What is Gender Dysphoria or Transgender?
A person may experience discomfort if their biological sex and their gender identity don’t match. This is known as gender dysphoria. Despite the fact that gender dysphoria frequently manifests in childhood, some people may not experience it until well after puberty.
What is NOT Gender Dysphoria?
Gender Expression and Gender Identity are distinct. The term “gender expression” describes how a person shows themselves to the outside world in a way that is often characterised by their look, attire, mannerisms, hobbies, and behaviour. These standards have a cultural definition and change over time and across cultures.
Additionally distinct from sexual orientation is gender identity. The categories of persons one is sexually attracted to are referred to as one’s sexual orientation. People who are transgender have a wide variety of sexual orientations, just like cisgender people (those whose given sex at birth corresponds with their gender identification).
Similar to varied gender identities, a wide range of gender expressions does not necessarily indicate a mental illness.
Then what is considered a mental disorder?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is used by psychiatric professionals to determine what constitutes a disorder and what does not. Peer review and a lot of research go into this. DSM lists distinct specific requirements for kids, teens, and adults.
Gender dysphoria is defined by the DSM-5-TR as a significant discrepancy between one’s experienced/expressed gender and their given gender that lasts at least six months and is exhibited by at least two of the following:
- A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and primary and/or secondary sex characteristics (or in young adolescents, the anticipated secondary sex characteristics)
- A strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics because of a marked incongruence with one’s experienced/expressed gender (or in young adolescents, a desire to prevent the development of the anticipated secondary sex characteristics)
- A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender
- A strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
- A strong desire to be treated as the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
- A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
In order to meet criteria for the diagnosis, the condition must also be associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
A considerable discrepancy between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender that lasts at least six months and is confirmed by at least six of the following (one of which must be the first criterion) is described as gender dysphoria in children by the DSM-5-TR.
- A strong desire to be of the other gender or an insistence that one is the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one’s assigned gender)
- In boys (assigned gender), a strong preference for cross-dressing or simulating female attire; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong preference for wearing only typical masculine clothing and a strong resistance to the wearing of typical feminine clothing
- A strong preference for cross-gender roles in make-believe play or fantasy play
- A strong preference for the toys, games or activities stereotypically used or engaged in by the other gender
- A strong preference for playmates of the other gender
- In boys (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically masculine toys, games, and activities and a strong avoidance of rough-and-tumble play; or in girls (assigned gender), a strong rejection of typically feminine toys, games, and activities
- A strong dislike of one’s sexual anatomy
- A strong desire for the physical sex characteristics that match one’s experienced gender
As with the diagnostic criteria for adolescents and adults, the condition must also be associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Australian Law and Gender Dysphoria.
Australian law often allows parents to make decisions on medical care for their young children who are unable to give consent. This falls under the definition of “parental duty” as stated in Section 61B of the Family Law Act of 1975 (Cth) (the “Family Law Act”).
However, some medical treatments, also referred to as “special medical operations,” fall outside the purview of parental oversight.
The Family Court must approve these procedures. The Family Law Act’s Section 67ZC states that the court has the authority “to make directions relating to the welfare of children,” with “the best interests of the child” being “the paramount concern.”
Whether a child’s medical treatment requires court approval under the welfare jurisdiction depends on two factors.
- The first is whether the child is old enough to provide consent to the procedure.
- The second is whether the application to the court qualifies as a “special medical procedure,” in which case a parent or guardian cannot give approval.
What is available for a person with Gender Dysphoria.
People who identify as transgender and have “a constant, persistent, and strong” desire to advance may explore various forms of gender affirmation.
– Pronoun and name changes for social affirmation
– Legal affirmation: Changing the gender designations on official papers.
– Medical affirmation: by hormones that suppress puberty or that are gender-affirming, and/or
– Surgical affirmation: Through procedures like vaginoplasty, face feminisation, breast augmentation, and rebuilding of the masculine chest.
It should be noted that not all transgender people would desire gender affirmation in all areas because these are very personal and individual choices.
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