[GoneGirl]

The term 'Transsexual' is a special subclass under the all encompassing 'Transgender' umbrella.



A transsexual person has a strong cross gender identity. That individual's gender identity falls far to the right (female) side of the gender spectrum.



Transsexual women do not identify as men, and being forced to live as one is impossible to bear for long. To live as their birth assigned gender is so uncomfortable that they sooner or later transition to living full-time as their internally sensed gender. It includes modifying their physical bodies (often including genital surgery) to better match their inner self-concept.

Transsexual people will often transition at any cost, or if prevented from doing so, fall into a pattern of deep depression, self-destructive behavior, or even commit suicide. If someone is able to find a stable balance between their male and female gender personalities, they most likely fall more toward the middle of the gender spectrum. They are transgender, certainly, but NOT transsexual.

If one is not a transsexual person, and can find a way to cope with their gender issues, that certainly is the appropriate course of action to take because it avoids the often high personal cost that accompanies MTF or FTM transition.

Clara