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Dysphoria without ideology
What is Gender Dysphoria?
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Firstly, what GD is not. Though cultures sometimes unfairly pick favorites, differences in personality and expression are a normal part of being human. Biological sex is also innately human. Like other mammals, we reproduce by combining male and female genes. So, "male" and "female" are words for these biological reproductive categories, nothing more. Though there are some traits which tend to be more male or female, on average, not everyone is average. It would sadden us if any girl felt like less of a girl just because she likes trucks, sports or short hair; or for a boy to wonder if he's not really a boy at all just because he likes dolls, the colour pink or dancing. Sex stereotypes are not Gender Dysphoria.​
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Though there’s still a lot we don’t yet know about GD, it has been studied for decades.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Version 5 (DSM-5) outlines three known pathways to the development of GD:
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1) Early childhood onset which is highly correlated with homosexuality
2) Late Onset - when Transvestic Disorder with Autogynephilia progresses into GD
3) GD associated with a Disorder of Sex Development (DSD)
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We describe these below.
1. Childhood Onset GD
This type of GD is highly correlated with homosexuality, so it is sometimes called homosexual transsexualism (HSTS). Gender non-conformity (GNC), and some degree of cross-sex identification, is quite common among gay and lesbian people, especially in childhood. The degree to which this dimension of homosexuality is expressed is culturally mediated. Distress (dysphoria) associated with gender non-conformity is most likely due to lack of cultural understanding and support for LGB/non-conformity. Gender-related distress isn't common in places like Samoa where gender-nonconformity is expressed openly.
Key features:
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Obvious signs of gender-nonconformity from age 2-3
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Express a strong desire to be the opposite sex, or believe they are in fact the opposite sex
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Occurs in both boys and girls
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60-90% of kids who voice a desire to be the opposite sex, desist by or through adolescence without intervention. The remainder may desire medical interventions as adults.
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Predictors of persistence: lower socio-economic status, intensity of cross-sex identification, autism
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2. Late Onset Gender Dysphoria
The second primary pathway to gender dysphoria described in the DSM-5 and medical literature is related Transvestic Disorders with Autogynephilia. Dr Ray Blanchard, who coined the term Autogynephilia, described it as "a man's propensity to be sexually aroused by the fantasy of being a woman." It's classified as a paraphilia, which is an erotic target location error. Blanchard believed transvestite definition was too narrow, because AGP can be about the body, not just crossdressing. AGP should not be seen as a mere fetish, because that is overly reductive. Like a sexual orientation, AGP is multidimensional and includes a range of feelings and behaviours including romantic love and bonding.
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Key features:
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Historically, it was estimated that 75% of trans women have AGP
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Seen almost exclusively in non-homosexual natal boys/men
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Not typically gender-non-conforming as children
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Progresses into GD in adolescence or adulthood
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There are subcategories and variations
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There may be a higher transition regret rate among AGP
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Read: The Man Who Would Be Queen by Michael Bailey
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3. Disorder of Sex Development with GD
Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a group of rare congenital medical conditions in which the fetal sex differentiation process has been atypical in some way. For example, one's chromosomal sex may not match one's sex characteristics.
Not all people with DSDs have GD, but a small percentage do, which is more common in certain DSDs such as Ovotesticular DSD and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.
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It's been documented that natal females with CAH, for example, are more likely to be same sex attracted, choose male typical occupations and are more likely to experience gender dysphoria.
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A dramatically shifting landscape
Natal males have always accounted for the vast majority of the three known types of GD.
Transvestic Disorder with AGP almost exclusively occurs in natal males. Gay men far outnumber lesbians, and butch lesbians with GD are a small subset of homosexual women. DSDs are rare and those who also experience GD even more rare.
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A new cohort of trans identified individuals has emerged, especially since about 2015.
Natal females, with no observed history of childhood gender non-conformity, are now the largest group presenting to gender clinics. Little is known about why this shift has occurred.
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Dr Lisa Littman was the first to do a preliminary study and develop a hypothesis of socially influenced trans identity, which she termed Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD).
Some traits reported include:
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Mostly natal girls, but seen in both boys and girls
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Often no signs of gender non-conformity in childhood
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First appears in adolescence, quite suddenly
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Often very intelligent and sensitive youth
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May have conditions that make them more vulnerable (e.g. Borderline Personality Disorder, Autism or ADHD - all of which impact social skills, emotions and processing)
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Worsening mental health and behaviour after coming out as trans
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Firm and intense focus on gender ideology and subculture
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Social media and pornography are believed to be contributers
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For more info: Gender Dysphoria is Not One Thing
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Carving the Biodevelopment of Same-Sex Sexual Orientation at Its Joints
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Butch identity development: The formation of an authentic gender
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The classification and labeling of nonhomosexual gender dysphorias
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Typology of male-to-female transsexualism
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Heterosexual and homosexual gender dysphoria
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Nonhomosexual gender dysphoria
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Interim report of the DSM-IV subcommittee on gender identity disorders
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Measuring masculine gender identity in females.
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Gender dysphoria, gender reorientation, and the clinical management of transsexualism.
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Partial versus complete autogynephilia and gender dysphoria
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The she-male phenomenon and the concept of partial autogynephilia
New MRI Studies Support the Blanchard Typology of Male-to-Female Transsexualism.
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A Validation of Blanchard’s Typology: Comment on Nuttbrock et al. (2010)
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Desisting and persisting gender dysphoria after childhood: a qualitative follow-up study
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