There are some links to some great Youtube videos to your right under "Take a Peak"
The topic for this week is SRS (sexual reassignment surgery). I thought that this would be an excellent topic for conversation and an interesting subject to learn more about.
I will begin this in-depth analysis of SRS by providing you all with a brief definition of the following terms:
- Transsexual = an individual who identifies with a physical sex that is different than the one they were ascribed to at birth. (their biological sex)
- Transgendered = a person who deviates from the norm gender roles dictated by society. This concept pertains to the state of a persons gender identity not their assigned physical sex/characteristics.
- Intersex = combinations of male and female physical characteristics rendering inconclusive results about the biological sex of the individual.
- Hermaphrodite = a person whom has both sets of reproductive organs.
> SRS is also referred to as: genital reconstruction surgery, sex affirmation surgery, or sex change operations.
> SRS is part of the treatment process for gender identity disorder. Gender identity disorder is the formal diagnosis for people who experience gender dysphoria (discontentment with their biological sex).
> In order to access SRS an individual must obtain permission by a licensed therapist/medical provider and go through the rules governed by the Standards of Care (SOC) for gender identity disorders. (created by the World Professional Association for Transgendered Health) The SOC consists of 13 sections which address an introduction to gender identity, treatment guide/diagnosis, real life experience, surgical treatment, and post-op.
The requirements for an individual to receive SRS is a psychological evaluation, time participating in the "Real life experience"- living as the other gender for about 3 months or 3 months in extensive psychotherapy. Next comes permission from the therapist to begin cross gender hormone replacement therapy, then SRS.
*This surgery is intended to focus on the process of becoming a member of the other gender vs. details of the actual procedure.
The details for the surgery differ for transwomen (male to female) and transmen (female to male).
Transwomen may have a surgery that includes: surgical construction of the Vagina, breast augmentation, epilation (hair removal), facial feminization (altering facial shape/features), *voice feminization (altering vocal tone/pitch through practice-voice training).
Transmen may have a surgery that includes: Phalloplasty (construction of a penis), erectile prosthesis, masectomy, chest reconstruction (to the shape of a males chest), hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries with the fallopian tubes).
The APA says that 1 in 10,000 male born persons vs. 1 in 30,000 female born persons experience gender identity disorder and seek treatment/surgery.
Legality issues- gay marriage, insurance coverage for SRS, ability to alter ones sex on the birth certificate, states have the power to legal classification of characteristic sex as per the U.S. Constitution amendment 10.
Alright everyone I know this is a lot of info to digest but very educational! Please take some time to watch the YouTube clips above and check out MD. Marci Bowers website. She is the leading SRS surgeon in the United States and is located in Trinidad, Colorado. I saw a documentary on Discovery Health a few weeks ago and she is amazing....not only is she extremely empathetic but she too is a transgendered/transsexual person.
This information was collected by Morgan Hawes
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I think this a fantastic topic to cover. I think it is great that doctors require so mcuh gender identity exploration before the surgery because gender reassignment is less about physical characteristcs and more about expressing who you really are. I wonder if the new Universal Health care plan will cover such operations?
ReplyDeleteI also think this is a fantastic topic to cover. Your posting and the video's were very informative. I never knew the specifics of the process before. I think it is great that so much emotional/mental and physical work is done beforehand. I believe this would be very expensive and emotional and time consuming to "undo" if that is even possible. I imagine one must be very sure before undertaking such a huge transformation. I am hopeful that the new Universal Health care will cover these operations but unfortunately I am doubtful.
ReplyDeletehey you guys. I am not sure if the new health program will cover the costs of this process....but what I found interesting what was Medicaid (in Maine) covers the costs! I couldnt believe it...the state is so stringent about coverage of RX meds and cosmetic medical procedures (such as circumcision- they refuse to cover that) but they cover sexual reassignment surgery. It amazed me.
ReplyDeleteMorgan, This was very educational. It is good as a social worker to know these things so we know what a transgendered person goes through to feel normal. I had no clue of the statistics of how common the surgery is.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and very interesting. I think back to a MTV episode of "True Life" that covered some of what you brought up. It was truely amazing to watch the individuals go through the process of surgery. I also think it is so helpful for individuals when the doctor is transgendered themself. I think this may be an area that would be hard to relate to if you are not transgendered, so what a great support she can give to her clients going through the same process she had!
ReplyDeleteI agree! It is one thing to read material about a subject and help people, it is quite another to have gone through something and to be able to identify with it to a whole other extent.
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