Trans Visibility

Understanding "Transgender"

Google the word "transgender" and the first thing that will popup is the definition. The first title tag that will popup is the definition from http://www.transstudent.org/definitions, which states, "denoting or relating to a person whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender." The second title tag is from Wikipedia: Transgender - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, and here you can begin to unpack the concept of transgender. The word "transgender" was coined and defined (as above) by Psychiatrist John F. Oliven in the 1960's. The word transgender, in his professional opinion, which I agree, differed from the widely used term "transexualism" because gender and sexual identity are two completely different ways in which a person may identify with. Complicated, yes, I will agree; however, I hope to provide useful insight to unpack what it means when a person identifies as a transgender female. Helpful hint, gender is a state of mind-- you cannot see your gender between your legs-- the genitalia a person is born with does not always match their mental state of gender identity. This concept is extremely difficult to understand and unpack if you identify as cis gender. We have had a gender binary system embedded deep into our psychology since the rise of Christianity. So it is not our fault for initially going, "huh"? Let me ask you this? Do you identify as cis gender? Do not know? That is ok, let's see. People who identify as cis gender feel that their gender assigned to them at birth, based on the anatomy between your legs, (take a peek if you need to) matches perfectly their gender state of mind. Do you? If yes, you are cis gender, and if no, they you are transgender. It is worth noting that gender identity is not that cut and dry; however, this is a perfect start.
 

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