What's A Eunuch Like?
Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 2:09 pm
I got the idea for this thread when I looked to see if there were any recent posts by female members, and didn't find any. (They might be there, but I didn't see any.)
Anyway, my thought was, that maybe girls and women who access this site, or who might access it, don't become members because they have an inaccurate or unformed notion of what eunuchs and wannabes are like. My only contact with people that I know to be eunuchs, is through this website. But, acknowledging that limitation, I thought I might start a thread to try to define a kind of description of what typical eunuchs are like. I realize, as Krister and Jesus would probably immediately point out, that the members of this website are a very diverse group. But, if you've had any experience with statistical sampling and analysis, you probably realize that most samples tend to generate some type of bell curve, albeit it may be a rather flat one.
In general, it looks to me that eunuchs are quite low-profile types. Is those who are transgender are excluded, the general run of eunuchs appear not to draw attention to themselves, and, if they do, it's done to show that they really aren't all that unusual. I get the impression that most eunuchs, most individuals who are taking testosterone-reducing drugs, and also most wannabes, really just try to fit in like the general run of people do.
As to appearance, I haven't seen all that many photographs of eunuchs, but I get the impression that, even though all or nearly all who are members of the archive, were castrated in adulthood; eunuchs tend to be relatively even-featured and aren't rough looking. (This contrasts with the way the hijra community is; some of the hijras look like pretty tough customers.) This, of course, may be partially a result of grooming rather than of innate characteristics.
Just from reading some incidental comments in posts, my impression is that eunuchs are more often overweight than underweight. Whether this is noticeable or not, I couldn't say.
It also seems to me that eunuchs, chemical castrates, and wannabes, are all somewhat more introspective than most other people. Whether this is because of some effect of hormone reduction, whether it's because eunuchs might have fewer contacts with other people, particularly with the opposite sex, or whether it simply has to do with the type of personality someone has if he considers orchiectomy or has the operation performed, I couldn't say. It's an old observation of sociologists, that most men are trying to prove various things. Eunuchs, presumably, have given that up, and consequently have a viewpoint which is more oriented to their own interests, rather than to what other people might want them to have.
The question of whether eunuchs typically suffer from depression, or have more positive attitudes, seems to me to depend in some measure on how long it has been since their orchiectomies. From what I've read, it seems that there is often a period of depression within a year or two of the surgery, but that those who have been eunuchs for several years, have adjusted to any negative psychological effects of the change in hormone levels.
As to contact with the opposite sex, my impression is that this isn't reduced as much as some would expect. Those eunuchs who had their surgery after they were married, seem in general to have marriages that aren't all that different than uncastrated men have. And, really, a lot of sex isn't all that much involved with urgent sexual excitement; so eunuchs wouldn't necessarily feel they couldn't have sexual contact with women. Of course, those taking testosterone at some level, shouldn't be a whole lot different, in terms of sexual interest, than other males.
And regarding social and political views, it looks to me as though eunuchs are among the more tolerant groups in society. Many of them are ready to claim and defend their rights, but that's just what, in my judgement, they ought to do.
On reflection, a eunuch would seem to be just the sort of person the average female would want to meet, either in cyberspace or elsewhere. Maybe if females knew more about eunuchs (assuming they are as I have described), they would be more interested in seeking out and joining this archive.
Anyway, my thought was, that maybe girls and women who access this site, or who might access it, don't become members because they have an inaccurate or unformed notion of what eunuchs and wannabes are like. My only contact with people that I know to be eunuchs, is through this website. But, acknowledging that limitation, I thought I might start a thread to try to define a kind of description of what typical eunuchs are like. I realize, as Krister and Jesus would probably immediately point out, that the members of this website are a very diverse group. But, if you've had any experience with statistical sampling and analysis, you probably realize that most samples tend to generate some type of bell curve, albeit it may be a rather flat one.
In general, it looks to me that eunuchs are quite low-profile types. Is those who are transgender are excluded, the general run of eunuchs appear not to draw attention to themselves, and, if they do, it's done to show that they really aren't all that unusual. I get the impression that most eunuchs, most individuals who are taking testosterone-reducing drugs, and also most wannabes, really just try to fit in like the general run of people do.
As to appearance, I haven't seen all that many photographs of eunuchs, but I get the impression that, even though all or nearly all who are members of the archive, were castrated in adulthood; eunuchs tend to be relatively even-featured and aren't rough looking. (This contrasts with the way the hijra community is; some of the hijras look like pretty tough customers.) This, of course, may be partially a result of grooming rather than of innate characteristics.
Just from reading some incidental comments in posts, my impression is that eunuchs are more often overweight than underweight. Whether this is noticeable or not, I couldn't say.
It also seems to me that eunuchs, chemical castrates, and wannabes, are all somewhat more introspective than most other people. Whether this is because of some effect of hormone reduction, whether it's because eunuchs might have fewer contacts with other people, particularly with the opposite sex, or whether it simply has to do with the type of personality someone has if he considers orchiectomy or has the operation performed, I couldn't say. It's an old observation of sociologists, that most men are trying to prove various things. Eunuchs, presumably, have given that up, and consequently have a viewpoint which is more oriented to their own interests, rather than to what other people might want them to have.
The question of whether eunuchs typically suffer from depression, or have more positive attitudes, seems to me to depend in some measure on how long it has been since their orchiectomies. From what I've read, it seems that there is often a period of depression within a year or two of the surgery, but that those who have been eunuchs for several years, have adjusted to any negative psychological effects of the change in hormone levels.
As to contact with the opposite sex, my impression is that this isn't reduced as much as some would expect. Those eunuchs who had their surgery after they were married, seem in general to have marriages that aren't all that different than uncastrated men have. And, really, a lot of sex isn't all that much involved with urgent sexual excitement; so eunuchs wouldn't necessarily feel they couldn't have sexual contact with women. Of course, those taking testosterone at some level, shouldn't be a whole lot different, in terms of sexual interest, than other males.
And regarding social and political views, it looks to me as though eunuchs are among the more tolerant groups in society. Many of them are ready to claim and defend their rights, but that's just what, in my judgement, they ought to do.
On reflection, a eunuch would seem to be just the sort of person the average female would want to meet, either in cyberspace or elsewhere. Maybe if females knew more about eunuchs (assuming they are as I have described), they would be more interested in seeking out and joining this archive.
