Transgender activism

2007-10-27T23:16:29Z

Gf1230:

'''Transgender activism''' is based on the premise (or claim) that
a person who feels they have been "born into the wrong body" has a right to a [[sex change]]. Through cosmetics, grooming, [[cross-dressing|clothing]] and an official name change, such a person can adopt the opposite sex's [[gender]] role.

Whether seeking a [[sex change]] is linked to [[sexual orientation]] is hotly disputed in the political arena of Western countries, where most [[sex change]]s have occurred. Some advocates have promoted the notion of a [[gender identity disorder]] to justify a sex change.

[[J. Michael Bailey]], a sex researcher at Northwestern University who was forced to resign his position as chair of the psychology department for ethics violations, published a book called ''[[The Man Who Would Be Queen]]'' which sharply disagrees with commonly proposed transsexual models. Dr. Bailey argued that MTF sex changes are motivated primarily by erotic interests and not by the problem of having the [[gender identity]] common to one sex in the body of the other. [http://www.bioethics.northwestern.edu/faculty/work/dreger/controversy_tmwwbq.pdf]

Dr. Alice D. Dreger wrote:
*In his work on transsexualism, [[Blanchard]] argued that there are actually two types of male-to-female transsexuals, with autogynephiles being one type and “[[homosexual]] transsexuals” being the other. ... he argued that male-to-female homosexual transsexuals who opt to undergo sex reassignment do so, in part, because being a woman makes more sense than trying to live as a very effeminate man attracted to heterosexual men.[http://www.bioethics.northwestern.edu/faculty/work/dreger/controversy_tmwwbq.pdf]

==External links==
*[http://www.bioethics.northwestern.edu/faculty/work/dreger/controversy_tmwwbq.pdf The Controversy Surrounding The Man Who Would Be Queen: A Case History of the Politics of Science, Identity, and Sex in the Internet Age] - Alice D. Dreger, Ph.D.

[[category:politics]]

Transgenderism

2007-10-27T23:13:18Z

Gf1230:

The theory of '''sex change''' is based on the notion that a person of one sex can be born "trapped" in an opposite-sex body. The theory plays havoc with traditional ideas of [[masculinity]] and [[femininity]]. It has been embraced primarily by advocates of the 1960s [[sexual revolution]] such as [[homosexual rights]] activists.

Transgendered patients seek to undergo surgical sex change operations (also known as gender reassignment surgery) to change their external appearance to to that of the gender with which they identify. Patients often undergo psychotherapy, hormone treatment, and facial surgery as well. In the United States, a patient must undergo years of counciling before being approved for the surgery. Patients sometimes choose to have the surgery done abroad in places like [[Thailand]], where anyone with the money can have the surgery.

==Legality==

Different states have different laws reguarding the status of people who have had sex change operations. Generally, their birth certificates are reissued with their new gender. Since they are not required to divorce before surgery, this could lead do de-facto [[same sex marriage]] if they stay with their spouse.

==Opposition==

[[J. Michael Bailey]] wrote a book which disagrees with the "born trapped" theory.
*In his book, he argued that some people born male who want to cross genders are driven primarily by an erotic fascination with themselves as women. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/health/psychology/21gender.html?ex=1345348800&en=0c1176374e251f82&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss ]
However, since the publication of his book, Bailey was forced to resign his position as chair of the psychology department at Northwestern University pending the results of an ethics investigation conducted by the university. [http://chronicle.com/daily/2004/12/2004120103n.htm]

Dr. Bailey has come under tremendous social and administrative pressure from academics who disagree with his scientific views. This pressure is related both to scientific disagreement and the to the implications of his theory.

==Famous Patients==

*Christine (George) Jorgensen: An American [[World War II]] veteran, George became Christine in a 1952 operation. This was the first widely publicized sex change surgery.<ref>[http://www.christinejorgensen.org/ Christine Jorgensen site]</ref>
*Jan (James) Morris: A British [[World War II]] veteran, reporter, and father, Morris underwent sex change surgery in 1972.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/profile/profile_jan_morris.shtml Jan Morris: A Profile]</ref>
*Dr. Rene Richards (Richard Raskin): An American doctor and tennis player. Richards made waves in 1976, when she entered amature [[tennis]] competitions as a woman.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/garden/01renee.html The Lady Regrets]</ref>

[[category:biology]]
[[Category:psychology]]
[[Category:politics]]

==References==

<references/>

Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Transgender activism

Transgenderism