Erin Armstrong’s poll isn’t exactly scientific, but the transgender former Mormon’s little quiz on when her trans viewers knew they “were in the wrong gender” is worth a peek — because it confirms the obvious: Most of us, whether L, G, B, or T, know we’re different at a very young age.
“From my basic experiences of talking with other transfolk,” Erin writes, “it seems like most people began to act or notice acts that were contrary to their assigned gender in the early childhood or pre-teen age ranges. But while the results may not be surprising to me, the conversation that came up around it was. It was pointed out to me on the forums that the question for this past weeks poll was very vague. When did you KNOW that you were the wrong gender? That can be interpreted in may ways. I’d initially meant it to ask when you first started to feel/identify with the gender opposite your birth, which to me would be early childhood. However, when I KNEW that I was in the wrong gender happened when I met my first transsexual friend at the age of 19. The point here is that while I may have wanted to be a girl from a very young age, I didn’t realize that I was in the wrong gender until I realized I could change genders.”
That explanation also makes sense not just for Ts, but for LGBs: From a very young age you may have known you felt attraction toward the same-sex, but never realized you could live that way until you encountered a real-life scenario.
Matt
I realized I wanted different genitals when I would constantly sit on my own testicles.
romeo
Matt, I don’t think I’ve heard anything like that expressed before, EVER! Fascinating. But you’re doing a little bragging there, aren’t you? LOL
I ALWAYS knew I was special! LOL Lucky I guess ’cause I always liked the genitals I had. And so did the other little boys I knew when I hit puberty. We knew we had to keep quiet about it in the town where I lived then, but we were all on each other like flies on shit. LOL That was REALLY special. Ah puberty.
Tina
*headdesk*
When will queerty see trans people as more than the sum of their genitals? Or iz there a different person responsible for titling articles than writing them? Cuz the article itself isn’t that bad, but the title shows just how out of the loop you are.
James
Tina: agreed!
I do appreciate that Queerty includes trans issues and articles, but sometimes the terminology used is in discord with the message as a whole.
VirginiaHam
maybe if the world wasnt so obsessed with socializing gender specific behavior early on and seperating sexes as if they were alien to each other, maybe Transexuals wouldnt think they were born imperfect and needed to cut away genitals. I know that Transexuals are people too, but I’ll never understand why some choose surgery…it seems like a cop out.
VirginiaHam
maybe if the world wasnt so obsessed with socializing gender specific behavior early on and seperating sexes as if they were alien to each other, maybe Transexuals wouldnt think they were born imperfect and needed to cut away genitals. I know that Transexuals are people too, but I’ll never understand why some choose surgery…it seems like a cop out. I’m very confused by them.
VirginiaHam
my repost was because i thought my first didnt go thru….there is a new last line on the second.
Tara
@VirginiaHam:
Well, confusion is normal. But so are we. it is not so simple as to be some effect of latent gender binary beating us around the head and shoulders. This is more about who we are.
I am not imperfect. I am just fine. I just need some surgery to correct a birth defect. Some people are born with 6 fingers on a hand, often the 6th is removed. This is not good or bad it just is. This is very little different. And adjustment to the whole. I am quite happy with me. I don’t look down and get upset about having a “penis” but I am not thrilled with it either.
Does that make sense?
My gender presentation has always meant more to me.
Kropotkin
“maybe Transexuals wouldnt think they were born imperfect and needed to cut away genitals. I know that Transexuals are people too, but I’ll never understand why some choose surgery…it seems like a cop out. I’m very confused by them.”
That says a lot more about you than it does transsexuals, think about it.
Jadis
“maybe if the world wasnt so obsessed with socializing gender specific behavior early on and seperating sexes as if they were alien to each other, maybe Transexuals wouldnt think they were born imperfect and needed to cut away genitals.”
No, it wouldn’t make any difference.
Erin
I like how I basically wrote this article. =)