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| ]]'''Transgender''' is a |
]]'''Transgender''' is a catch-all term for a variety of individuals, behaviors and groups centered around the full or partial reversal of ]s. This includes a number of sub-categories. The best known of these are '']ism'' and '']|transvestitism'' or '']''. ''Transgender'' is also used to describe behaviour or feelings that can not be cathegorised into these older sub-cathegories, for example, people living in a gender role that is different from the one they were assigned at birth, but who do not wish to undergo any or all of the available medical options, or people who do not wish to identify themselfes as ''transsexuals'', ''men'' or ''women''. | ||
| Occasionally the term ] is used to describe this tendency, and the reaction to its social consequences, as a psychological condition. | |||
| In ] behavior, a person makes or desires to make a full transition from the gender of their birth to another gender. Many transsexuals eventually opt for ], or SRS. Those who have not undergone SRS are known as "pre-operational" ("pre-op") and those who have, "post-operational" ("post-op"). Some choose to describe themselves as "non-op", indicating that they have not undergone SRS, nor do they intend to do so. | |||
| ⚫ | In ] behavior, a person enjoys wearing clothes considered typical to the opposite sex (colloquially, "drag"), but may have no desire or intention of adopting other behaviors or practices common to that gender. (For example, contrary to common belief, |
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| ⚫ | In ] or ] behavior, a person enjoys wearing clothes considered typical to the opposite sex (colloquially, "drag"), but may have no desire or intention of adopting other behaviors or practices common to that gender. (For example, contrary to common belief, most male-bodied transvestites prefer female partners.) Some transvestites endeavor to project a complete illusion of belonging to the opposite sex, down to mannerisms, speech patterns, and emulation of sexual characteristics; others use a more "mixed" approach, as for instance a man who may wear both a dress and a beard. <br> Sometimes men practise transvestism in a sexual context. In those cases it is often difficult zu distinguish between fetishism that happens to have female clothing as an object and transgender behaviour that includes sexual play. If sexual play is involved, the term ''cross-dressing'' is not applied. | ||
| ⚫ | A behaviour often identified with transvestism |
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| ⚫ | A behaviour often identified with transvestism involves wearing highly exaggerated and outrageous costumes or imitating movie and music stars of the opposite sex, is a form of ] called ''drag'', practiced by ]s and ]. <br> However, since the terms ''transvesitism'' is almost never, and ''cross-dressing'' only rarely used for female-bodied persons, the term ''Drag King'' can also apply to everybody from the female-to-male side of the transgender spectrum who do not see themselfes as exclusively male identified. | ||
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| ⚫ | Many Western societies today have some sort of procedure whereby an individual can change their name, sometimes also their legal gender, to reflect their ]. Medical procedures for transgendered people are also available in most Western countries. However, because gender roles are an important part of many cultures, those engaged in strong challenges to the prevalence of these roles, such as many transgendered people, often have to face considerable prejudice. One such case is chronicled in the movie <em> ] </em>. | ||
| ⚫ | Many non Western cultures legitimized cross dressing. The ] in many ] tribes |
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| ⚫ | Many non Western cultures legitimized cross dressing. The ] in many ] tribes is recognized as a separate gender, a woman-living-man, not as a man who wants to be a woman. The husband of a berdache is not viewed as a berdache, but as a 'normal' male. In some societies there is a correspondig gender for man-living-women (]). | ||
| ⚫ | See also: ], ], ], ], ] | ||
| ⚫ | See also: ], ], ], ], ], ] | ||
Revision as of 16:34, 26 December 2002
Transgender is a catch-all term for a variety of individuals, behaviors and groups centered around the full or partial reversal of gender roles. This includes a number of sub-categories. The best known of these are transsexualism and transvestite|transvestitism or cross-dressing. Transgender is also used to describe behaviour or feelings that can not be cathegorised into these older sub-cathegories, for example, people living in a gender role that is different from the one they were assigned at birth, but who do not wish to undergo any or all of the available medical options, or people who do not wish to identify themselfes as transsexuals, men or women.
Occasionally the term gender dysphoria is used to describe this tendency, and the reaction to its social consequences, as a psychological condition.
In transsexual behavior, a person makes or desires to make a full transition from the gender of their birth to another gender. Many transsexuals eventually opt for sexual reassignment surgery, or SRS. Those who have not undergone SRS are known as "pre-operational" ("pre-op") and those who have, "post-operational" ("post-op"). Some choose to describe themselves as "non-op", indicating that they have not undergone SRS, nor do they intend to do so.
In cross-dressing or transvestite behavior, a person enjoys wearing clothes considered typical to the opposite sex (colloquially, "drag"), but may have no desire or intention of adopting other behaviors or practices common to that gender. (For example, contrary to common belief, most male-bodied transvestites prefer female partners.) Some transvestites endeavor to project a complete illusion of belonging to the opposite sex, down to mannerisms, speech patterns, and emulation of sexual characteristics; others use a more "mixed" approach, as for instance a man who may wear both a dress and a beard.
Sometimes men practise transvestism in a sexual context. In those cases it is often difficult zu distinguish between fetishism that happens to have female clothing as an object and transgender behaviour that includes sexual play. If sexual play is involved, the term cross-dressing is not applied.
A behaviour often identified with transvestism involves wearing highly exaggerated and outrageous costumes or imitating movie and music stars of the opposite sex, is a form of performing art called drag, practiced by drag queens and kings.
However, since the terms transvesitism is almost never, and cross-dressing only rarely used for female-bodied persons, the term Drag King can also apply to everybody from the female-to-male side of the transgender spectrum who do not see themselfes as exclusively male identified.
Many Western societies today have some sort of procedure whereby an individual can change their name, sometimes also their legal gender, to reflect their gender identity. Medical procedures for transgendered people are also available in most Western countries. However, because gender roles are an important part of many cultures, those engaged in strong challenges to the prevalence of these roles, such as many transgendered people, often have to face considerable prejudice. One such case is chronicled in the movie Boys Don't Cry .
Many non Western cultures legitimized cross dressing. The berdache in many Native American tribes is recognized as a separate gender, a woman-living-man, not as a man who wants to be a woman. The husband of a berdache is not viewed as a berdache, but as a 'normal' male. In some societies there is a correspondig gender for man-living-women (amazons).
See also: gender dysphoria, intersexuals, fetish, autogynephilia, Sex-change, two-spirit