Written by: Arya Tondale
Edited by: Maggie Huang
Imagine this: A gender reveal party, where the decor, the food and the aesthetics are either blue or pink. The kid is assigned a gender and everyone just rolls with it. Fast forward a few years and this same kid is preferring the opposite of what their sex is supposed to like and fit in. The kid is supposed to feel like themselves within their assigned gender but in this case, they are not. They desire to be of the other gender and over time, it leads to an incongruence between their assigned sex and their gender identity. Eventually, it turns into psychological distress or in clinical terms Gender Dysphoria (G.D).
What is Gender Dysphoria?
According to the NIH, G.D. is defined as a “marked incongruence between their experienced or expressed gender and the one they were assigned at birth.” Individuals experiencing this inner conflict may find it challenging to fit their gender expression within the conventional male-female binary, often resulting in societal stigma. It is also important to understand that gender identity is different from gender expression even though they go hand in hand. (Garg, 2023)
How does it affect the individual?
Gender dysphoria, as defined by the DSM-5-TR, involves a significant disconnect between an individual's experienced or expressed gender and their assigned gender, lasting at least six months. For adults and adolescents, it manifests through distress over physical sex characteristics, a desire for those of another gender, or a wish to be treated as a different gender. For children, signs include strong desires to be another gender, preferences for cross-gender clothing, roles, or toys, and a dislike of their anatomy. In both groups, this incongruence must lead to notable distress or impairment in daily functioning. (Turban, 2022)
Stigma attached to GD
Transgender individuals experience high levels of stigma, discrimination, and victimization, which contribute significantly to mental health challenges. The rates of depression, anxiety, and other disorders are often elevated due to societal rejection, leading to a negative self-image and, in many cases, increased suicidal tendencies. Suicide rates among transgender people are significantly higher than in the general population. For transgender youth, bullying and discrimination in schools are common and can lead to lasting mental health issues. Access to appropriate healthcare is another pressing issue, as transgender people often struggle to find providers and insurance coverage for gender-affirming treatments. This leads to severe mental health problems like depression and suicidal ideation. (White Hughto et al., 2015)
How does it affect others around them?
Gender dysphoria affects not only the individual but also their close relationships, bringing emotional adjustments, shifts in family dynamics, and social adaptation challenges. Loved ones may experience confusion, grief, or social discomfort as they adjust to new names, pronouns, and expressions. In less accepting environments, they may also encounter societal stigma or prejudice by association. Over time, these challenges often foster greater empathy and resilience, deepening connections through support and understanding.
Ways to tackle this stigma:
Public Education: Raise awareness about gender diversity through media and community programs to foster empathy and reduce misconceptions.
Inclusive Policies and Advocacy: Implement supportive policies in schools and workplaces—such as anti-discrimination protections and gender-neutral facilities—and advocate for laws that protect gender-diverse individuals in healthcare, employment, and education to dismantle structural stigma.
Healthcare Training: Educate healthcare providers on gender-affirming care to ensure respectful, informed treatment for those with gender dysphoria.
Family and Community Support: Offer educational programs for families to help them understand and support loved ones, fostering acceptance.
Positive Media Representation: Promote realistic and empowering portrayals of gender-diverse individuals in media to reshape public perceptions.
So now imagine this: the kid eventually finds themselves in a welcoming space and slowly they open themselves up to new possibilities leading them to succeed in life. It is that simple. By tackling such stereotypes and fighting discrimination, we can allow people around us to be their authentic selves.
References
Turban, J. (2022). What is gender dysphoria?. Psychiatry.org - What is Gender Dysphoria? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria Garg, G. (2023). Gender dysphoria. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532313/
White Hughto, J. M., Reisner, S. L., & Pachankis, J. E. (2015). Transgender Stigma and Health: A Critical Review of stigma determinants, mechanisms, and interventions. Social science & medicine (1982). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4689648/
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