Transgender

Transgender is where a persons gender identity or gender expression does not matched the sex they were born into. It is separate and independent of sexual orientation and transgender people may identify and heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual etc. A transgender individual may have characteristics that are normally associated with a particular gender and identify elsewhere of the traditional gender continuum or exist outside of it as other.  

Many transgender people experience a period of identity development that includes better understanding one's self-image, self-reflection, and self-expression. More specifically the degree to which the individuals feel genuine, authentic and comfortable within their external appearance and accept their genuine identity is referred to as transgender congruence. 

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This video helped to me to gain a much better understanding of transgender people and the surgeries they go through to be reassigned to the other gender. It was very useful to see the middle case of the woman who had a 'mixed gender' with different elements and traits from both male and female as it again shows the post-modern feminist point that gender isn't necessarily a binary and some people don't or don't want to relate to a single gender. Another interesting part of the documentary were the comments about how because the last case was such a successful surgery and the man was extremely good looking and passed easily as a man, there was less stigma around his sex change than if a surgery isn't as successful or someone doesn't completely conform to one gender. It is mentioned in the documentary that we as a western society like everything to be binary and to fit into neat boxes and people of things that break these norms make us feel uncomfortable and not accept them. Overall this was a very useful documentary because it didn't just focus on one transgender person but four different cases all with different lead ups and outcomes and gave a wider, more accepting view of transgender people. 

Sex Reassignment Surgery
Male to Female

- Testicles are removed and the skin of the foreskin and penis is usually reverted, as a flap, preserving blood flow and nerve supplied to form a fully sensitive vagina.

- A clitoris fully supplied with nerve endings can be formed as part of the glans of the penis

- These surgeries can differ from person to person depending on the amount of skin etc.

- With current procedures trans women do not have ovaries or uteri meaning they can't bear children or menstruate, and will need to remain on hormone therapy after surgery

- Additionally trans women can also have facial feminization surgery (FFS) to alter the male features to bring them more in line with typical female features. This includes various bony and soft tissue procedures such as brow life, rhinoplasty, cheek implantation and lip augmentation.

- Surgeries can also include breast augmentation which is an enlargement of the breasts. Some trans women chose to undergo this if hormone therapy did not yield satisfactory results. Usually typical breast growth for trans women is one or two cups sizes below closely related females (mother or sisters)

- Voice feminization is also available altering the range and pitch of the persons vocal chords. However this procedure carries the risk of impairing a trans women's voice forever

- A tracheal shave is sometimes used to reduced the cartilage in the area of the throat to conform to more feminine dimensions of the Adam's apple.

- Because male hips and buttocks are generally smaller than those of a female, some individuals chose to get buttock augmentation. However if efficient hormone therapy is conducted a layer of subcutaneous fat will be distributed over the body, rounding contours.

Female to Male

- Many trans women seek a bilateral mastectomy 'top surgery' - the removal of the breasts and the shaping of a male contoured chest

- Trans women with moderate to large breasts usually require a formal bilateral mastectomy with grafting and reconstruction of the nipple-areola. This will result in two horizontal scars on the lower edge of the pectoral muscle, but allows foe easier re-sizing of the nipple and a placement in a typically male position.

- A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) is the removal of both ovaries and the fallopian tubes. Some trans men have these procedures because they experience discomfort with having internal female reproductive organs despite the fact the mensus usually cease with hormone therapy.

- Genital reconstructive procedures use either the clitoris which is enlarged by androgenic hormones, or rely on free tissue grafts from the arm, thigh or belly and an erectile prosthetic.

- The labia majora can be used to form a scrotum where prosthetic testicles can be inserted.

- A phalloplasty requires an implanted erectile prosthesis to achieve an erection - several types of erectile prosthetics, including malleable rod-like medical devices that allow the neo-penis to either stand up or hang down.

- The urethra can be re-routed through the phallus to allow urination through the reconstructed penis.