Transgender 101

TRANSGENDER 101

Erika Laurentz October 7, 2015 USEFUL TERMS:

“The classification of people as male or female. At birth infants are assigned a sex, usually based on the appearance of their external anatomy. (This is what is written on the birth certificate.) However, a person's sex is actually a combination of bodily characteristics including: chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

“[I]s the preferred term used when referring to an individual's physical and/or emotional attraction to the same and/or opposite gender. "Gay," "lesbian," "bisexual" and "straight" are all examples of sexual orientations. A person's sexual orientation is distinct*from a person's gender identity and expression.” (emphasis added.) http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/sexual‐orientation‐and‐gender‐identity‐terminology‐and‐definitions Recent research found a slightly greater expression of being bisexual or pansexual in the trans community (Auer, Fuss, Höhne, Stalla, & Sievers, 2014, p. 1) © 2015 Erika Laurentz Gender identity:

“The term "gender identity," distinct from the term "sexual orientation," refers to a person's innate, deeply felt psychological identification as a man, woman or some other gender, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth (e.g., the sex listed on their birth certificate).” http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/sexual‐orientation‐and‐gender‐identity‐terminology‐and‐definitions

“Gender expression refers to all of the external characteristics and behaviors that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine, such as dress, grooming, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions. Social or cultural norms can vary widely and some characteristics that may be accepted as masculine, feminine or neutral in one culture may not be assessed similarly in another.” http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/sexual‐orientation‐and‐gender‐identity‐terminology‐and‐definitions

“A term used by some to describe people who are not transgender. "Cis‐" is a Latin prefix meaning "on the same side as," and is therefore an antonym of "trans‐." A more widely understood way to describe people who are not transgender is simply to say non‐ transgender people.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Transgender (adj.): “An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms ‐ including transgender. Some of those terms are defined below. Use the descriptive term preferred by the individual. Many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to change their bodies. Some undergo surgery as well. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not dependent upon medical procedures.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

“An older term that originated in the medical and psychological communities. Still preferred by some people who have permanently changed ‐ or seek to change ‐ their bodies through medical interventions (including but not limited to hormones and/or surgeries). Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term. Many transgender people do not identify as transsexual and prefer the word transgender. It is best to ask which term an individual prefers. If preferred, use as an adjective: transsexual woman or transsexual man.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

“Used as shorthand to mean transgender or transsexual ‐ or sometimes to be inclusive of a wide variety of identities under the transgender umbrella. Because its meaning is not precise or widely understood, be careful when using it with audiences who may not understand what it means. Avoid unless used in a direct quote or in cases where you can clearly explain the term's meaning in the context of your story.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

“People who were assigned female at birth but identify and live as a man may use this term to describe themselves. They may shorten it to trans man. (Note: trans man, not "transman.") Some may also use FTM, an abbreviation for female‐to‐male. Some may prefer to simply be called men, without any modifier. It is best to ask which term an individual prefers.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

“People who were assigned male at birth but identify and live as a woman may use this term to describe themselves. They may shorten to trans woman. (Note: trans woman, not "transwoman.") Some may also use MTF, an abbreviation for male‐ to‐female. Some may prefer to simply be called women, without any modifier. It is best to ask which term an individual prefers.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

“Transgender women are not cross‐dressers or drag queens. Drag queens are men, typically gay men, who dress like women for the purpose of entertainment. Be aware of the differences between transgender women, cross‐dressers, and drag queens. Use the term preferred by the individual. Do not use the word "transvestite" at all, unless someone specifically self‐identifies that way.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

“Altering one's birth sex is not a one‐step procedure; it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transition includes some or all of the following personal, medical, and legal steps: telling one's family, friends, and co‐workers; using a different name and new pronouns; dressing differently; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) one or more types of surgery. The exact steps involved in transition vary from person to person. Avoid the phrase ‘sex change.’” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

http://admin.associationsonline.com/uploaded_files/140/files/Standards of Care, V7 Full Book.pdf

“Refers to doctor‐supervised surgical interventions, and is only one small part of transition (see transition above). Avoid the phrase "sex change operation." Do not refer to someone as being "pre‐op" or "post‐op." Not all transgender people choose to, or can afford to, undergo medical surgeries. ...[A]void overemphasizing the role of surgeries in the transition process.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

• “Cross‐dressing refers to people who wear clothing and/or makeup and accessories that are not traditionally associated with their biological sex. Cross‐dressers are sometimes called ‘transvestites,’ but that term is considered pejorative. • Many people who cross‐dress are comfortable with their assigned sex and generally do not wish to change it. Cross‐dressing is a form of gender expression that is not necessarily indicative of a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation.” http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/sexual‐orientation‐and‐gender‐identity‐terminology‐and‐definitions

“Gender dysphoria is a psychological diagnosis recognized by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). This disorder is marked by clinically significant distress caused by a marked difference between the individual’s expressed/experienced gender and the gender others would assign him or her.”* http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/sexual‐orientation‐and‐gender‐identity‐terminology‐and‐definitions

*This standard essentially pathologizes trans people for the trauma we feel living in a transphobic world. It’s equivalent to “racial dysphoria” or “gyno‐dysphoria.”

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Gender Non‐Conforming: “A term used to describe some people whose gender expression is different from conventional expectations of masculinity and femininity. Please note that not all gender non‐conforming people identify as transgender; nor are all transgender people gender non‐conforming. Many people have gender expressions that are not entirely conventional ‐‐ that fact alone does not make them transgender. Many transgender men and women have gender expressions that are conventionally masculine or feminine. Simply being transgender does not make someone gender non‐conforming. The term is not a synonym for transgender or transsexual and should only be used if someone self‐identifies as gender non‐conforming.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender © 2015 Erika Laurentz Genderqueer:

“A term used by some people who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the categories of man and woman. They may define their gender as falling somewhere in between man and woman, or they may define it as wholly different from these terms. The term is not a synonym for transgender or transsexual and should only be used if someone self‐identifies as genderqueer.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Problematic: "transgenders," "a transgender” Preferred: transgender people, a transgender person Transgender should be used as an adjective, not as a noun. Do not say, "Tony is a transgender," or "The parade included many transgenders." Instead say, "Tony is a transgender man," or "The parade included many transgender people.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

Preferred: transgender The adjective transgender should never have an extraneous "‐ed" tacked onto the end. An "‐ed" suffix adds unnecessary length to the word and can cause tense confusion and grammatical errors. It also brings transgender into alignment with lesbian, gay, and bisexual. You would not say that Elton John is "gayed" or Ellen DeGeneres is "lesbianed," therefore you would not say Chaz Bono is "transgendered.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

Preferred: none This is not a term commonly used by transgender people. This is a term used by anti‐transgender activists to dehumanize transgender people and reduce who they are to "a condition." Refer to being transgender instead, or refer to the transgender community. You can also refer to the movement for transgender equality. http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

Preferred: none The term reduces my identity to a performance. See: “transgenderism.”

Erika Laurentz

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Problematic: "sex change," "pre‐ operative," "post‐operative" Preferred: transition Referring to a "sex‐change operation," or using terms such as "pre‐operative" or "post‐ operative," inaccurately suggests that one must have surgery in order to transition. Avoid overemphasizing surgery when discussing transgender people or the process of transition. http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Problematic: "biologically male," "biologically female," "genetically male," "genetically female," "born a man," "born a woman" Preferred: assigned male at birth, assigned female at birth or designated male at birth, designated female at birth Problematic phrases like those above are reductive and overly‐simplify a very complex subject. As mentioned above, a person's sex is determined by a number of factors ‐ not simply genetics ‐ and one's biology does not "trump" one's gender identity. Finally, people are born babies ‐ they are not "born a man" or "born a woman.” http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Defamatory: "deceptive," "fooling," "pretending," "posing," "trap," or "masquerading" Gender identity is an integral part of a person's identity. Do not characterize transgender people as "deceptive," as "fooling" or "trapping" others, or as "pretending" to be, "posing" or "masquerading" as a man or a woman. Such descriptions are defamatory and insulting. http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Defamatory: "tranny," "she‐male," "he/she," "it," "shim" These words dehumanize transgender people and should not be used in mainstream media. The criteria for using these derogatory terms should be the same as those applied to vulgar epithets used to target other groups: they should not be used except in a direct quote that reveals the bias of the person quoted. So that such words are not given credibility in the media, it is preferred that reporters say, "The person used a derogatory word for a transgender person." Please note that while some transgender people may use "tranny" to describe themselves, others find it profoundly offensive. http://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender

Tranny chaser: A derogatory term that refers to men who fetishize trans women. Some researchers are beginning to talk about sexual orientations beyond the binary. A man who is sexually attracted to trans women as human beings is not a tranny chaser.

Erika Laurentz

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Sex vs. Gender? (Confusion in academia) • Sexual identity was seen as something ingrained in the psychological and biological makeup of an individual (emphasis added) (Auer, Fuss, Höhne, Stalla, & Sievers, 2014, p. 1) • "Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.” World Health Organization (Mills, 2011, p. 1)

“Autogynephilia is a paraphilic model that states that all male‐to‐female (MtF) transsexuals who are not exclusively attracted toward men are instead sexually oriented toward the thought or image of themselves as a woman. The assertion that transsexual women are sexually motivated in their transitions challenges the standard model of transsexualism ‐ that is, that transsexuals have a gender identity that is distinct from their sexual orientation and incongruent with their physical sex.” http://www.juliaserano.com/TSetiology.html ‐ autogynephilia Autogynephilia rests on the firm theoretical foundation that trans women cannot be lesbian. E. Laurentz

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Gender is more than a social construct: • Behavior is never either nature or nurture. It is always a very complex interweaving of both (Mills, 2011, p. 1) • Sexual differentiation in the brain is the result of fetal exposure to sex hormones (Auyeung et al., 2009, p. 144) • Citing Servin, Bohlin, & Berlin, 1999; Snow, Jacklin, & Maccoby, (1983), sex differences in toy preferences have been observed in children as young as 12 months of age (Auyeung et al., 2009, p. 144)

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Gender is more than a social construct (continued): • Male and female brains show multiple structural differences when observed through the range of scientific imaging tools (Ingalhalikar et al., 2014, p. 823). • Assuming empathizing is a female trait and systematizing is a male trait, researchers found that for every ten men, six have a male brain, two have a balanced brain, and two have a female brain. In contrast, for every ten women, four have a female brain, four have a balanced brain, and two have a male brain (Baron‐Cohen, 2005, p. 26).

Knowing why I’m different matters: • It’s not a choice • It’s not a lifestyle • It’s not the result of abuse, a dominating mother, or an absent father (MtF) or fulfilling a father’s wish for a son (FtM) • It’s not a learned behavior • It’s not contageous

There are numerous grey matter structural brain similarities in transgender brains and the cis gender brains who share the same identified gender, but not with the brains of their assigned sex (Simon et al., 2013, p. 4‐5).

• Citing Guillamon et. al., structural differences in the white matter of Female‐to‐Male (FtM) trans brains appear to be nearly identical with cis gender males, while the same structures in Male‐to‐Female (MtF) trans brains was typically about ½ way between cis male and cis female brains. These differences appeared early enough to predict transgender identity before puberty (Hamzelou, 2011, p. 1).

• Researches at UCLA have also identified numerous structural differences in the brains of

transgender people file://localhost/(http/::www.medicaldaily.com:brain‐mapping‐gender‐ identity‐what‐makes‐boy‐girl‐247122) • MtF brains have the same neuronal structures as female brains, regardless of hormone exposure in the MtF population, while neuronal structures in FtM brains match those in male brains (Kruijver et al., 2000, p. 2034, 2039).

• According to a review article in Endocrine Practice, there is increasing evidence of a biological basis for gender identity ("BU School of Medicine," 2015, p. 1).

• Definition: Transphobia is an irrational fear of, and/or hostility towards, people who are transgender or who otherwise transgress traditional gender norms. • The most direct victims of transphobia are people who are transsexual‐‐those who are labeled one sex at birth but transition into another sex later. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/gendersexuality/g/transphobia.htm

© 2015 Erika Laurentz Cissexism • Cissexism is the belief that transgender people are inherently inferior to cisgender people. It is frequently observed in both conservative anti‐LGBT circles and in TERF communities. Cissexism may or may not be conscious or deliberate on part of the person expressing or feeling it. • Cissexism is closely related to, but distinct from, transphobia and transmisogny. It differs from transphobia in that it is part of a system of oppression (comparable to racism, ageism, and sexism) whereas transphobia more specifically refers to a feeling of disgust or hatred (comparable to xenophobia and homophobia). The terms are, however, sometimes used interchangeably and tend to overlap significantly. mailto:http://queerdictionary.blogspot.com/2014/09/definition‐of‐cissexism.html

• Re: Gender dysphoria: “For natal adult males, prevalence ranges from 0.005% to 0.014%, and for natal females, from 0.002% to 0.003%...” (DSM‐5, 2013, p. 454). • Gender identity disorders affect 1% of the population ("BU School of Medicine," 2015, p. 1).

• The sex of a person is not just a bodily attribute, but it usually constitutes the person as a whole... [It] contributes... to the kind and quality of interactions, attachments, and relationships that people... establish during their lives (Levine, Risen, & Althof, 2010, p. 429).

Using the wrong pronoun is one of the most offensive things you can say to a trans person. When you do, you’re saying that you know their gender better than they do. Absent a brain scan, you can’t possibly know another person’s gender, unless they tell you what it is.

• Always ask if you aren’t 100% sure. • Guessing, based on gender expression is risky. • Some trans people prefer to be identified within the gender binary and use “he, him” and “she, her.” • Other trans people identify outside the binary and prefer “ze” or “they, them” https://genderneutralpronoun.wordpress.com • If you make a mistake, apologize and move on.

Law enforcement, attorneys general, and other government officials testified that trans women have committed NO assaults against women in female only spaces after trans women gained the legal right to use those spaces in their 12 states. In many states these laws have been in effect for more than a decade. http://mediamatters.org/research/2014/03/20/15‐experts‐debunk‐right‐wing‐transgender‐bathro/198533

© 2015 Erika Laurentz More restroom facts: • In a recent study, 70% of the trans people surveyed experienced verbal harassment for using a restroom that conformed to their gender identity. • 9% were physically assaulted. • 18% were denied access to a restroom. • 54% reported medical conditions (dehydration, urinary tract infections, kidney infections, and other kidney problems) resulting from not being able to use a restroom, when necessary. • 58% of trans people avoid public restrooms altogether. http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/06/26/2216781/transgender‐bathroom‐study/

When figures are adjusted such that the age and educational patterns of the US adult male and female population are applied to the NTDS sample, an estimated 21.4% of transgender individuals have served in the military. The adjusted estimates suggest that 32.0% of those assigned male at birth and 5.5% of those assigned female at birth have served. http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp‐content/uploads/Transgender‐Military‐Service‐May‐2014.pdf

http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp‐content/uploads/Transgender‐Military‐Service‐May‐2014.pdf

• Auer, M. K., Fuss, J., Höhne, N., Stalla, G. K., & Sievers, C. (2014, October). Transgender transitioning and change of self‐reported sexual orientation. Plos ONE, 9(10), 1‐11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110016 • Auyeung, B., Baron‐Cohen, S., Ashwin, E., Knickmeyer, R., Taylor, K., Hackett, G., & Hines, M. (2009, February). Fetal testosterone predicts sexually differentiated childhood behavior in girls and in boys. Psychological Science, 20(2), 144‐148. doi:10.1111/j.1467‐9280.2009.02279.x • Baron‐Cohen, S. (2005, Spring). The essential difference: The male and female brain. Phi Kappa Phi Forum, 85(1), 23‐26. Retrieved from https://eds‐b‐ ebscohost‐com.libproxy.chapman.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=24&sid=07fd845a‐ b28c‐457e‐9310‐ 133a205f6f6d%40sessionmgr115&hid=103&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHVpZCxj b29raWUsdXJsJnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=16574492 • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). (2013). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing.

© 2015 Erika Laurentz References • Hamzelou, J. (2011, January). Transsexual differences caught on brain scan. New Scientist, 12(16). Retrieved from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20032‐transsexual‐differences‐ caught‐on‐brain‐scan.html#.VSGd8VyFHBe • Ingalhalikar, M., Smith, A., Parker, D., Satterthwaite, T. D., Elliott, M. A., Ruparel, K., ... Verma, R. (2014, January). Sex differences in the structural connectome of thehuman brain. PNAS, 111(2), 823–828. Retrieved from http://www.pnas.org/content/111/2/823.full.pdf • Kruijver, F. P., Zhou, J., Pool, C. W., Hofman, M. A., Gooren, L. J., & Swaab, D. F. (2000). Male‐to‐Female transsexuals have female neuron numbers in a limbic nucleus. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 85(5), 2034‐2041. Retrieved from http://press.endocrine.org/doi/pdf/10.1210/jcem.85.5.6564 • Levine, S. C., Risen, C. B., & Althof, S. E. (2010). Handbook of clinical sexualtiy for mental heath professionals (2nd ed.). [Kindle]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Handbook‐Clinical‐Sexuality‐Mental‐ Professionals‐ ebook/dp/B004QM9O64/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=14274060 16&sr=8‐ 1&keywords=handbook+of+clinical+sexuality+for+mental+health+profes sionals © 2015 Erika Laurentz References • Mills, M. (2011, October 20). Sex difference vs. gender difference? Oh, I’m so confused! Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the‐how‐and‐why‐sex‐ differences/201110/sex‐difference‐vs‐gender‐difference‐oh‐im‐so‐ confused • Review Article Provides Evidence on the Biological Nature of Gender Identity. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.bu.edu/news/2015/02/13/review‐article‐provides‐ evidence‐on‐the‐biological‐nature‐of‐gender‐identity/ • Simon, L., Kozák, L., Simon, V., Czobor, P., Unoka, Z., Szabo´, A., & Csukly, G. (2013, December). Regional grey matter structure differences between transsexuals and healthy controls—a voxel based morphometry study. PLoS ONE, 8(12), 1‐10. Retrieved from https://eds‐b‐ebscohost‐ com.libproxy.chapman.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=28&sid=07fd8 45a‐b28c‐457e‐9310‐ 133a205f6f6d%40sessionmgr115&hid=103&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBl PWlwLHVpZCxjb29raWUsdXJsJnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3 d#db=aph&AN=93397782