistake
• 4 Transsexualism in historical perspective
• 5 Transsexualism in the modern world
• 6 Consequences of being transgender
• 7 Transgender transition
• 8 Controversy around the topic
• 9 Transsexualism: different attitudes

And if you haven't returned? And if you have to stay in someone else's unpleasant body forever? It is difficult to imagine the depth of despair. To live in a body that you hate and don't accept. There is no need to talk about a happy future. There remains one obsessive thought - more likely it would all be over. Just make it to the end. And if he doesn't come, then bring him closer artificially …

According to experts, this is how a person feels who knows firsthand what transsexualism is.

What is it and how dangerous is it for society and for the person himself?

What is transsexualism? I

This is when nature is mistaken, and the male consciousness appears in the female body, or vice versa. At first glance, everything is clear, and it is even clear what to do next. But controversy around this does not subside. Why?

There are two reasons:

- firstly, as always, society rejects those who do not understand and who do not meet the standards;

- secondly, schizophrenics or transvestites are mistaken for transsexuals or transgender people, as they have come to be called.

According to various sources, transsexuals are not often born: 1 in 40 or 150 thousand. Most often these are men, women among all less than 30%.

Transsexualism is characterized by a clear need to change the existing gender. Nowadays, there are many stories in which a person who underwent a sex change procedure did not become happier. There were even cases when people came to the clinic and asked to return the lost. It is safe to say that they were not transgender.

First sex reassignment surgery2

In this sense, the story of the first sex change operation looks very characteristic. It was made in 1972 in Riga by a very beautiful woman, 38 years old, with a higher engineering education. She was so beautiful that the doctors, placing her on the operating table, canceled the operation, explaining that they could not destroy such beauty.

They changed their minds when they noticed that a woman was collecting sleeping pills around the hospital. As soon as the operation was performed, the man drastically changed his behavior from a female to a male. And I felt completely happy.

This is precisely the state that is typical for transgender people (for some time now the word "transsexual" has been considered incorrect). A person constantly feels like in a cage. No amount of talking, psychological counseling and other things help.

By the way, as in the case of homosexuals, for a long time transsexualism was considered a mental illness. And people were tortured with drugs and psychotherapy. Clinical practice and research show that no means other than gender reassignment, in this case, help to restore mental balance.

Causes of the Transgender Mistake3

So far, no one has clearly expressed the reasons for transsexualism. At the end of the 20th century, there was a theory about the occurrence of gender dysphoria as a result of improper upbringing, but it did not receive confirmation. Although at one time they tried to treat such people, recognizing them as sick. However, not a single case of such treatment was successful.

There is a theory that the reason lies in a change in certain parts of the brain. But it remains unclear why these changes are taking place. Whether the mother carrying the child is to blame for this is heredity or hormonal disruptions - there is no answer yet.

Transsexualism in a Historical Perspective4

There is no need to say that transsexualism is the brainchild of the new era. Researchers claim that such people have existed at all times and eras. But the attitude towards them was almost always negative.

The exception is the Indian tribes of North America. There, people of unknown sex were treated with respect, attributing unique qualities to them.

In Oceania, a transgender person had a very special status, almost priestly. He was a ticket to adulthood - the first sexual experience men of this tribe received with this particular person.

Transsexualism in the modern world5

In today's world, the outlook on transsexuals is changing towards loyalty. More than 50 countries have passed laws that protect their rights. The situation in the post-Soviet countries remains difficult. Although the Republic of Belarus differs from other countries in that sex reassignment surgery can be done here for free.

However, the general situation will not change as long as transgenderness remains a mental disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

There is the ICD-11 project, in which transsexuality is excluded from the list of mental illnesses, and has even ceased to be called that, now it is gender dysphoria. But if it is adopted, the document will take effect from January 1, 2022. So far, the situation of such people cannot be called easy. In Russia, it takes a long way to get what you want. In Belarus, to get on the commission, you need to undergo examinations for two years.

Consequences of being transgender6

But the one who nevertheless passes this path remains the winner. Since psychologists note that without sex reassignment surgery, such people have serious problems:

• addiction;
• suicidal tendencies;
• depression;
• severe psychological conditions;
• feeling lonely;
• public rejection.

And only the transgender transition gives liberation and the possibility of peaceful coexistence with oneself and the world around us.

Transgender transition7

Quite simply, it is the action that puts everything in its place.

But in Russia, people who decide to act in this direction go through many paths. And it so happens that not everyone can withstand the stress.

First, you need to go through numerous studies, as a result of which a sexologist, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, therapist, gynecologist (urologist) make their diagnoses. Each doctor has the right to prescribe his own tests and various research methods.

Then a special commission is assembled, which includes doctors (psychiatrists, sexologists) and representatives of 4 ministries (justice, education, defense, internal affairs). If this commission gave a positive answer, then everything begins.

Hormone therapy first. Then preparation for the operation, the operations themselves. There are several of them: on the external genitals, and there can also be several of them, as well as face and body plastic.

Then the name in the passport, in education documents and other documents, legal gender and gender role changes.

Throughout all stages, the patient is provided with psychotherapeutic assistance.

This whole chain takes a year or more. In Russia, operations cost from 500 to 800 thousand rubles.

And then there are non-medical contraindications. There is no transgender transition if a person is under 21 years old, if there is a family and children.

However, numerous studies and clinical practice have shown that such a path can be considered the only one in achieving the most positive effect. This is confirmed by studies that say that only 1% of patients regret the path traveled.

Read everything about who transgender people are and what their role in society is in our article.

Controversy around the topic8

Why, then, are there disputes around this topic?

The fact is that such a deviation - inconsistency with the sex given by nature - is characteristic of schizophrenics. And doctors need to be very serious about a positive decision to change sex.

As you know, schizophrenia is a poorly diagnosed disease. In this case, the person should be treated as mentally ill. Experts estimate that more than 25% of schizophrenics try to talk about gender reassignment.

In the case of a transgender person, doctors are obliged to intervene surgically. Psychotherapists only help a person to adapt to new living conditions.

And there is one more aspect that attracts unhealthy interest in this topic. Transgender people are often confused with transvestites. However, these are people who really strive for shocking and provocative behavior. It is they (again, of course, not all) that contribute to the rejection of transgender people in society. Transvestites do not strive for gender reassignment, they identify themselves with a given gender by nature. By dressing in clothes unusual for the sex they pursue their own goals, known only to them.

Transsexualism: Different Attitude9

There are two poles of attitudes towards transsexuals:

1. Most Western confessions are loyal to transgender people, even allowing them to receive holy orders. The only church that came out strongly against was the Russian Orthodox Church. She considers such people an insult to the Creator.

2. It was noted that most transsexuals live in Thailand. Scientists note that gender reassignment surgeries are not performed there by real transgender people, who do not think of their future life without reassigning sex, but people who have succumbed to fashion.

The conclusion is unequivocal - transsexualism can in no way be called a threat to society. The only affected party is the transgender people themselves, and attitudes towards them are another maturity test for the whole society.