To believe that trans is not a mental health condition

[Babykoala1]

Preparing to get flamed of course and expecting feminists to come out in full fource. Just as the title suggests, I do not believe that trans is a mental health condition as much as homosexuality or even intersex would be considered a mental health condition. I'm sure here on Mumsnet I am in the minority and I will be absolutely flamed for having the audacity to compare it to homosexuality. But really? Why is homosexuality accepted as a part of biology yet trans can be automatically discarded as a mental health issue?

I'll get my coat

Much of the treatment is around dealing with any underlying triggers or trauma and systematically and gently working towards an acceptance of their body.

OTOH, much of the treatment seems somewhat if unavoidably barbaric to me and I don't think we're anywhere near understanding AN.

My experience with trans people have been different to the "norm" I guess. I have a very dear friend who is more like a family member since they were disowned by their own. They underwent full gender reassignment at 29 and were undergoing hormone therapy for years prior to that. They have also undergone extensive facial surgery to the point they are almost beyond recognition. They do not however abide by "gender stereotypes". They do not wear makeup, shave legs or armpits, wear "feminine" clothing. They also still form relationships exclusively with women. For my friend it has been easy to pass as female due to their natural build and the facial surgery they underwent. If you were to look at them you would probably consider them a "boyish lesbian".

This is why for me, I struggle with the whole socialization and sterotyoes as a primary cause. Why would they have put themselves through all of the emotional and physical pain when they still don't conform to the stereotype of their desired or "new" gender? I try not to ask too many questions as they don't talk about it too much, but they said they knew from the age of 7 that something was not right. I find it fascinating to be honest. Humans are extremely complex.
But yes, I agree that trans is a blanket term and individual circumstance must vary greatly.

Why would they have put themselves through all of the emotional and physical pain when they still don't conform to the stereotype of their desired or "new" gender?

Obviously I don't know the specific person in question but it seems to me that the primary motive for one particular subset of people who are trans, into which your friend certainly seems to fit, is:
a) I do not fit with the stereotypes of what is considered "male"
b) therefore I must be female.

The further (c) of subsequently attempting to fit to female stereotypes appears to be entirely optional for some. That's not in itself a bad thing for women - at least that's one fewer voice insisting that womanliness is measured in lipstick and clothing choices.

It's just so utterly sexist to go with "as fact" that non-masculinity-performing equals not male, and that not-male equals female. It's illogic that you could forgive a young kid for making especially if their parents were also sexist. Unfortunately even if parents are non-sexist our wider culture has such deeply inculcated sexism throughout that it's not surprising these concepts take hold in impressionable young minds.

As I said though, this only applies to one subsection of the umbrella.