Trigger warning; Suicide
This week 13th – 19th November is Transgender Awareness Week and so I thought I would answer some of the most common questions as to what it means to be transgender. I am Chris Fenton, Head of Client Solutions at Browne Jacobson LLP and I identify as non-binary. Whilst not all non-binary people identify as being transgender, I and many others do. You can read more about what it means to be non-binary in a piece that I wrote for International Non-Binary Peoples Day here:
International Non-Binary People’s Day 2024
What is the difference between gender identity and biological sex?
When we talk about biological sex, we are referring to the biological characteristics of male and female. This includes biological features such as genitals, breast development, bone structure, and fat distribution of someone’s body that indicate their sex. For many people, sexual characteristics are binary, either male or female, but some individuals have biological features associated with both male and female. This is known as being intersex.
Gender is the way in which we portray our gender to society. This might be within the gender binary of male or female, or for people like me who are non-binary, they might express their gender on a spectrum between the gender binaries. There are many ways in which you can express your gender including clothing, hair, and makeup.
For the most part, when you are born, your biological sex will determine the gender you are assigned. This means that individuals may be raised as boys if they are born with male genitalia, and as girls if they are born with female genitalia. The ideas of what it means to be male, or female are imprinted on a person from the moment they are born and will often determine the way they are treated by others for much of their life.
Being respectful of the way in which people identify their gender is extremely important. Whilst sex is determined by someone’s biology, gender as a social construct is deeply personal. Taking the time to understand someone’s gender by being kind and curious allows all of us to be the best we can be.
What does it mean to be transgender?
The definition of transgender means to identify with a gender other than the one you were assigned at birth. People’s experience of realising they are transgender and identifying in that way is very personal. Some transgender people identify as a different gender early in childhood, whilst others might take time to understand why they feel the way they do. Personally, I considered whether I might be transgender in my teenage years, but I did so in a binary way. As I didn’t consider myself to be a woman, I put those feelings down to my sexuality as someone who is pansexual. It wasn’t until later in my life when I met someone who was non-binary that I was able to understand why I felt the way I did.
Being transgender means working to understand your gender. This takes time and requires a great deal of personal reflection. This journey can be complex and requires the individual to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings. Feelings such as shame, doubt, and confusion are common during this time of reflection.
Given the amount of personal work required to identify as transgender, it is common for trans people to experience mental health problems related to the negative feelings that they have to process. Psychological safety is important for everyone; by treating our transgender colleagues with respect in the workplace, we can help people to feel safe and create an environment where everyone’s voice matters.
What is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is the feeling you get when you see yourself in a way that doesn’t align with the gender that you identify with. This can be someone treating you as a man when you express yourself as a woman or by seeing yourself in the mirror and seeing the biological characteristics that are associated with a gender that you do not associate with. This can lead to difficult thoughts or feelings and in some cases can feel like physical pain.
For some transgender people, their gender dysphoria can result in suicidal thoughts. Approximately 41% of transgender people attempt suicide at least once in their lives compared to the rate of 5% in the general population. (Risk factors for suicide in the transgender community)
On the flip side, gender euphoria is the feeling of joy when you express your gender in a way that makes you feel happy. Wearing certain clothes, getting a new haircut, and wearing makeup are all things that can help transgender people feel gender euphoria. For some transgender people, they might consider medical procedures to help them feel happier about their appearance.
By supporting transgender people to express their gender identity, we can help them feel gender euphoria. Complimenting someone on their clothes is a small thing which can help transgender people experience gender euphoria and make them feel safe and accepted.
Summary
Transgender people do a great deal of work to express themselves. Often this work is important to their own sense of self-worth and mental health. Being kind and curious can make a big difference for trans individuals. Creating a safe and inclusive environment benefits everyone by promoting different views and ideas. Being a trans ally can allow trans people to be their best and can give them the space they need to work through their gender identity.
If you want to learn more about how you can be a trans ally, LGBT Foundation have a guide on their website:
The Alliance Network 