Truly an interesting article.
But his classification into distinct groups of transexual, transgenderist and cross-dresser to my mind both fails to recognize the infinite variety of gender expression exhibited for example by the members of this group, as already said in previous postings in this thread. I think we should always see gender as a spectrum. For people at or near one end of the spectrum, their biological sex and their gender are essentially consistent. Those at or near the opposite end of the spectrum from their biological sex are candidates for transition, given the opportunity. But I think that those in between are much more subject to being moved back and forth along the spectrum either by hormonal or external circumstances, and I suggest that this invalidates any hard and fast distinction between cross-dressers and transgenderists. The experiences of many members of this group suggest that high testosterone levels and/or circumstances requiring a male presentation tend to result in many of those in the middle of the gender spectrum expressing it by croos-dressing, but when testosterone levels start to drop as we get older and/or are forced down by anti-androgens and taking estrogens or phytoestrogens such as PM, and/or other external feminizing influences occur, we become transgenderists instead ie we move along the spectrum in the feminine direction. When we expose our selves to rapidly changing hormone levels, this may for some people destabilize their position on the spectrum, which might explain some of your experieces, JulieTG?
Just my take on the situation, and like all generalsations, probably not applicable to everyone.
But his classification into distinct groups of transexual, transgenderist and cross-dresser to my mind both fails to recognize the infinite variety of gender expression exhibited for example by the members of this group, as already said in previous postings in this thread. I think we should always see gender as a spectrum. For people at or near one end of the spectrum, their biological sex and their gender are essentially consistent. Those at or near the opposite end of the spectrum from their biological sex are candidates for transition, given the opportunity. But I think that those in between are much more subject to being moved back and forth along the spectrum either by hormonal or external circumstances, and I suggest that this invalidates any hard and fast distinction between cross-dressers and transgenderists. The experiences of many members of this group suggest that high testosterone levels and/or circumstances requiring a male presentation tend to result in many of those in the middle of the gender spectrum expressing it by croos-dressing, but when testosterone levels start to drop as we get older and/or are forced down by anti-androgens and taking estrogens or phytoestrogens such as PM, and/or other external feminizing influences occur, we become transgenderists instead ie we move along the spectrum in the feminine direction. When we expose our selves to rapidly changing hormone levels, this may for some people destabilize their position on the spectrum, which might explain some of your experieces, JulieTG?
Just my take on the situation, and like all generalsations, probably not applicable to everyone.