[AnnieBL]

It is caused by being deprived of a means to express one's innate gender identity. Once that restriction is removed, the dysphoria disappears.

Pretty much what I've been trying to say, and been attacked for, all along.

Scientifically speaking, since GD is conditional on a social framework rather than being metabolic or vectored, it's not a disease.

Let's go a step further. Since GD is not a disease, and what we are describing as GD comes from social restrictions, shouldn't we be "treating" the cause, rather than the symptoms? In other words, GD is the symptom, not the cause. Treating symptoms, while it is the forte of modern western medicine, is not the correct approach.

Much of the discussion I've read on the subject over the years is much akin to beating your head on the wall continuously and wondering why you have a headache, no matter how much ibuprofen you take. Stop hitting your head on the wall! is my message.

That is why most bio-females with a strong male gender identity do not suffer from gender dysphoria. In our society they are given ample opportunity to express their male gender identities, by the way they act, dress, and pursue traditional male professions.

In a way, yes... women have a slightly easier time with it, but I wouldn't call it "ample opportunity". The difference is hardly night & day. If I look at the extended family that still live within the religious context of my youth, there's really no room for gender variance with the girls, either. I really feel bad for them, because to compare them with the other girls of their own age, it's even worse than it is for the boys.

It's hard to explain exactly what I mean by that... suffice it to say that I'll stipulate girls (in the First World, generally) have a slightly easier time swimming cross-current, but there's a way to go yet.

How many members here who have found a way to express their inner woman are still dysphoric? I submit that dysphoria only exists to the extent that his/her expression is still limited, or he/she has not yet fully found self-acceptance.

Very good way to say it.

I've been reading the experiences of others like us now since the days of dial-up. One thing remarkable in its repeatability... is the more closeted or hen-pecked the individual, the denser will be the "pink fog" and the stronger the desire for the "transition". (Quite a euphemism for surgically altering one's junk there...)

I have learned that a woman can make her man either very glad, or very sad, to be a man... depending on her attitude.

On the other end of that scale are a few of my dear friends who are so far out of the closet, they couldn't find their way back with GPS. They are also open and enthusiastic about sex -- maybe that relates somehow. The enthusiasm for sex, of course, means they wouldn't do anything to jeopardize their ability to enjoy it.

Perhaps I need to do some further study.

MissC (and also Clara and Misty)

Again I find myself largely agreeing with you. I had intended replying to Clara's post, but find quoting yours a better vehicle.

Agreed that GD is not a disease, but it is certainly an affliction, and since we exist within our present and existing societal framework, we may be able to push it aside at least for a time utilizing the non-gender variant i.e. masculine portion of our persona if we have enough of it, or we can sublimate it, but at present in our society we can only truly express the feminine portion by presenting as a passable female, which can be difficult to achieve without some degree of 'transition'. By all means strive to improve the societal framework, but we are here, now.

I probably shouldn't raise this, but I steered clear of the issue at the time and I'm definitely not now intending to be contentious, but my own impression was that your choice of thread for the previous most forceful expression of your views was possibly unfortunate. It seemed to me that the OP in that thread was not rejoicing in having a disease (i.e. the common human failing of 'enjoying ill-health') but rather being upbeat about obtaining assistance in endeavoring to deal with GD from what many might consider an unlikely source. If I'm right, you could have been more a victim of backlash from raining on the parade than any strong dissent with your views as such. In any case, I'm glad that you are still with us.

As for the 'man!', what made me query it was its single occurrence at the end of that particular paragraph about hijra.