Jill, when I read it, I assumed that mouse meant that it was a disability or tragedy for those that grew up as males when wanting to be females, not that your childhood (growing up female) was a disability or tragedy…
but I could be putting words in mouse’s mouth, so I’ll let here defend/correct for herself.
In the transgender column, Cecil says, “8) So are one’s second, third, and fourth thoughts. Not to make light of the situation, but what’s so bad about being male? At least you get to pee standing up.”
Women can pee standing up, also. For more details, I recommend this site: http://www.restrooms.org/standing.html It gives excellent instructions.
>>[[That said, it’s not a very good sample group. Keep in mind that your sample is, for the most part, self selecting. The case with most transexuals is this: if they don’t want you to know, you’re probably not going to know.]]
Actually this isn’t true. Because of the work I do, I meet a variety of transsexuals and I learn that they are whether they’re “out” to others about it or not. <<
I’m curious about what work this is, then, if for no other reason than the fact that our experiences differ so greatly.
>>Me: [[Their experience is NOT the same as mine, growing up female.]]
[[Which is a disability and a trajedy, and hardly something that should be used as a bludgeon.]]
I don’t see it as a disability or tragedy in the least! <<
I really don’t know how to respond to that. More than anyone I realize that some people have different priorities than others, but I can’t imagine that you could trade places with me and not think it a personal tragedy. And, while I suppose that the inability to have biological children in a manner that isn’t anathema to your very nature is not the worst of disabilities, it’s certainly on the list.
>>And hey, at least we’re not into pugs…<<
Some days, that thought is the only thing that keeps me going…
[[I really don’t know how to respond to that. More than anyone I realize that some people have different priorities than others, but I can’t imagine that you could trade places with me and not think it a personal tragedy. And, while I suppose that the inability to have biological children in a manner that isn’t anathema to your very nature is not the worst of disabilities, it’s certainly on the list.]]
I’m sorry, I misunderstood your point there. I see what you mean now. And as for having kids: I got one adopted and one biological (one imported, one homemade). I don’t get that part personally - the need to produce em - but I’ll take your word for it. Seems to be a common feeling.
>>And hey, at least we’re not into pugs…<<
[[Some days, that thought is the only thing that keeps me going…]]
Hey, me too! So we have that in common at least.
As for your earlier comments, you are welcome to email me about my experience in this arena. And I have to eat my words a bit, because it occurs to me that I do know one transgender person who doesn’t dress in a “female stereotypical” way. I don’t know if she is transgender in the sense of planning on surgery, but she is Navajo and I know that she considers herself “two spirited” and that she dresses like I do: in tee shirts and jeans a lot of the time. Most people look at her and don’t have a clue what gender to assign her, and I don’t think s/he cares. - Jill