Transsexual
A transsexual is a person who establishes a permanent identity with the opposite gender to his or her birth sex. The typical explanation is of a "man trapped in a woman's body" or vice versa. A transsexual makes or desires to make a transition from their birth sex to another gender, with some type of medical alteration to their body (which may be hormonally induced, not necessarily surgical).
Transsexual is one of a number of behaviours collectively referred to as transgender. Transsexuals should not be confused with transvestic fetishists, drag queens, or cross-dressers.
Not all transsexuals have sexual reassignment surgery, although many do. More opt for hormonal therapies to effect body changes than those who also opt for surgery. For male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals, taking estrogens causes the growth of breasts, with concomitant enlargement of the nipples, and redistribution of body fat, among other changes. Permanent removal of facial hair is accomplished with electrolysis or laser hair removal. For female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals, taking androgens (i.e. testosteron) causes a shrinking of breasts, usually some enlargement of the clitoris, growth of body and facial hair, and redistribution of body fat, among other changes. Some individuals choose to self-administer their medication (do-it-yourself), however this route is potentially dangerous. Consultation and supervision by a trained physician is highly recommended.
Those who have not undergone SRS are known as "pre-operational" ("pre-op") and those who have, "post-operational" ("post-op"). Some choose to describe themselves as "non-op", indicating that they have not undergone SRS, nor do they intend to do so.
Generally speaking, physicians who perform sex-reassignment surgery require the patient to live as the opposite gender in all possible ways for at least a year ("cross-live") prior to the start of surgery in order to assure that they can psychologically function in that life-role. This is part of a battery of requirements. Most reputable professionals who provide services to transsexuals follow the controversial Standards of Care for Gender Identity Disorders put forth by the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association.
The sex-reassigment surgery, then, is not completed in a single session but requires multiple surgeries. For a male to female transsexual, the penis and testicles are removed and a vagina and vulva are constructed. For a female-to-male transsexual, a penis is constructed, and the labia (see vulva) are united to form a scrotum, with prosthetic testicles being inserted.
Many Western societies today have some sort of procedure whereby an individual can change their name, sometimes also their legal gender, to reflect their gender identity. Medical procedures for transgendered people are also available in most Western countries. However, because gender roles are an important part of many cultures, those engaged in strong challenges to the prevalence of these roles, such as many transgendered people, often have to face considerable prejudice. One such case is chronicled in the movie Boys Don't Cry.
Families with a young member who is trans or trans curious and who has chosen to transition between the sex roles through dress and behaviors may decide to relocate their child and home to another area in order to afford the young person the best opportunity to live in the desired gender role and among a new set of peers and a community to whom they have had no previous acquaintance. Choosing to remain and live within an intolerant society where the local community has had previous experience of the child's birth sex may raise many challenging issues Gwen Araujo of Newark, California is such a young person who had attempted to cross live in the gender opposite the sex to which she was born (male). She became the victim of violent crimes that resulted in her death, as she attended a party where it was discovered that she was in fact a pre-op transsexual.
Ma Vie En Rose (1997), by Alain Berliner, depicts a similar scenario including a trans curious youth who's gender play brings about both family and community conflicts causing them to relocate to a new community.
See also: Legal aspects of transsexualism, autogynephilia, transphobia, gender identity disorder
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