KNOWLEDGE
If you are reading this, I assume that you are searching to understand your experiences of sex and gender and what you ought to do about it. Your attempts to cope and adapt consume your emotional and physical resources, and you lack peace and coherence in your life. Since you want to act wisely, it is prudent to understand all you can about gender identity, gender dysphoria, and how people are finding unique and creative ways to resolve the conflict between the spirit and the flesh. Here you will find knowledge provided to you via reviews and summaries of books and articles, psychological research, links to resources on the WWW, such as websites and blogs, and suggested books and readings.
If you are reading this, I assume that you are searching to understand your experiences of sex and gender and what you ought to do about it. Your attempts to cope and adapt consume your emotional and physical resources, and you lack peace and coherence in your life. Since you want to act wisely, it is prudent to understand all you can about gender identity, gender dysphoria, and how people are finding unique and creative ways to resolve the conflict between the spirit and the flesh. Here you will find knowledge provided to you via reviews and summaries of books and articles, psychological research, links to resources on the WWW, such as websites and blogs, and suggested books and readings.
Coming Out To Yourself And Others
Before someone can come out to others about their hidden transgender identity, one must first come out to oneself. Coming out to oneself is usually a long process starting in childhood or adolescence and frequently continues into adulthood. It involves becoming gradually aware of the
myriad ways one does not fit in or identify with others of the same sex and the corresponding gender roles, interests, and behaviors.
The disconnect between one's own birth sex and corresponding gender roles and behaviors may be noticed by family, peers, or other adults and result in negative reactions that trigger emotional discomfort, confusion, and a sense that something is terribly wrong within oneself. Youth who experience this intense anxiety focused on one's gendered self then begin a long process of managing the confusion and discomfort about their gender and try ways to cope both internally and externally. These coping strategies are never successful at resolving the essential conflict between birth sex and gender identity, and varying degrees of emotional and behavioral dysfunction result. So, begins the search for understanding and self-knowledge.
Before someone can come out to others about their hidden transgender identity, one must first come out to oneself. Coming out to oneself is usually a long process starting in childhood or adolescence and frequently continues into adulthood. It involves becoming gradually aware of the
myriad ways one does not fit in or identify with others of the same sex and the corresponding gender roles, interests, and behaviors.
The disconnect between one's own birth sex and corresponding gender roles and behaviors may be noticed by family, peers, or other adults and result in negative reactions that trigger emotional discomfort, confusion, and a sense that something is terribly wrong within oneself. Youth who experience this intense anxiety focused on one's gendered self then begin a long process of managing the confusion and discomfort about their gender and try ways to cope both internally and externally. These coping strategies are never successful at resolving the essential conflict between birth sex and gender identity, and varying degrees of emotional and behavioral dysfunction result. So, begins the search for understanding and self-knowledge.
Witnessing and Mirroring A 14 Stage Model of Transsexual identity Formation
Aaron H. Devor PhD
Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy, 8 (1/2), 41-67.
Abstract: Coming to recognize oneself as transsexual involves a number of stages of exploration and analysis on both an interpersonal and intrapersonal level over the course of many years. A model encompassing fourteen possible stages is proposed: (1) Abiding Anxiety, (2) Identity Confusion About Originally Assigned Gender and Sex, (3) Identity Comparisons About Originally Assigned Gender and Sex, (4) Discovery of Transsexualism, (5) Identity Confusion about Transsexualism, (6) Identity Comparisons about Transsexualism, (7) Tolerance of Transsexual Identity, (8) Delay Before Acceptance of Transsexual Identity, (9) Acceptance of Transsexualism Identity, (10) Delay Before Transition, (11) Transition, (12) Acceptance of Post- transition Gender and Sex Identities, (13) Integration, and (14) Pride.
Aaron H. Devor PhD
Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy, 8 (1/2), 41-67.
Abstract: Coming to recognize oneself as transsexual involves a number of stages of exploration and analysis on both an interpersonal and intrapersonal level over the course of many years. A model encompassing fourteen possible stages is proposed: (1) Abiding Anxiety, (2) Identity Confusion About Originally Assigned Gender and Sex, (3) Identity Comparisons About Originally Assigned Gender and Sex, (4) Discovery of Transsexualism, (5) Identity Confusion about Transsexualism, (6) Identity Comparisons about Transsexualism, (7) Tolerance of Transsexual Identity, (8) Delay Before Acceptance of Transsexual Identity, (9) Acceptance of Transsexualism Identity, (10) Delay Before Transition, (11) Transition, (12) Acceptance of Post- transition Gender and Sex Identities, (13) Integration, and (14) Pride.
Transgender Visibility Guide
This guide by the Human Rights Campaign was designed to help you and your loved ones through the coming out process in realistic and practical terms. It acknowledges that the experience of coming out or disclosure covers the full spectrum of human emotion – from paralyzing fear to unbounded euphoria. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation hopes this guide helps you meet the challenges and opportunities that living as authentically as possible can offer to each of us.
This guide by the Human Rights Campaign was designed to help you and your loved ones through the coming out process in realistic and practical terms. It acknowledges that the experience of coming out or disclosure covers the full spectrum of human emotion – from paralyzing fear to unbounded euphoria. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation hopes this guide helps you meet the challenges and opportunities that living as authentically as possible can offer to each of us.