Gender identity disorder in young people

Abstract

The recent film Boys Don't Cry illustrates in a highly dramatised form the problems that the phenomenon of gender identity disorder can create in an extreme situation. The film is based on the true story of a young person, Brandon, with a female body who perceived himself as a male. In the film we do not know when the issue of his male gender identity first appeared, but we see him living in a male role as a teenager trying to conceal, to his peers, the reality of his female body. (I refer to Brandon as ‘he’ because this is how Brandon presents himself in the film. The dilemma about using ‘he’ or ‘she’ typically confronts professionals in the management of teenagers like Brandon.) The struggles of these concealments are well portrayed, as in the scene when he steals tampons from a shop. He joins in male activities and displays of physical strength as a confirmation of his male role. He is well accepted as a boy within a troubled and troublesome group of young people. He falls passionately in love with a girl, Lana, who accepts him as he is without much questioning, and a close intimate relationship develops, which the peer group seems to accept. The reality of his body is eventually revealed. His girlfriend can accept the new situation, but had she really not known or had she turned a blind eye? Unfortunately, two young men become more and more disturbed by this realisation. It stirs a primitive violence in them, which leads first to Brandon's rape and then to his murder.

Features of eating disorder among male-to-female transsexuals

“…Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/termsand-conditions Introduction Gender identity disorder, gender dysphoria and transsexualism are medical terms that have been used interchangeably for the anxiety, confusion or discomfort that is produced for some people by their birth gender. Those who feel they have been born into the wrong gender are often aware that there is 'something wrong' early in childhood (Di Ceglie, 2000). They feel different from their peers and are uncertain about their identity.…”

Empathising and Systemising in Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria

“…No single cause has yet been found to explain the development of atypical gender identity. A number of biological and psychosocial factors interact during development to lead to atypical gender identity (Di Ceglie 2000). In some individuals, lower empathy levels, consistent with ASC, may be one of the factors in atypical gender identity development and its persistence from childhood to adolescence and beyond.…”

Evolving Language and Understanding in the Historical Development of the Gender Identity Disorder Diagnosis

“…The cultural context for transgender identity development has been significantly explored by research articles (Carroll, 1998(Carroll, , 2000Carroll et al, 2002;Chen-Hayes, 2001;Di Ceglie, 2000;Lombardi & Van Servellen, 2000;Reicherzer, 2007;Reicherzer & Anderson, 2006) and books (Brown & Rounsley, 1996;Ettner, 1999;Hausman, 1995;Israel & Tarver, 1997;Lev, 2004;Mallon, 1999) that have addressed the developmental impact of marginalization in transgender lives, specifically as these occur in the United States. This research body, collectively, has articulated the complexities of transgender social opprobrium and has engaged mental health professionals to provide gender-affirming psychotherapy, education, and advocacy for this population.…”