The May/June 2010 issue of Scientific American - MIND is devoted to differences between male and female brains and how these effect everything from parenting to perceptions of what is funny. There are some interesting articles with some new ideas on why men and women behave the way they do. After reading the article I discuss here, though, I have to wonder how accurate many of the other ones are.
This issue also contains an article entitled "The Third Gender" with a subtext "Transsexuals are illuminating the biology and psychology of sex - and revealing just how diverse the human species really is." A preview of the article, written by Jesse Bering, can be found here (
http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... ird-gender).
The writer notes the diversity of transgender expression in humans. I find it disturbing that he proceeds directly from his opening observations on transvestism (which for some would be more properly referred to as cross-dressing) to:
"As researchers probe the biological, psychological and cultural underpinnings of transsexuality in its myriad forms, they continue to be astounded by the individual variation they find."
My problem with this is two-fold. First, the article title specifies transsexuals as the subject and opens with two paragraphs about 'transvestism.' This may confuse those who are not well informed on the variety of transgender expressions. Especially when (concern Two) there is no seque into the transsexuality discussion.
Then there is the title subtext "...illuminating the biology and psychology of sex" when gender identity is, as correctly stated in paragraph 3, distinct from biological sex and sexual orientation.
I have another problem with this article and this is where I have to wonder if the politics of gender identity studies is influencing who gets heard. Is it the loud and controversial researchers, or those who more quietly go about their studies and publish significant research?
There is a lot of space given to the ideas of psychiatrist Ray Blanchard and psychologist Anne Lawrence. Blanchard originated the concept of 'autogynephilia.' Lawrence, who is a MtF transsexual, made some adjustments to this model. Autogynephilia is the idea that heterosexual MtF transsexuals are aroused by the idea of being women.
Excuse me here.
I most definitely am a heterosexual MtF transsexual and I was never aroused by the idea of being a women. Anyway, natal women are known to be sexual beings who enjoy that physical aspect of their being. Should MtF, heterosexual transsexuals be any different?
I have read a lot about autogynephila over the last two years. It is a controversial topic among transsexuals and many gender identity researchers. It is certainly possible that some MtF, heterosexual transsexuals fall into this paradigm. Two gender therapists now have told me they have never met a client who does. Nonetheless, all ideas should be welcomed in academia. Especially when they are backed by sound arguments and well designed studies.
Autogynephila was also elaborated by J. Michael Bailey in the 2003 book The Man Who Would Be Queen. There is a Wikipedia article
The_Man_Who_Would_Be_Queen#Controversy)on positive and negative responses to this work.
Part of the outcry resulted because it was published by the National Academy of Sciences. Critics contend that the methodology used by Blanchard, and others, to support his claims was not scientifically based at all.
Lynn Conway, the world renowned transsexual computer scientist and engineer, writes that the book is highly transphobic (
TS/LynnsReviewOfBaileysBook.html).
Lynn herself was a subject of the book and sued Bailey, who was chair of the Department of Psychology at Northwestern University her
Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:42 pm
e in the Chicago area.
Dr. Eli Coleman, a p
reeminent psychologist at the University of Minnesota Program in Human Sexuality (
http://www.fm.umn.edu/phs/), blasted the Bailey book at a conference in 2005 (
TS/Trans%20Health/IFGE%202005/Eli%20Coleman%20Rebukes%20Bailey's%20Book%20at%20I FGE%202005.htm). His response seemed, to some, to be a little late. The U of M program, where I started my journey, is considered one of the top in the world for studying and treating transgender persons.
Dr. Coleman, and I was not aware of this until just now, spoke out against the Bailey book in 2003 (
http://www.tsroadmap.com/info/eli-coleman.html). He is quoted as stating:
"As he outlined the need to “promote sound and ethical research,” Dr. Coleman made a direct reference to The Man Who Would Be Queen by J. Michael Bailey of Northwestern University. The book has been widely denounced as scientifically unsound and deeply biased.
Dr. Coleman urged members to work with the transgender community to “end antipathy and distrust of researchers.” To illustrate what Dr. Coleman called “unfortunate setbacks” to ending this problem, he displayed the Bailey book cover. The book’s provocative title and image of masculine legs and feet in feminine shoes are widely considered to be deliberately insulting.
Referring to Bailey’s shoddy scholarship and deeply flawed research methods, Dr. Coleman emphatically declared: “We need to challenge bad science.” "
When a friend here forwarded me a Ray Blanchard quote, many months ago, I wrote back something like "Do you know who this is??" I am sure he did. I later sent him a lengthy response when I learned of the methods used by a Northwestern faculty member, a historian I think, to defend the Bailey 'research.' He may have thought, "there she goes again" or "why did I ever broach this topic?"
The thing is, as Eli Coleman acknowledged, great harm can be done to transsexual and transgender persons by shoddy research that receives the official approval of organizations that should know better. Like the National Academy of Sciences.
I liked a few things about the Scientific American - MIND article on transsexuals. For instance, author Bering made an important point about the complexity of MtF transsexualism. For some, gender reassignment surgery is not at all important and that is fine. For others, it can be very important to their fulfillment. Dr. Walte
Danya (imported) wrote: Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:42 pm
r Bockting, like Coleman, is a very respected psychologist at the U of M Program in
Human Sexuality. He is the current president of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (
http://www.wpath.org/). I heard him speak at a conference last year and spoke with him personally in August, 2009. I think he would agree with this, although I seem to remember his stating that one should not take out a second mortgage to finance GRS. I sent him an email this evening requesting further information.
You'r welcomed when ever to visit Istanbul. It is really good for the ones that loves history after being the cap city of both Byzantium and Ottoman Empires, it is like living in an open museum (if you'r in the old city) the new areas are no different than any other metropolitan city with skycraper like towers etc
Still, at the age of 58 I feel very energetic. There is a lot I want to accomplish in life. I am confident I will find a way to reach my goals. I just don't know what the path will be.
Not really.
I dressed well for my downtown electrolysis appointment today. I was very pleased with some of the looks I got from the city men. 