At birth, nearly everyone is given a sex depending on whether they have a penis or a vagina. Most people are taught that guys have penises and girls have vaginal organs.
As we grow older, there is a lot that goes along with whether we were assigned boy or girl, such as what sorts of things we wear, how we should appear, and how we should act.
However, as they get older, some people begin to believe that their gender does not correspond to their assigned sex.
Someone born with a vagina, for example, may feel, act, and identify as a male, whereas someone born with a penis may feel, act, and identify as a woman.
If you resonate with this, it may be because you are transgender.
But sadly, it is usually not this straightforward, so here is more information which might help you figure out if you are transgender or not.
Gender Identity Vs Gender Expression
It is vital to distinguish between gender identity and gender expression.
Gender identification relates to one’s internal sense of gender, whereas gender expression refers to how one appears to the world in a gendered fashion.
Gender expression does not always correspond to gender identity. Various gender expressions, like diverse gender identities, do not indicate a mental illness.
How To Know If You’re Transgender?
You could feel more at ease expressing yourself or being known as a gender and/or sex different than the one given to you at birth.
This can be shown in how you dress, how you cut your hair, or how you use your name and pronouns.
You may be dissatisfied with your body. These are just a handful of the emotions that transgender persons go through. Everyone’s experience is unique.
In general, if you strongly believe that your body does not correspond to how you feel on the inside in terms of gender expression, you may be transgender.
You may also feel uneasy when particular pronouns are used to address you.
What Is Gender Dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is a state of discomfort or difficulty experienced by persons whose gender identity does not match with their sex at birth or sex-related bodily traits.
It can occur in transgender people at any point throughout their life. However, some transgender people, with or without medical help, are comfortable with their bodies with how it is.
Gender dysphoria can cause transgender people to have a significant mismatch between their inner gender identity and their given gender for at least six months.
Feeling a disparity between gender identification and genitals or secondary sex features, such as breast size, voice, and facial hair, is one of the symptoms.
A distinction between gender identification and predicted secondary sex traits in young adolescents.
You may also have a strong urge to get rid of these genitals or secondary sex features, or to prevent secondary sex traits from developing.
Support for those suffering from gender dysphoria may involve an open-ended investigation of their feelings and experiences with gender identity and expression.
What Is Transitioning?
Transitioning is the process of altering how people view you so that your feelings, appearance, and treatment all match.
Some transgender persons may choose to transition socially, medically, or legally. Some may simply transition socially, while others may never transition.
Because the purpose of transitioning is to acknowledge one’s gender, there is no right or wrong method to transition or be transgender.
Medical transitioning can be costly, and some people may be unable to afford it. Some folks just do not want surgery, which is entirely understandable.
People who have had surgery are not more transgender than those who have not. Everyone’s experience of transitioning is unique.
Some people transition while they are young, while others transition as they get older. Some people adapt slowly, while others transition quickly.
Some do not transition at all and are equally legitimate.
Gender Affirmation Surgery
Gender-affirming surgery provides transgender persons with a physique that corresponds to their gender.
Procedures on the face, chest, or genitalia may be required. Among the most common transgender surgical choices are:
Transfeminine Top Surgery
This is similar to when a cisgender woman gets a breast augmentation.
It involves breast implants being inserted into the tissue so that a transgender woman can have breasts. It works really well with easing gender dysphoria.
Transfeminine Bottom Surgery
This is when the surgeon uses a variety of methods to turn male genitals into female ones.
This can be done either with a skin graft from somewhere else on the body or with a part of the bowel just to name a few.
Facial Feminization Surgery
The aim of this surgery is to convert male presenting features of the face such as a square jaw bone, into female or non-binary ones.
Facial Masculinization Surgery
Female facial features are altered into male ones so that the person looks more masculine.
Transmasculine Top Surgery
This is the total removal of breasts so that the person is left with a completely flat chest with no breast tissue at all.
It can be done through the nipples as a keyhole surgery or with two incisions – depending on the breast size.
Transmasculine Bottom Surgery
Finally, this surgery changes female genitalia into male genitals.
Like most of these surgeries, the transgender person will usually be put on a course of hormones beforehand in order to get best results.
Being Transgender And Figuring Out Sexuality
A person’s long-term romantic, physical, or emotional attraction to another person is referred to as their sexual orientation, whereas gender identity refers to a person’s personal feeling of being a man or a woman, or someone who does not fit into the gender binary.
Transgender persons, like everyone else, have a sexual orientation. Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer transgender persons are all possible.
Summary
If you think you might be transgender, it is important that you seek medical advice.
If you do this, you will have access to tailored professionals who will learn your own unique case and help you navigate through all of the feelings and questions that you may have.
Remember, being transgender is nothing bad – it is simply being born in the wrong body.
Unfortunately, though, being transgender can lead to lots of distressing thoughts such as gender dysphoria and generally being uncomfortable with who you are.
It doesn’t have to be this way though so the sooner you seek guidance, the better.
Hello, my name is Gay Worlley - no, really - and I love learning about all things queer. I am also a qualified gardener and enjoy traveling in my spare time.
I love sharing my travel stories with anyone who will listen, and now I want to share them with the world through my new website! Not only that, but I want to inspire others and teach you about LGBTQ+ travel, queer media, pride, and much more.
Enjoy my website and, more importantly, enjoy learning about important subjects that need more educational attention. Thanks for stopping by!
