1/
Gender dysphoria in the DSM5 is defined as "a strong and persistent cross-gender identification (not merely a desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being the opposite sex.)"
This conflates the condition with the treatment in a way that is unique to gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria in the DSM5 is defined as "a strong and persistent cross-gender identification (not merely a desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being the opposite sex.)"
This conflates the condition with the treatment in a way that is unique to gender dysphoria
2/
Dysphoria is from the Greek, dusphoros, meaning "hard to bear." It refers to a state of unease or general dissatisfaction. It can refer to things other than gender/sex but is mostly used in this context.
Dysphoria is from the Greek, dusphoros, meaning "hard to bear." It refers to a state of unease or general dissatisfaction. It can refer to things other than gender/sex but is mostly used in this context.
3/ Gender is a term coined by sexologist John Money in 1955, meaning "all those things a person says or does to disclose himself or herself as having the status of a boy or man, girl or woman."
This makes the idea of gender dysphoria seem a little... hokey.
This makes the idea of gender dysphoria seem a little... hokey.
4/
How can a person be dissatisfied with all the things they say and do that indicate whether they are male or female?
In reality, this definition makes a mockery of what gender dysphoria is like to live with.
Try a thought experiment.
How can a person be dissatisfied with all the things they say and do that indicate whether they are male or female?
In reality, this definition makes a mockery of what gender dysphoria is like to live with.
Try a thought experiment.
5/
Imagine being a straight man and waking up tomorrow with two sore, useless, heavy balloons attached to your chest.
Imagine that a good number of the men around you now leer unashamedly at these balloons, dismissing and sexualising you.
Not all the men, but enough of them.
Imagine being a straight man and waking up tomorrow with two sore, useless, heavy balloons attached to your chest.
Imagine that a good number of the men around you now leer unashamedly at these balloons, dismissing and sexualising you.
Not all the men, but enough of them.
6/
You will never be "one of the lads" again.
That's dysphoria. It is an intense and difficult to bear dissatisfaction with the sexed aspects of the body, and what those aspects mean for how you are treated by the people around you.
You will never be "one of the lads" again.
That's dysphoria. It is an intense and difficult to bear dissatisfaction with the sexed aspects of the body, and what those aspects mean for how you are treated by the people around you.
7/
Under those circumstances, you might want to go to the doctor to get the useless balloons removed, right? But that wouldn't be part of the condition of dysphoria, that would be what you want to do about having two sore, useless balloons attached to your chest.
Under those circumstances, you might want to go to the doctor to get the useless balloons removed, right? But that wouldn't be part of the condition of dysphoria, that would be what you want to do about having two sore, useless balloons attached to your chest.
8/
Likewise, a desire to transition cannot be part of the condition of dysphoria. That would be like saying that a desire to take Sertraline is part of depression.
Medical transition is one of the ways to manage dysphoria, not a part of the condition itself.
Likewise, a desire to transition cannot be part of the condition of dysphoria. That would be like saying that a desire to take Sertraline is part of depression.
Medical transition is one of the ways to manage dysphoria, not a part of the condition itself.
9/
Dysphoria, like all the conditions in the DSM 5, comes in degrees. You might have a bit of dysphoria, and sometimes feel annoyed that you have periods, and wish you didn't have a womb, or you might be so distressed by your sexed body that you attempt suicide.
Dysphoria, like all the conditions in the DSM 5, comes in degrees. You might have a bit of dysphoria, and sometimes feel annoyed that you have periods, and wish you didn't have a womb, or you might be so distressed by your sexed body that you attempt suicide.
10/
Many lesbians and gay men grow up with some level of dysphoria. What could be more natural than a tomboyish little girl wishing that she were a boy, so she could marry her best female friend, and hating her female body that disqualifies her from that?
Many lesbians and gay men grow up with some level of dysphoria. What could be more natural than a tomboyish little girl wishing that she were a boy, so she could marry her best female friend, and hating her female body that disqualifies her from that?
11/
Twenty years ago, those tomboyish little girls grew up and sought out the LGB community, where they quickly learned that butch lesbians not only existed, but were highly respected by everybody, and wildly popular with lesbian and bisexual women of all kinds.
Twenty years ago, those tomboyish little girls grew up and sought out the LGB community, where they quickly learned that butch lesbians not only existed, but were highly respected by everybody, and wildly popular with lesbian and bisexual women of all kinds.
12/
That community no longer exists, in that form, to welcome these young women. Instead, they are told that dysphoria will lead them to kill themselves unless they transition. Instead of a warm community, they are met by doctors with drugs and scalpels.
That community no longer exists, in that form, to welcome these young women. Instead, they are told that dysphoria will lead them to kill themselves unless they transition. Instead of a warm community, they are met by doctors with drugs and scalpels.
13/
They are met by an LGBT community with an entry requirement; you must accept gender ideology, same gender, not same sex attraction, or you will be vilified, called hateful, transphobic, a terf. If you are dysphoric, you aren't a lesbian or a gay man, you are an "egg."
They are met by an LGBT community with an entry requirement; you must accept gender ideology, same gender, not same sex attraction, or you will be vilified, called hateful, transphobic, a terf. If you are dysphoric, you aren't a lesbian or a gay man, you are an "egg."
14/
An egg to be "hatched," persuaded that medical transition is the best way to deal with your dysphoria.
But there are other treatments.
With children, the best may be "watchful waiting."
80% of dysphoric children simply grow out of it, most becoming lesbian or gay adults.
An egg to be "hatched," persuaded that medical transition is the best way to deal with your dysphoria.
But there are other treatments.
With children, the best may be "watchful waiting."
80% of dysphoric children simply grow out of it, most becoming lesbian or gay adults.
15/
Talking therapies can also be very helpful, particularly CBT. CBT is very effective for OCD. The intrusive and troubling thoughts in dysphoria have similar features to those of OCD, can also be challenged by CBT techniques.
You can learn to love the skin you're in
Talking therapies can also be very helpful, particularly CBT. CBT is very effective for OCD. The intrusive and troubling thoughts in dysphoria have similar features to those of OCD, can also be challenged by CBT techniques.
You can learn to love the skin you're in
16/
Some lesbians manage their dysphoria through butch/ femme dynamics. Some lesbians move to women's land. This frees them from the male gaze, which can remove the social aspect of dysphoria almost completely.
And some people manage their dysphoria with drugs and surgeries.
Some lesbians manage their dysphoria through butch/ femme dynamics. Some lesbians move to women's land. This frees them from the male gaze, which can remove the social aspect of dysphoria almost completely.
And some people manage their dysphoria with drugs and surgeries.
17/
We support their right to do so, as adults.
The seriousness of these interventions, however, requires a high level of medical gatekeeping.
Women seeking hysterectomies for any other reason than transition will find it very difficult to access one, for good reason.
We support their right to do so, as adults.
The seriousness of these interventions, however, requires a high level of medical gatekeeping.
Women seeking hysterectomies for any other reason than transition will find it very difficult to access one, for good reason.
18/
So why is it so easy for trans identified people to get access to potentially sterilising treatment? Treatment that may remove the ability to experience sexual pleasure? Treatment that will drastically alter their physical appearance, and narrow their dating choices?
So why is it so easy for trans identified people to get access to potentially sterilising treatment? Treatment that may remove the ability to experience sexual pleasure? Treatment that will drastically alter their physical appearance, and narrow their dating choices?
19/
It can't be because they will kill themselves otherwise.
If it were true that folk with dysphoria would kill themselves if not affirmed and given access to drugs and surgeries, what happened before the 1950s, or in countries where drugs and surgeries are not available?
It can't be because they will kill themselves otherwise.
If it were true that folk with dysphoria would kill themselves if not affirmed and given access to drugs and surgeries, what happened before the 1950s, or in countries where drugs and surgeries are not available?
20/
And what other area of medicine do doctors respond to "I will kill myself if you don't give me my preferred treatment option" with "your suicidality has persuaded me that you are correct about the treatment that you need."
This approach encourages suicide threats/attempts
And what other area of medicine do doctors respond to "I will kill myself if you don't give me my preferred treatment option" with "your suicidality has persuaded me that you are correct about the treatment that you need."
This approach encourages suicide threats/attempts
21/
We seek to normalise and reclaim dysphoria, and to open a conversation about what it is like to experience it, and treatment options.
We reject the absurd notion that everybody with dysphoria must transition or commit suicide.
We stand in solidarity with dysphoric people
We seek to normalise and reclaim dysphoria, and to open a conversation about what it is like to experience it, and treatment options.
We reject the absurd notion that everybody with dysphoria must transition or commit suicide.
We stand in solidarity with dysphoric people
We have been asked to clarify a couple of points in this tweet:
1. DSM5 is the psychiatrist's handbook, which defines all the mental health conditions
2. We go on to explain how dysphoria conflates condition/treatment in this thread
3. Twitter, please, can we have an edit button?
1. DSM5 is the psychiatrist's handbook, which defines all the mental health conditions
2. We go on to explain how dysphoria conflates condition/treatment in this thread
3. Twitter, please, can we have an edit button?
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
