Estimates suggest that about 1% of all people born are of the opposite sex, meaning their bodies do not fit into the male/female distinction: gonads, sex organs, and endocrine systems (hormonal changes). Their factors do not necessarily match gender characteristics. There are quite a few misconceptions, or “myths” as we would call them, concerning transgender people.
The sexuality of an individual is usually determined, by a doctor, shortly after birth. This is based on the individual’s external genitalia, and even then, it’s not very clear. Here are 5 misconceptions about transgender people you should know.
1. Transgender people are becoming more and more numerous
Worldwide, it is estimated that 1 out of every 30,000 women is transgender while 1 out of 100,000 men is transgender. There is a possibility that this estimation could be totally untrue or even wrong. Because there are transgender persons who are living unidentified as, the numbers above are a representation of people diagnosed with a gender disorder.
There is actually no accurate representation of transgender demography and as such, we can say that we are yet unaware of the population of transgender people.
2. Transgender people reproduce gender binarity
By looking at past populations, from historical documents to archeological artifacts, graves, grave paraphernalia, and skeletons, we know that the gender we think of as male or female doesn’t exist; present in all populations—and we know it doesn’t exist yet. There is evidence of gender and sexual fluidity in human cultures even from prehistoric times—from Ancient Egypt, Mesoamerica, Inca, Southeast Asia, and even in early Mesopotamian writing.
There are individuals that don’t want to be associated with a particular gender but see themselves as neutrals—a balance between both sides.
3. Transition is a medical protocol
One of the common misconceptions about transsexuality is that an individual must undergo a medical transition of switching genitalia from male to female or female to male. Transsexuality is a gender identity like being Hispanic, African, or Asian. It is what some would refer to as a psychological configuration of the individual’s perception of sexuality.
This means that a person’s, sexual orientation might differ from what the eyes can see. But the society feels that for a person to be transgender, he or she must undergo certain medical procedures, but that’s totally untrue.
4. Trans-identity means gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria, simply put, is not feeling at home with one’s biological gender. It is also one of the major misconceptions about transsexuality. There are so many transgender persons that do not undergo medical procedures to alter their biological gender in order to feel comfortable being transgender. Even though, there are a few that would want to change the way they dress or look to feel comfortable with the gender they are associated with.
5. Gender identity is defined by biological sex
Gender identity has to do with your feelings and emotions and not about your appearances. It has to do with what sexual ideology you agree with and want to express. It simply means that as a man, you do not necessarily have to look like a woman before you feel like a woman. Or as a woman, you must not really look like a man before feeling like a man.
So the biological sex that determines what you look like or what changes your body undergoes does not determine your gender identity or sexual orientation.