Reflection 16

Intersexuality and transsexuality are extremely complex issues. Many people have many different ideas and beliefs on this topic. I first began thinking that individuals exhibiting transsexual behavior made that choice. What I mean by this is I first thought that if a person was strong in his belief that he was trapped in another genders body than that was a choice that they were making to be the opposite sex. This opinion changed when I watched a show (20/20) and they dug deeper in the subject or transsexuality. There was an interview with a five year old boy and his family. The boy showed signs famine behavior as young as one year old. He would always prefer things that a girl is age would. When he gained the ability to express his self verbally he expressed to his parents that he was a girl. His parents thought that it was not serious until the saw that the little boy was serious. They sought professional help and the boy was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorders (GID). He then began his life as a girl and now is extremely happy. The point of this story is that I believe that it is no longer a choice. I feel that it cannot be a choice when someone that young believes that he is a girl. He was not a confused little five year old boy. He was adamant that he was a boy trapped in a women’s body. If someone as young as five can know themselves and who they are then an adult can surely as well.
One thing that I am confused about is if the belief that you are a gender trapped in another gender’s body is a disorder. That is what psychologist believes but I am not so sure. I say this because I am not sure is this is a psychological disorder like schizophrenia or if something went wrong with their biology in the womb. There has been evidence to support both but I will make my determination when more concrete information is released.
Intersexuality is a clearer cut condition, if it is considered a condition. People with the conditions associated with intersexuality may suffer from discrimination. Many Olympic contestants have been disqualified because they have failed the Gender Testing. I am not sure if this is fair or not because I don’t know if their condition gives them an edge.
This information is important to know because I may have children in my class who will have these issues and I must be able to make the classroom environment as accommodating as possible.