Okay. 1--Using the "she/he/it" statement is rude and not accurate and just plain mean.

2--Not that many people who get that operation feel that it's wrong afterwards. It happens, but not as often as you may think.

And 16 is a sort of immature age and there are things that you think you want at 16 that you probably won't later in life, like stupid band tattoos or something. But when it comes to something as big as that surgery, I'm sure that most people have put a lot of thought into it and are sure that they want it beforehand. And you have to be 18 to get this surgery anyway, so that gives them time to be absolutely positive about it.

And I'd like to see some of you who voted against this try living a way that you *know* you are not right for and despising your body and feeling wrong all the time, and see how quickly you change your minds about this. It's not something that any of them can control and they have a right to be happy with their bodies just like everyone else.

I don't even understand why any of you care. It doesn't effect your lives in any way, and these people with this condition just want to be happy, which is their basic human right.

Stop judging so much.

How should I say it then?

My brother has a little bit of a problem controlling his smoking, also. Just because he likes it and it seems to suit his character, it doesn't mean no one tries to stop him.

The interesting thing is you're seeming to quickly assume that there is a problem with these people, yes, and you have to fix it, yes, but you think it is a better idea to bring the body into place with the mind, rather than the mind into place with the body. Why is that?

We're trying to educate and progress ourselves through discussion of difficult issues. Clearly, you've yet to encounter this process.

While I generally endorse sexual reassignment for true transgenders, I cannot agree with it being performed on someone 16, regardless of their psychological assessment.

At 16 the body may seem mature, but in fact it often is not. Along with this the legal entanglements with a person's identity when not a legal adult is an additional nightmare that does not need to be added the already mounting stress of this situation.

Years ago I worked with a support group for this and it seemed the most successful transitions were done by those in their late 20s. I am just guessing, but the settling of transitions into adulthood and being out on their own for a while seemed to improve coping skills when dealing with society. And those who waited until much older seemed to be dealing with too many other changes and the adjustments were pretty rocky.

It's rude because these people want to be called by the pronouns in which they identify as.

Because there is no way to change the mind to suit the body. You cannot make yourself be something that you are not.

I do think that 16 is too young for the surgery, but not too young to know if you want it or not. It's a serious condition and a lot of people have killed themselves over it.

I respect everyone else's opinions and I'm glad you're trying to educate yourselves about the situation.

@ Ning

that's the exact point I was trying to make some days ago, about it being disrespectful.

I've had many transgendered friends and this thread just made me sort of upset. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, it's just offensive to me because I know people who have gone through this and I've seen their pain. It's not fun.

I feel the same way. with being upset.

WHY would anyone use Wikipedia for defining a medical condition?! Its not realiable on many things and frequently tainted by contributor bias.

The standard base reference on gender identity is the DMS IV (psychiatric diagnostic manual - version 4) and it is available online.

Gender Dysphoria is accepted as primarily psychologicaland generally defined solely in psychological terms. But research since the 1990s has revealed chromosomal and chemical evidence that strongly supports the contention that in many (but not all) cases, the dysphoria has a biological basis or trigger.

Personally I have dealt with at least two cases that were not in that category - they were purely psychological without biological support. One of them successfully transitioned, the other had an extremely hard time adjusting after the surgery. In fact, the second one had more problems socially after the surgery that during her pre-op years living as a female in preparation for the change.

Reading through the posts here gives the impression that sexual reassignment surgery is just something you choose and go have done.
It is not, and should never be, that simple. This is MAJOR surgery, no matter which way the switch it being made, and recovery time is neither easy or short in duration. And reputable surgeons will not perform it without records of extensive phychological therapy and trials. Sure there are always hacks that can be bought it you have enough cash, but its a really bad option. Even the best surgeons find this operation challenging to do properly.

Yes. That is what everyone keeps saying. So far, none have given an actual reason why, only their opinion.

I find Wiki has always been accurate and unbias.

Please try again.

There is no *exact* cause for this, just like there is no cause for homosexuality.

A lot of transgendered people are very different from each other, and they don't stick to stereotypes a lot of the time.

It may have something to do with chromosones, but no one knows for sure.