5.9: Gender Dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is defined by the Mayo Clinic as discomfort or distress in a person whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth. Some transgender and non-binary people feel at ease with their bodies and do not seek medical intervention; however, many transgender people experience gender dysphoria at some point in their lives, and may seek medical intervention.
Gender Dysphoria can be diagnosed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association. Questions around the use of the DSM in pathologizing gender dysphoria arise for many critical of this type of understanding, but for Trans folx seeking medical intervention, the diagnosis is often the only way to get the treatment they are seeking. Keep in mind that the term focuses on discomfort rather than identity itself.
Gender dysphoria can cause many complications that include, but are not limited to, a fear of being harassed or teased, pressure to dress in a certain way, or an inability to complete daily activities. People who experience gender dysphoria are likely to experience discrimination which would result in stress and/or an inability to receive quality health care as a result of stigmatization of gender. Additionally, many people who experience gender dysphoria fear the idea of seeking healthcare due to the stigmatization of gender.
Young people without gender-affirming treatment who experience gender dysphoria might also be at higher risk for self-harm and/or suicide.
What if you had to live as a sex you were not biologically born to? If you identify as a man, imagine that you were forced to wear frilly dresses, dainty shoes, and makeup to special occasions, and you were expected to enjoy romantic comedies and daytime talk shows. If you identify as a woman, imagine that you were forced to wear shapeless clothing, put only minimal effort into your appearance, not show emotion, and watch countless hours of sporting events and sports-related commentary. It would be pretty uncomfortable, right? Well, maybe not. Many people enjoy participating in activities, whether they are associated with their assigned sex or not, and would not mind if some of the cultural expectations for men and women were loosened.
Now, imagine that when you look at your body in the mirror, you feel disconnected. You feel your genitals are shameful and dirty, and you feel as though you are trapped in someone else’s body with no chance of escape. As you get older, you hate the way your body is changing, and, therefore, you hate yourself. These elements of disconnect and shame are important to understand when discussing dysphoria transgender individuals.