07-02-2014, 02:19 AM
Speaking from personal experience and observation, I believe that for many, a suspected transgender condition can be difficult to confirm. Hence, the false positives and negatives.
Oftentimes men who have a subconscious female gender identity will attempt to suppress it through hyper-masculine behaviors accompanied with very anti-feminine attitudes. It's a defense mechanism against acknowledging to oneself something considered unacceptable, and a fear that it will be detected and exposed to the world. The reactionary behaviors and attitudes usually originate from deep within the subconscious. Being referred to by a feminine pronoun would also evoke a strong negative reaction in these individuals.
Men who suppress feminine leanings suffer gender dysphoria in ways which are not easily recognized as being caused by a mismatch of their assigned sex and gender sense. I say this because I fit this condition fairly well myself, and it generally means that one's male/female gender identity is close to an even split. In such situations, it can be difficult to uncover, much less resolve the male vs. female identity conflict.
It's likely that the majority of gender dysphoric men fall into this conflicted group. Many, I'm sure, never come to grips with their feminine half, and suffer for years as a result. It's mostly because of ignorance and the lack of awareness by the general populace that transgenderism is a relatively common condition among both men and women.
Those who land in the middle of the gender spectrum will often experience the false positive that the OP is questioning. It may be very difficult for a guy, late in life to accept and adjust to an emerging feminine persona even though the feminine gender identity is quite strong.
I think if a person suspects a transgender personality, it's worthwhile ferreting out the truth. Therapy + HRT is a proven method of doing so. In an informal way, that's what we on this board are engaged in.
Clara
Oftentimes men who have a subconscious female gender identity will attempt to suppress it through hyper-masculine behaviors accompanied with very anti-feminine attitudes. It's a defense mechanism against acknowledging to oneself something considered unacceptable, and a fear that it will be detected and exposed to the world. The reactionary behaviors and attitudes usually originate from deep within the subconscious. Being referred to by a feminine pronoun would also evoke a strong negative reaction in these individuals.
Men who suppress feminine leanings suffer gender dysphoria in ways which are not easily recognized as being caused by a mismatch of their assigned sex and gender sense. I say this because I fit this condition fairly well myself, and it generally means that one's male/female gender identity is close to an even split. In such situations, it can be difficult to uncover, much less resolve the male vs. female identity conflict.
It's likely that the majority of gender dysphoric men fall into this conflicted group. Many, I'm sure, never come to grips with their feminine half, and suffer for years as a result. It's mostly because of ignorance and the lack of awareness by the general populace that transgenderism is a relatively common condition among both men and women.
Those who land in the middle of the gender spectrum will often experience the false positive that the OP is questioning. It may be very difficult for a guy, late in life to accept and adjust to an emerging feminine persona even though the feminine gender identity is quite strong.
I think if a person suspects a transgender personality, it's worthwhile ferreting out the truth. Therapy + HRT is a proven method of doing so. In an informal way, that's what we on this board are engaged in.
Clara