GBJoker
08-11-2013, 02:58 AM
Had to write an essay for English class I'm in. Mentioned it in a thread I made a while ago. Just wondering what you guys' opinion on it is.
Does An Unconventional Gender Identity Make One Insane?
Currently, a debate rages almost violently on one of the least known and understood phenomenon in the field of psychology. The two armies in combat argue whether or not Gender Identity Disorder (GID), also known as gender dysphoria, should be classified as a psychological medical disorder. The implications of being categorized as such would present huge ramifications in the lives of those who define themselves as being a part of the transgender spectrum. Many believe GID should not be classified as a medical disorder. This side presents arguments through gender being a social construct, the stigma that could be associated with the diagnosis of a mental disorder, the biology of those with GID, and economics.
First off, what is gender identity disorder? The formal description provided by psychologists and physicians is that GID occurs when a person feels moderate to extreme discomfort or dysphoria with their biologically assigned sex. These individuals report feeling their biological sex’s characteristics are not representative of whom they truly are on the inside. They will often display behaviors or attitudes normally associated with the sex opposite their biological sex. Many also report feeling they are in the “wrong body,” and will take actions to assimilate into the other sex’s traditional roles. These activities range from cross-dressing to as extreme as surgical reassignment of the genital area to have a full outward appearance of the opposite sex. Most treatment plans for GID currently, are to visit a therapist on a regular basis in case of depression or severe anxiety, and for determination on just exactly where on the transgender spectrum the person is located. In some cases, the therapist will approve of the use of hormone treatment therapy, and allow sexual reassignment surgery.
But does this mean that people with GID possess a mental disorder? Currently, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 5 (DSM 5), does classify “gender dysphoria” as a mental disorder, but not “gender identity disorder.” The change from GID to “gender dysphoria” occurred on 2013 May 18, but despite the change in name, the actual disorder was not modified. For all intents and purposes, “gender dysphoria” is GID. So, yes, GID is classified as a mental disorder. Several psychologists and therapists abide by this ruling and follow it to the letter. They use very strict conditions before diagnosing a person with GID, and will spend many intense hours and sessions with a patient before feeling comfortable with making the diagnosis. Many transgendered peoples argue with this, citing several reasons why they should be defined as mentally disordered.
One argument is recent research showing that biology can have an affect on whether some one can have gender identity disorder. Studies have found the presence of typically female patterns of white matter and neuron patterns observed in the brains of male-to-female transsexuals. There has also been research that shows damage to the Y-chromosome, or damage done to the brain or body while in the womb or shortly after birth can affect whether one ends up with GID. The rebuttal states that not all peoples with these genetic anomalies are transgendered, nor do all transgendered peoples have these anomalies. While true, the statistics are strong enough to be used as a possible base in determining whether a person has GID or how severe the disorder will occur in the individual. If the biological anomalies are detected early enough in childhood or after a drastic physical change to a person’s life, a therapist or the family can make the appropriate preparations for the possibility of gender identity disorder and will be able to respond quickly to any distress or anxiety the person exhibits.
Secondly, gender identity is largely a construct of social norms and stereotypes. Boys are expected to play sports while growing up, and girls are expected to play with dolls. When a boy wants to play with a doll, or a girl wants to do activities normally associated with boys, they are immediately condemned by society for acting “different.” Thus, some argue that it is possible that gender identity disorder is not a mental illness, but rather society at large being intolerant of a person acting in a way that opposes the stereotypes assigned to their biological sex. Various cultures both historically and presently accept people who go against the roles assigned to their biological sex, and transgendered advocates use this is as evidence that any anxiety or depression a person with GID deals with is not caused by GID, but rather as a response to societal pressures. In the nation of Samoa, the fa’afafine, there exists a third gender role, comprised of feminine males, who are socially accepted throughout the culture. The fa'afafine do not experience any of the stigma or distress typically associated with deviating from a male/female gender role, indicating that the distress that is so frequently associated with GID in a Western context is not caused by the disorder, rather it is a secondary result of social disapproval. Some individuals wish to deconstruct social gender norms or even bounce around the entirety of the transgender spectrum as a sort of joke being made at society’s expense and its views. But most people diagnosed with GID do not share this view, and do not wish to break down or attack gender constructs.
Lastly, there are large amounts of money involved in the entire idea surrounding transgenderism. One of the primary stances for retaining gender dysphoria as a mental disorder is the fact that insurance companies will be more willing to pay for treatment of the illness. But this is flatly false. GID is a wildly turbulent and unpredictable disorder by its very nature. No one will know if they even require a therapist, hormones, or so forth, until they have already researched and discovered what GID is. Thus, no matter how the market looks for insurance to pay for these treatments, the demand will always be high, allowing insurance companies to generate vast sums off of those in need. While this may appear to hurt transgendered peoples, the competition between the insurance companies to acquire these prized buyers will drive down prices, allowing those with GID to reach the necessary benefits. Insurance companies already compete with ever-increasing vigor for even predictable and low reward facets of life, such as vehicle insurance; thus, the riches available in the transgender market should be too great to ignore. And as Lawrence Reed states, “Competition spurs creativity and innovation and prods producers to cut costs.”
Some researchers assert that gender dysphoria is an abnormal behavior, and should be rectified at all costs. Doctors Robert Spitzer and Paul J. Fink have spent countless hours studying transgenderism, and conclude that the experiences are typical of a mental dysfunction. But just forty years ago, homosexuality was also classified as a major mental illness, necessary to take extreme measures to rid it from people. Most transgendered people do not act irrational, nor are they prone to outbursts of violence, like some mental disorders. In fact, transgendered peoples are in the exact same situation today as homosexuals found themselves not too long ago. Both groups simply wish to express freely who they are and live their own lives, without causing harm to any one else.
And that is the only argument that should be required. Transgendered people just want to be themselves, without being stigmatized by society. Theirs lives can be made easy by not being seen as a mental patient. They can acquire the monetary funds without being classified as insane. Some even possess biological reasons for being transgendered. And of course, gender is a social construct that no one should feel pressured to follow. People cannot be defined by just a few high ranking psychologists who may not even see patients in person anymore, and thus do not comprehend what is happening on the ground in this battle. Really, the only thing transgenders should have to worry about is whether that dress will fit.
Does An Unconventional Gender Identity Make One Insane?
Currently, a debate rages almost violently on one of the least known and understood phenomenon in the field of psychology. The two armies in combat argue whether or not Gender Identity Disorder (GID), also known as gender dysphoria, should be classified as a psychological medical disorder. The implications of being categorized as such would present huge ramifications in the lives of those who define themselves as being a part of the transgender spectrum. Many believe GID should not be classified as a medical disorder. This side presents arguments through gender being a social construct, the stigma that could be associated with the diagnosis of a mental disorder, the biology of those with GID, and economics.
First off, what is gender identity disorder? The formal description provided by psychologists and physicians is that GID occurs when a person feels moderate to extreme discomfort or dysphoria with their biologically assigned sex. These individuals report feeling their biological sex’s characteristics are not representative of whom they truly are on the inside. They will often display behaviors or attitudes normally associated with the sex opposite their biological sex. Many also report feeling they are in the “wrong body,” and will take actions to assimilate into the other sex’s traditional roles. These activities range from cross-dressing to as extreme as surgical reassignment of the genital area to have a full outward appearance of the opposite sex. Most treatment plans for GID currently, are to visit a therapist on a regular basis in case of depression or severe anxiety, and for determination on just exactly where on the transgender spectrum the person is located. In some cases, the therapist will approve of the use of hormone treatment therapy, and allow sexual reassignment surgery.
But does this mean that people with GID possess a mental disorder? Currently, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 5 (DSM 5), does classify “gender dysphoria” as a mental disorder, but not “gender identity disorder.” The change from GID to “gender dysphoria” occurred on 2013 May 18, but despite the change in name, the actual disorder was not modified. For all intents and purposes, “gender dysphoria” is GID. So, yes, GID is classified as a mental disorder. Several psychologists and therapists abide by this ruling and follow it to the letter. They use very strict conditions before diagnosing a person with GID, and will spend many intense hours and sessions with a patient before feeling comfortable with making the diagnosis. Many transgendered peoples argue with this, citing several reasons why they should be defined as mentally disordered.
One argument is recent research showing that biology can have an affect on whether some one can have gender identity disorder. Studies have found the presence of typically female patterns of white matter and neuron patterns observed in the brains of male-to-female transsexuals. There has also been research that shows damage to the Y-chromosome, or damage done to the brain or body while in the womb or shortly after birth can affect whether one ends up with GID. The rebuttal states that not all peoples with these genetic anomalies are transgendered, nor do all transgendered peoples have these anomalies. While true, the statistics are strong enough to be used as a possible base in determining whether a person has GID or how severe the disorder will occur in the individual. If the biological anomalies are detected early enough in childhood or after a drastic physical change to a person’s life, a therapist or the family can make the appropriate preparations for the possibility of gender identity disorder and will be able to respond quickly to any distress or anxiety the person exhibits.
Secondly, gender identity is largely a construct of social norms and stereotypes. Boys are expected to play sports while growing up, and girls are expected to play with dolls. When a boy wants to play with a doll, or a girl wants to do activities normally associated with boys, they are immediately condemned by society for acting “different.” Thus, some argue that it is possible that gender identity disorder is not a mental illness, but rather society at large being intolerant of a person acting in a way that opposes the stereotypes assigned to their biological sex. Various cultures both historically and presently accept people who go against the roles assigned to their biological sex, and transgendered advocates use this is as evidence that any anxiety or depression a person with GID deals with is not caused by GID, but rather as a response to societal pressures. In the nation of Samoa, the fa’afafine, there exists a third gender role, comprised of feminine males, who are socially accepted throughout the culture. The fa'afafine do not experience any of the stigma or distress typically associated with deviating from a male/female gender role, indicating that the distress that is so frequently associated with GID in a Western context is not caused by the disorder, rather it is a secondary result of social disapproval. Some individuals wish to deconstruct social gender norms or even bounce around the entirety of the transgender spectrum as a sort of joke being made at society’s expense and its views. But most people diagnosed with GID do not share this view, and do not wish to break down or attack gender constructs.
Lastly, there are large amounts of money involved in the entire idea surrounding transgenderism. One of the primary stances for retaining gender dysphoria as a mental disorder is the fact that insurance companies will be more willing to pay for treatment of the illness. But this is flatly false. GID is a wildly turbulent and unpredictable disorder by its very nature. No one will know if they even require a therapist, hormones, or so forth, until they have already researched and discovered what GID is. Thus, no matter how the market looks for insurance to pay for these treatments, the demand will always be high, allowing insurance companies to generate vast sums off of those in need. While this may appear to hurt transgendered peoples, the competition between the insurance companies to acquire these prized buyers will drive down prices, allowing those with GID to reach the necessary benefits. Insurance companies already compete with ever-increasing vigor for even predictable and low reward facets of life, such as vehicle insurance; thus, the riches available in the transgender market should be too great to ignore. And as Lawrence Reed states, “Competition spurs creativity and innovation and prods producers to cut costs.”
Some researchers assert that gender dysphoria is an abnormal behavior, and should be rectified at all costs. Doctors Robert Spitzer and Paul J. Fink have spent countless hours studying transgenderism, and conclude that the experiences are typical of a mental dysfunction. But just forty years ago, homosexuality was also classified as a major mental illness, necessary to take extreme measures to rid it from people. Most transgendered people do not act irrational, nor are they prone to outbursts of violence, like some mental disorders. In fact, transgendered peoples are in the exact same situation today as homosexuals found themselves not too long ago. Both groups simply wish to express freely who they are and live their own lives, without causing harm to any one else.
And that is the only argument that should be required. Transgendered people just want to be themselves, without being stigmatized by society. Theirs lives can be made easy by not being seen as a mental patient. They can acquire the monetary funds without being classified as insane. Some even possess biological reasons for being transgendered. And of course, gender is a social construct that no one should feel pressured to follow. People cannot be defined by just a few high ranking psychologists who may not even see patients in person anymore, and thus do not comprehend what is happening on the ground in this battle. Really, the only thing transgenders should have to worry about is whether that dress will fit.