Are Crossdressers Disproportionately of Unsound Mental Health?

[Jamie Ann]

I would be interested in the responses of others who have pondered that question. Many of the discussions here seem to assume that the answer is yes. But the trend in other circles has been away from that view, both in the US and in other nations with large numbers of crossdressers. Is the trend misguided? Or does it have merit?

Mumbai, India may have more crossdressers (i.e., transgender women of one kind or another) than any other city in the world, although the available statistics are just rough estimates. Indeed, I’ve been told that that Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai all have substantial transgender populations. In my opinion, the Indian transgender persons often are very good-looking. I love the brightly colored saris (clothing) and gold jewelry that some of them wear. But the more basic point is that transgender people in large numbers are found on every continent. World-wide, there are more than 150 million of us. In addition, transgender people have been documented in many Western and non-Western cultures from antiquity. We are a normal part of the human gender spectrum.

That assertion runs counter to the dogmas of US psychiatrists as recently as the early 1990s — and even to the ideas of a few rear-guard psychiatrists today. Regarding the latter, there is a group named the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) that is well-funded and a hotbed of “professionals” who have not budged from the idea that transgender people have mental and other medical disorders. The American Psychiatric Association, a much more credible source of information, recently disavowed that notion (their updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, DSM5, will officially become available in May 2013); but to understand WPATH and its intransigence on a premise that is contradicted by most of the pertinent evidence, we need to recognize that some individuals have vested interests in the older view. Their incomes may depend on whether crossdressing is seen as a normal condition or as a mental disorder. If the latter is widely accepted, then they receive more prestige, power, and income! Nonetheless, according the American Psychiatric Association, a mental disorder is a condition that causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social or occupational functioning. If having cross-gender feelings is a terrible disorder, then why are there so many well-functioning transgender persons all over the world?

But someone might argue, “Doesn’t that overlook thousands of poorly functioning transgender persons?” As I was thinking about this, The Washington Post, a prestigious US newspaper, did a feature story on transgender prostitution in Washington D.C. One of those they interviewed was Staci Daniel, a 23-year-old escort who had been working on the K Street NW strip for several years. She got into sex-work when she realized that her transgender identity and appearance were preventing her from being hired for other work. She desperately needed to put food on the table; and she discovered that she could make hundreds of dollars a week as an escort. Besides supporting herself, she began putting a niece through college.

Most large US cities today have districts like the K Street NW strip. Many of those who work in such areas have been thrown out of their homes by parents who thought that being transgender was an abomination unto God. It concerns me that parents should be so judgmental of transgender teenagers; they (and we) should at least try to understand the reasons for the work they may wind up doing. They are functioning as best they can under the circumstances. I hope that Staci will find other work eventually, and that she also will find the happiness to which we all aspire.

The important point here is that when people encounter what they think are poorly functioning transgender persons, they usually are missing something important. There usually is more to it than meets the eye. Although Staci Daniel seems both intelligent and emotionally healthy, we must recognize that prejudice and discrimination can cause clinically significant impairment in practically anyone’s functioning. The term “psychological victimization” (see the link below) refers to how that happens. Being transgender can lead to being discriminated against, which in turn can lead to psychological distress and related symptoms. Most transgender persons escape that chain of consequences, but some do not. Some transgender persons in the US and across the world have not been as lucky as I have.

Anyway, your thoughts on any of this would be welcome!

http://toselfbetrue.com/transgender/...ry.html#victim

[NicoleScott]

I didn't read anything in your post that attempted to answer the question posed in the title.

[Slipstream]

there are more than 150 million of us.

And to think I was probably 20 before I realized that I wasn't the only one.

Seriously though, back in the 90's I used to enjoy reading Dian Hanson's editorial page in "Leg Show" magazine. She was well educated on the subject and her beliefs were quite the opposite. She believed that most were highly intelligent, well functioning members of society. She also believed that many were very "manly" and that the dressing created a "balance" in thier life.

[ArleneRaquel]

If I say what I think my post would be deleted, but I will say this, CD's as all people run the gambit of mental health and other issues.

[DeeInGeorgia]

The only unsound ness is from trying to hide yourself for so long.

[sometimes_miss]

Are Crossdressers Disproportionately of Unsound Mental Health?

There would certainly be a valid argument that crossdressing alone, could catagorize us as such. After all, something in our minds triggered the desire to 'buck the norm' to such a degree that so many women lose any intimate romantic interest in us. While many here would suppose that our behavior is simply just another variant of the broad spectrum of sexuality, I'd hypothesize that there is one or more events, either genetic or socializing, that nudged us in the direction we eventually went. Add to that, the fundamental urge we often have to so something to ourselves that can have such negative results on our livestyles, and yes, you can make a very good case that we here are all, basically a little bit, or even a whole lot, nuts!

[LeaP]

... We are a normal part of the human gender spectrum.

That assertion runs counter to the dogmas of US psychiatrists as recently as the early 1990s — and even to the ideas of a few rear-guard psychiatrists today. Regarding the latter, there is a group named the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) that is well-funded and a hotbed of “professionals” who have not budged from the idea that transgender people have mental and other medical disorders. The American Psychiatric Association, a much more credible source of information, recently disavowed that notion (their updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, DSM5, will officially become available in May 2013); but to understand WPATH and its intransigence ...

If you are going to make sweeping assertions, you should know what you are talking about.

From the WPATH SOC V7 itself, page 4:

"Being Transsexual, Transgender, or Gender Nonconforming Is a Matter of Diversity, Not Pathology"

"WPATH released a statement in May 2010 urging the de-psychopathologization of gender nonconformity worldwide (WPATH Board of Directors, 2010). This statement noted that “the expression of gender characteristics, including identities, that are not stereotypically associated with one’s assigned sex at birth is a common and culturally-diverse human phenomenon [that] should not be judged as inherently pathological or negative.”

The APA owns the DSM and is responsible for both the initial and ongoing pathologizing of transsexuality, gender variance, gender nonconforming behavior, dysphoria, etc. (Look to the various versions over the years.) The upcoming revision you reference primarily changes the name and category of the GID diagnosis, not its substance. While the revision thankfully removes the diagnosis from the sexual disorders and paraphilias category, the fact that the diagnosis is still in the DSM leaves the pathologization as it was. The DSM is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MENTAL DISORDERS. Further, WHETHER it should be removed entirely is the subject of ongoing debate in the transsexual community because of insurance coverage concerns.

The GID diagnosis is used principally for transsexualism and the changes primarily benefit transsexuals. This is by way of lowering stigma attached to the diagnosis' name, however, and does not mean it is not pathologized. You are confusing the two, as do most media reports.

The old Transvestic Fetishism is now Transvestic Disorder. It IS in the sexual disorders and paraphilias section, and is the more likely diagnosis for most other gender nonconforming and gender variant people, including the crossdressers who are the subject of your OP. Some mental health practictioners who subscribe to the notion of autogynephilia may code transsexual patients using this diagnosis, however.

[mikiSJ]

...CD's as all people run the gambit of mental health and other issues.

That statement is no less appropriate here as compared to any other segment of society.

I am highly educated, intelligent, have no neurosis, I am not a sociapath or pyschopath. I enjoy baseball, basketball and going to the San Francisco and San Jose art museums. I do manly things and I do girly things. In the very broad spectrum of human sexuality, I AND MOST OF US HERE, are comfortably normal.

[Bonnie Lawrence]

I will say this, CD's as all people run the gambit of mental health and other issues.

I agree with ArleneRaquel: the CD population experiences all the same emotional and mental health issues that the general population does. There have been some studies that indicate that CD/TG people (along with L & G's) tend to experience depression and anxiety somewhat more. This is a result of the emotional toll taken from hiding our trueselves from an unaccepting society all our lives. The same studies also show that LGT folks are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and to self-medicate with alcohol/drugs. However, I haven't seen any data that indicate CD/TG people have higher rates of severe mental illness (e.g., bipolor, schizophrenia, personality disorders, etc.).

[Frédérique]

Are Crossdressers Disproportionately of Unsound Mental Health?

[SIZE="2"]In order to properly answer your question, we need to have three discussions – one about the word “unsound,” one about what the word “health” constitutes, and one about the term “disproportionately.” I think all three topics are subjective, don’t you? I mean, from MY point of view, I’m not suffering from unsound mental health, but the person across the street probably thinks I’m mentally ill. If you don’t crossdress, you obviously cannot grasp the concept of WHY someone would wish to engage in such a deviant endeavor – such a person thinks THEY are mentally sound, yet their lack of understanding (or compassion) speaks otherwise. Again, from my point of view, the person who does not crossdress is mentally ill – can you see what I mean by subjective? It all boils down to whether or not you feel crossdressing is crazy, I suppose. As for disproportion, I’m not a student of statistics. Facts, much like people, can be bent. I’m happy in my own little world, thank you...


BTW, do you mean ALL crossdressers are of unsound mental health, or just MtF crossdressers? [/SIZE]

[Tracii G]

Quoting the Washington Post? Well there you go you think main stream media is a good source? No IMO.
Coming here will give you a truer picture than the media outlets.
Why do you think they even included the part about the transgender "call girl"? You may ask why did they do that? To color the the scope of the article and paint us as sexual deviants.
It makes me furious to see articles like that when the person that wrote it has no idea what they are talking about.
I'm a free thinker and make up my own mind. I don't feel the need to label myself or others.
Sure there are nut jobs in every gender why say all CD's are mentally off anymore than anyone else?

[flatlander_48]

Left to our own devices, no, I don't believe that we are any more or less prone to have mental issues. However, the problem may be when we try to fit in with the rest of the world. In many cases, we cannot afford to be out so we suppress who we really are and that's where the trouble starts. In order for us to fit in, we often have to be someone else. It is extremely difficult to try to reconcile who you are with who you need to be.

[LaraPeterson]

During my lifetime, I have encountered two psychologists, both in an academic setting. I have studied that community for years. As far as I'm concerned, they are all a bunch of hacks. What I mean is this: the Freudian standard for psychoanalytic theory is based purely on empirical discovery and not on any science. You will never hear an analyst say much more than "I think" because they are taught there are no standards. Everything is subjective.

Consequently, to say that CD's or any other defined group is of unsound mental health, you must make a subjective analysis of the presenting "problem." I have news for you, I don't have a problem. Neither do you.

[Angela Campbell]

Perhaps it is less of a health / mental disorder than a social disorder?

I do not like asparagus ....some people who love it may wonder what is wrong with me.

[kimdl93]

That's not a question you can answer based on a highly selective sample. How encompassing is the term 'unsound'. does this mean a clinical diagnosis or something less definitive. Even the term 'disproportionate' would require some way of objectively quantifying the proportions of soundness in the general and non-TG populations.

My guess is that those TGs diagnosed with mental illnesses may be over represented in the media because they're easier to identify and more sensational subjects....such as the Staci Daniel illustration. Her life tells us very little about the general TG population...many of whom are far healthier, more discreet and less interesting to the media.

[Leah Lynn]

Quoting the Washington Post? Well there you go you think main stream media is a good source? No IMO.
Coming here will give you a truer picture than the media outlets.
Why do you think they even included the part about the transgender "call girl"? You may ask why did they do that? To color the the scope of the article and paint us as sexual deviants.
It makes me furious to see articles like that when the person that wrote it has no idea what they are talking about.
Myself I'm a conservative, 2nd Amendment advocate and a Christian how odd is that for a crossdresser?
I'm a free thinker and make up my own mind. I don't feel the need to label myself or others.
Sure there are nut jobs in every gender why say all CD's are mentally off anymore than anyone else?

The press is in business to sell papers. Mentioning the "call girl" sells. Few papers today rise above the level of "tabloid journalism". The Post does not. Evidently, I'm as messed up as Tracii; conservative, 2A advocate, Christian. But then who is really qualified to determine what "normal" is?

[Eryn]

"I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested" [Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory]

Mental health is defined primarily by mental health professionals, which is a bit like leaving the fox in charge of the henhouse.

Luckily, we have been able to slip out from under the thumb of those who would define transgenderism itself as a disorder. As far as other mental maladies I believe that the stresses brought on by society's treatment of us might make us more susceptible to things like depression, but TG people who have healthy outlets to express themselves are likely to be less subject to these maladies.

[Lynn Marie]

[SIZE="4"]Are Crossdressers Disproportionately of Unsound Mental Health?

No.[/SIZE]

[Karren H]

I'd say they are..... all except me.... I'm the most normal person I know..... if you don't believe that just ask me...

[Angela Campbell]

My invisible friend told me not to listen to people who say I am odd.....She also told me to get us a new dress.

[Marleena]

I would expect it would be similar to the general public.

BUT I found this at your link which will cause some dispute.

QUOTE: Trans or Transgender People: Most commonly used as an umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity and/or expression is sometimes or always different from the gender assigned to them at birth. Transgender people include transsexuals (see below), crossdressers, drag queens and kings, genderqueers, and others who cross traditional gender lines.

[Jamie Ann]

I didn't read anything in your post that attempted to answer the question posed in the title.

An answer would involve the fact that this site began in 1997 when most people, including professionals, thought that being a "transvestite" implied having a mental disorder. Since then, the American Psychiatric Association has changed their judgment on that question; but others have not. I was trying to be even-handed, but I certainly applaud the decision of the American Psychiatric Association that people who are different in gender feelings are still normal. If there are 150 million of us, that is enough to fill most nations with nothing but crossdressers. I think that this is relevant to an answer. People with brown eyes are numerous, and that says something about whether having brown eyes is a normal part of human variation or a disorder (in my IMHO). But I was trying to give others a chance to express their views, apart from what I personally may believe. I am not omniscient and I respect others' views. I still hope that others will respond with their views on the basic question. It is one that affects us all.

[TeresaL]

The OP has incorrectly mixed the rolls of WPATH, APA, and the DSM intent. "Disorders" are found in the DSM which is owned by the American Psychiatric Association.

WPATH is against the "disorder" terminology and is petitioning the American Psychiatric Association to drop it from APA's DSM.

APA is the holder of disorders, and DR. Zucker is the prime motivator behind it and reparative therapy. He is convinced that he can and has cured transgender children. Albeit, he holds a highly controversial position even amongst his peers.

WPATH is primarily concerned with helping transgender folks with their transition. Hence the RLE, hormone, and SRS treatment, which is all meant to help, not pathologize.

LeaP has provided a short snippet which correctly states WPATH's stance. Check it out, hon.

[sterling12]

In the psychiatric trade, there is an often-voiced practicality that says: "People who are considered mentally ill, are usually lacking in Coping Mechanisms." Now, what they mean is basically the ability to "cope" with what the rest of Society is dishing out!

Since most of us who are TG or TS seem to be "coping," I would doubt we qualify as mentally ill. But, there are individuals who do not seem to be able to handle all of that giant boxcar of guilt, manipulation, rejection, and downright antagonism, that other people may try to dump on them. If they accept what others are projecting, it can certainly make them mentally ill!

So your answer is a qualified "yes and no." Most professionals who are working with The Transgendered in these modern times are trying to help those folks and their families to "cope." Past Purveyor's of Their Own Truths have become outmoded. Soon, they will become extinct! Treating us as mentally ill is certainly becoming passé. Who needs to be "treated" is a Repressive Society.

Remember just a few years ago they equated being gay with mental illness. Our being painted with the same brush? "This too will pass away!"

Peace and Love, Joanie

[Jamie Ann]

I would expect it would be similar to the general public.

BUT I found this at your link which will cause some dispute.

QUOTE: Trans or Transgender People: Most commonly used as an umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity and/or expression is sometimes or always different from the gender assigned to them at birth. Transgender people include transsexuals (see below), crossdressers, drag queens and kings, genderqueers, and others who cross traditional gender lines.

What is in dispute? Transgender is a umbrella term that includes many different kinds of crossdressers. I would be grateful if you would respond to what you consider controversial.

Thanks,
Jamie Ann