Introduction
Gender dysphoria is a psychological condition among individuals with a male, female, or non-binary identity who experience psychological and emotional incongruence with the gender assigned to them based on their biological sex at birth. In this essay, I will reflect on my personal experience of gender dysphoria and analyze how nature and nurture contributed to the experience. I was assigned the female gender at birth. I started experiencing gender dysphoria at the adolescent age of 13 years, a time marked by self-discovery and societal pressures. As I grew up in a conservative community, I struggled with conflicting emotions as my internal sense of gender clashed with societal expectations. Initially unsure of my feelings, I faced isolation and anxiety in school, where conforming to traditional gender norms was the norm. As I navigated puberty, the incongruence between my assigned gender and my true identity became undeniable. I could wear male clothes, practice speaking in a deep voice, and want to be attracted to the female sex. The challenges intensified as my classmates and teachers struggled to comprehend my journey. Bullying and discrimination were constant hurdles, but I found strength in supportive friends and family. With resilience, I embarked on a path of self-acceptance, seeking therapy and eventually embracing my true identity.
How Nature and Nurture Influence Personal Experience in Gender Dysphoria
Nature
The biological factors also have an excellent level of significance in the development of gender dysphoria. Genetics is considered a determining factor of gender identity(Polderman et al., 2018). Some researchers indicate the possible presence of genetic signs, which could be responsible for the inconsistency of the psychological gender with the one assigned at birth(VanderLaan et al., 2022). Moreover, genital prenatal hormonal exposure is essential as it brings out the development of gender identity. Changes in the levels of certain hormones, such as testosterone, during critical periods of fetal development, can lead to the brain being structured in a certain way, and this may be one of the reasons for gender dysphoria(Boucher & Chinnah, 2020).
The brain is used to explain the neurobiology of gender dysphoria using differences in its structural and functional organization. People with gender dysphoria might present different activities in brain regions related to self-perception and body image(Altinay & Anand, 2020). Such variations may relate to the genetic background and hormonal impact on puberty. The second principle one must always bear in mind is the endocrine system. Hormonal imbalance may be one of the factors that adds to the distress feelings of people suffering from gender dysphoria(Van Leerdam et al., 2023). Medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria, like hormone therapy, help people with the gender affirmation process by aligning their hormonal levels with the gender they identify themselves with and reducing the symptoms of gender dysphoria.
Nurture
According to gender dysphoria theory, social, cultural, and environmental factors are the upbringing forces that shape how individuals internalize and express their gender identity. Family context matters a lot as whether the individuals will be accepted or rejected by the family members has a significant impact on the experience of gender dysphoria(MacNish, 2018). The presence of a supportive and affirming family environment can play a role as a pillar that is vital for individuals to face their transition towards the opposite gender with more strength and resilience.
Social expectations and cultural masculine or feminine customs are the causes of gender dysphoria. Gender-related issues may be complicated even more by culture-bound practices that are centered around traditional gender roles. This can give cause to a place where expressing one’s born-in gender identity becomes problematic and causes one’s distress to increase. Peer relations, especially in the teenage, are very useful in making a decision or understanding one’s gender identity(Diamond, 2020). The school and social environments, which forcefully endorse strict gender norms, could simply intensify and encourage discrimination, bullying, and harassment among people with gender dysphoria. However, positive peer interactions often strongly influence, providing necessary emotional support and protecting from exhaustive societal pressures.
The deeds of the mass media and the presentation of gender roles create the emergence of gender dysphoria as well. The availability of simplistic and stereotypical representations can lead to the situation of people being isolated and feeling alienated from those whose gender identity does not comply with societal norms(Nadeem & Javed, 2020). On the other hand, rising visibility and positive depiction in media lead to greater acceptance and better understanding by society. Religious and cultural beliefs are essential as far as gender dysphoria experiences are concerned. There is a variation of acceptance within religious and cultural communities, and the structure of certain beliefs may serve as another challenge to self-acceptance and expression of one’s gender identity(Kumpasoğlu et al., 2022).
Management of Gender Dysphoria
Realizing the disability between the gender assigned to me at birth and my true identity was a turning point during my puberty. Though I battled with inner conflict and societal pressures, I had a few coping techniques through which I easily tackled gender dysphoria. What I firmly hold on to is the first, acquiring allies and family members in my life. Building friendships with people with whom I could vent and relate to myself helped strengthen my emotional state. Through their support, I felt I could be safe and express my feelings without being judged.
Professional help-seeking consultation with therapy was another essential measure. Therapy provided a space with a structure to study gender identity and involved a discovery process (Banerjee & Rao, 2021). It was a source of solace while struggling with the challenges I encountered and problems I had from the outside. Moreover, I could communicate with my family members, and all of us started to be more accepting of my condition. I found the process of identifying myself as a trans man both calm and exciting. I had the opportunity to tweak my dressing, grooming, and all other aspects in order for me to connect my external body with my authentic self. Through this process of self-expression, I was able to deal with some of the dysphoria by being able to be genuine and project the me that I feel within.
The LGBTQ+ community had a significant meaning in my self-learning process and in discovering my gender(Nowicki, 2019). Getting to know the journey of other people, both from the traditional and modern periods, created a sense of belonging and normalized my own experience. Amidst the challenges of discrimination and bullying, I, however, remained solid and unbowed. Creating an inner core through which I affirmed who I am became the critical element of my survival. The understanding that my gender pronoun was not a problem and that it deserved respect gave me the power to combat negative external inputs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my experience in living with gender dysphoria can finally be described as the research of self-acceptance, resilience, and seeking support. Involving or balancing the interaction of nature and nurture, I discovered the sustenance in comprehending the biological factors that shape my identity and the social dynamics that influence my experiences. Supportive relationships, professional guides, expression of self, and community connection helped me come out on a path of truth. Although problems exist, they provide a more profound perspective regarding understanding, acceptance, and empowerment among individuals. The journey reinforced the fact that empathy and inclusivity are essential in creating a compassionate society where individuals experiencing gender dysphoria are included.
References
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Banerjee, D., & Rao, T. S. (2021). “The graying minority”: lived experiences and psychosocial challenges of older transgender adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, a qualitative exploration. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 604472.
Boucher, F. J., & Chinnah, T. I. (2020). Gender dysphoria: a review investigating the relationship between genetic influences and brain development. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 89-99.
Diamond, L. M. (2020). Gender fluidity and nonbinary gender identities among children and adolescents. Child Development Perspectives, 14(2), 110-115.
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VanderLaan, D. P., Skorska, M. N., Peragine, D. E., Coome, L. A., Moskowitz, D. A., Swift-Gallant, A., & Monks, D. A. (2022). Carving the biodevelopment of same-sex sexual orientation at its joints. In Gender and sexuality development: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 491-537). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Van Leerdam, T. R., Zajac, J. D., & Cheung, A. S. (2023). The effect of gender-affirming hormones on gender dysphoria, quality of life, and psychological functioning in transgender individuals: a systematic review. Transgender Health, 8(1), 6-21.
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