Self-identity is amazingly strong. I am reminded of a story of a botched circumcision where the doctors counseled the family to raise their boy as a girl. There are documentaries you can look up. Of course throughout his childhood of being called a girl he wanted to be a boy. The story ends with him resuming his born identity and dealing with life as he felt was his path. I realize this story isn't exactly what the topic is today. I have a couple points. First, the treatment for this child was horrifically wrong. He knew who he was and he was tortured mentally being raised as female. He fought until he was satisfied. Second, science was wrong. The thing I love about science is that when it knows better, it does better. Reality may not be what is perceived. Point at genitals and pointing at DNA may or may not be the end of how we are formed and where our identity comes from.
I'm very spurred by this discussion to read and learn about identity more in depth. I have been searching for a nonfiction topic to explore.
Let me start this off by saying that I am asking for an honest debate. This question isn't asked in a snarky or otherwise argumentative mindset, but instead as wanting to further understanding.
Can someone please describe for me the difference between self-identification and a mental health issue? What are the differences between the two? How can one be characterized as one, as opposed to the other?
In the public sphere, there is plenty of dialogue regarding gender identification...self-identification in contrast to....standard (?) identification. Dialogue is good. I'm a firm believer that speaking and dialogue is a good thing. Now to complicate the issue, there's that one woman in Pennsylvanian (I think?), who identifies as "Trans-black". How do all these ideas/concepts balance out?
What are your thoughts?
~Jeordam
7-22-2016 Taran in the car, "You mean I live where they filmed Twilight? I'm going to need you to pull over so I can puke!"
- 08/03/2017 07:13:32 PM
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