Discussion: the Future of Eunuchs

[kitchkinet18 (imported)]

Last evening, I had a rather fascinating conversation with someone in the EA chat (yes, sometimes, rarely, you can have good, informative conversations there) and it's still on my mind this morning so I figured I would ask here.

With the WPATH SOC8 now including an entire chapter for eunuchs, do we think eunuchs may become larger in number in contemporary and future society? The individual who brought it up mentioned two very good points. First, it is now much easier than before to find a willing doctor/surgeon. Second, years ago, transgenderism wasn't really big at all but with there now being a clear path for it, it's kinda exploded.

Also, our conversation brought up several interesting points. First, you don't really hear about eunuchs in the media, so that may affect the answer to this question. Second, I find eunuchs are much less likely to advertise their status and it's difficult to look at someone and identify them as a eunuch.

But, back to the original question. Do we think there will be more voluntary eunuchs in the future than there are now? And as an additional question, do we feel eunuchs will be more, equally, or less accepted than the current transgender community?

[magusuk89 (imported)]

I think there will be a period of dynamic confusion, as the visibility of different kinds of detesticulated people grows. The term 'eunuch' as defined in WPATH is focused on hormones as opposed to detesticulation for any reason, as they made pains to differentiate from, say, accidental or pathological testicular loss. But the history of eunuchs is mostly one of non-consensual detesticulation, so this novel definition has problems.

Cases like mine (medical necessity, but I prefer things this way, and also have sexual interests in this as well) blur the edges of any taxonomies people might want to impose. Drawing attention to voluntary vs non voluntary detesticulation semantically can have victimising impacts that will be culturally inflected.

I think awareness will rise, meaning that people will demand generalisations in a way currently they perhaps do not, because their encounters with the lives of detesticulated people are rare and personal, meaning specific.

On the question of whether voluntary eunuchs will be more or less accepted than binary trans people, it is hard to say. I have experienced attitudes of others that eunuchry is more alarming because it is closer to home. I have experienced attitudes of others that they are more inclined to tolerate eunuchs versus binary trans people because of issues like single sex facilities not arising.

[WheelyFixed]

I think the numbers will increase as the knowledge that it is a possible option spreads, both because those already wanting to be fixed can more readily get it done safely, and that the knowledge that it is a 'thing' and it's advantages in some eyes becomes more widely known...

To the extent that we are out, I think acceptance will increase gradually, somewhat paralleling the path of Gay / non-binary and binary TG folks w/ perhaps a few years lag...

However to me it is a bit less of an issue because by and large it doesn't show in obvious ways - I use the same restroom, my visible clothes are the same, I don't look greatly different, I use the same pronouns, I have the same romantic partner, etc... So unless I tell you, how would you know? (Obviously those who spend more time in locker rooms and nude beaches etc. would be more visible)

I might present as straight or openly gay / non-binary, but testicular state doesn't particularly play into those presentations, or change how one responds to them....

Even in the hypothetical 100% accepting / tolerant world, I don't see any advantage to advertising my state, so why should I? (though it would be nice not to care if others learn about it incidentally....)

WheelyFixed

[AussieNSFW (imported)]

I never realised it was an option. I am not transgender, body dysmorphia. I stumbled across castration as an option for others on Twitter/X. See it as a possibility, I am just forever thinking about it.