Gender dysphoria is described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Refers to the feelings of distress and discomfort a person experiences when their assigned gender does not match their gender identity. People experiencing gender dysphoria may feel uncomfortable and distressed by the conflict between the sexual characteristics of their physical body and how they feel and think about themselves. They may also experience feelings of distress or discomfort about the traditional gender roles expected of their assigned gender.
The effects of gender dysphoria can differ from person to person. For some people, these feelings of conflict can affect their self-image and behavior. A person with this condition may cope with discomfort by altering their gender expression, gender representation, or gender assignment. They can also make adjustments to her physical appearance.
What is gender dysphoria?
Children experiencing gender dysphoria may express a desire to be the opposite sex and insist on toys, hairstyles, and clothing typically associated with the opposite sex. Nevertheless, Not all people with gender dysphoria identify as transgender, but many people diagnosed with gender dysphoria do identify as transgender, gender fluid, or gender non-conforming.
Symptoms of this condition may include feeling a strong sense of distress or discomfort with the gender assigned at birth. Some signs someone is experiencing gender dysphoria are:
- Desire to no longer have the primary sexual characteristics of their gender assigned at birth.
- You want to be treated as a person of the opposite sex.
- A desire to have the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of their gender identity.
- The insistence that are of a different gender to the sex with which they were born.
- Preference for playing cross-sex roles.
- Strong rejection of toys, games, and other things normally associated with the gender assigned at birth.
- Wearing clothing normally associated with the other sex.
People with gender dysphoria may often express that they are in the wrong body. They are often uncomfortable with the gender roles and gender expressions of their assigned sex at birth. This can manifest itself by showing rejection of stereotypical gender behaviors.
It's important pointing that gender dysphoria and gender nonconformity are not the same. Gender nonconformity involves behaviors and gender expressions that do not correspond to the stereotypical norms associated with a person's assigned gender at birth. Gender nonconformity is not considered a mental disorder.
gender identity vs. sexual orientation
Gender dysphoria is not related to an individual's sexual orientation. People who experience gender dysphoria can be straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. People who experience gender dysphoria also they may be transgender or gender non-conforming. However, it is important to recognize that not all transgender or gender non-conforming people experience gender dysphoria.
It is also important to point out the distinction between gender identity and sexual identity. Gender identity refers to a person's internal sense of gender, whether male, female, or outside the gender binary. Sexual orientation refers to a person's physical, emotional, or romantic attraction to other people. Thus, gender identity relates to who a person is, and sexual orientation relates to who a person is attracted to.
Causes of gender dysphoria
The exact causes of gender dysphoria are not fully understood, but several factors may play a role. Genetics, hormonal influences during prenatal development, and environmental factors may be involved. For example, prenatal exposure to certain chemicals has been associated with disturbances in the normal development of sex determination before birth. Research also points to a genetic link, as there is a higher shared prevalence between identical twins than fraternal twins.
gender dysphoria often begins during early childhood. While the exact mechanisms are unclear, we do know that when children are born, they are assigned a sex based on their physical anatomy. The sex a child is assigned at birth often determines how they are raised and how others interact with them. As they get older, they may begin to feel a mismatch between their gender identity and their assigned sex. In some cases, this mismatch can lead to feelings of rejection of the established gender.