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Chapter 2: Gender identity
ISSUES
: Sexuality and Gender
Chapter
2
Gender identity
Gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress
because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity.
It’s sometimes known as gender identity disorder (GID), gender incongruence
or transgenderism.
B
iological sex is assigned
at birth, depending on the
appearance of the genitals.
Gender identity is the gender that
a person ‘identifies’ with or feels
themselves to be.
While biological sex and gender
identity are the same for most
people, this isn’t the case for
everyone. For example, some people
may have the anatomy of a man, but
identify themselves as a woman,
while others may not feel they’re
definitively either male or female.
This mismatch between sex
and gender identity can lead to
distressing and uncomfortable
feelings that are called gender
dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is
a recognised medical condition,
for which treatment is sometimes
appropriate. It’s not a mental illness.
Some people with gender dysphoria
have a strong and persistent desire
to live according to their gender
identity, rather than their biological
sex. These people are sometimes
called transsexual or trans people.
Some trans people have treatment to
make their physical appearance more
consistent with their gender identity.
Signs of gender
dysphoria
The first signs of gender dysphoria
can appear at a very young age.
For example, a child may refuse to
wear typical boys’ or girls’ clothes,
or dislike taking part in typical boys’
or girls’ games and activities.
In most cases, this type of
behaviour is just a normal part of
growing up and will pass in time,
but for those with gender dysphoria
it continues through childhood and
into adulthood.
Adults with gender dysphoria can
feel trapped inside a body that
doesn’t match their gender identity.
They may feel so unhappy about
conforming to societal expectations
that they live according to their
anatomical sex, rather than the
gender they feel themselves to be.
They may also have a strong desire
to change or get rid of physical
signs of their biological sex, such
as facial hair or breasts.
Getting help
See your GP if you think you or your
child may have gender dysphoria.
If necessary, they can refer you to
a specialist Gender Identity Clinic
(GIC). Staff at these clinics can carry
out a personalised assessment and
provide any support you need.
Assessment
A diagnosis of gender dysphoria can
usually be made after an in-depth
assessment carried out by two or
more specialists.
This may require several sessions,
carried out a few months apart, and
may involve discussions with people
you are close to, such as members of
your family or your partner.
The assessment will determine
whether you have gender dysphoria
and what your needs are, which
could include:
Ö
Ö
whether there’s a clear mismatch
between your biological sex and
gender identity
Ö
Ö
whether you have a strong
desire to change your physical
characteristics as a result of any
mismatch
Ö
Ö
how you’re coping with any
difficulties of a possible
mismatch
