27-09-2011, 03:11 PM
I'm not trying to pour oil on the fire but...do you understand what she means by "autogynephilic MtF transexuals"? She started a firestorm of controversy with her introduction of that term many years ago, and factions of the transgendered world practically go postal at the mere mention of that term or her name. Did you also know she is a MtF transexual woman herself and has walked the talk? Did you read the entire article? I think her argument has merit based on her rationale and evidence she presents. Is she right? I have no idea, and I'm not saying she is, just that her thesis has an internal logic and makes sense from a particular point of view.
She says later in the article:
She goes on to say:
The main intent of her article was that the DSM should contain a diagnosis that correctly identifies this subset of individuals with gender identity disorders. In the USA, the DSM is like the bible of mental disorders. If it isn't in the DSM, it's thought to be a made-up problem, and likely not covered by insurance or validly treated by health and mental-health care practitioners. In plain english, I think she is saying get the definition of the underlying problem correct in this set of individuals, so they can get the treatment that helps them best. Sounds like she is a champion of your cause, not an antagonist.
Just my opinion though.
She says later in the article:
Quote:If the foregoing analysis is correct, then the desire for sex reassignment in autogynephilic MtF transsexuals -- that is, in many or most nonhomosexual MtF transsexuals -- represents a genuine mental dysfunction.
Is this mental dysfunction harmful? Does it cause significant distress or otherwise significantly decrease the overall well-being of affected persons? Clinicians have observed for decades that it does. Benjamin (1966) famously observed that "there is hardly a person so constantly unhappy (before sex change) as the transsexual" (p. 66).
She goes on to say:
Quote:If this analysis is correct, then many or most nonhomosexual men who seek or undergo sex reassignment have a genuine mental disorder. These individuals often benefit from psychiatric, hormonal, and surgical treatment of their disorder (Meyer et al., 2001); the DSM-5 should include a diagnosis applicable to them.
The main intent of her article was that the DSM should contain a diagnosis that correctly identifies this subset of individuals with gender identity disorders. In the USA, the DSM is like the bible of mental disorders. If it isn't in the DSM, it's thought to be a made-up problem, and likely not covered by insurance or validly treated by health and mental-health care practitioners. In plain english, I think she is saying get the definition of the underlying problem correct in this set of individuals, so they can get the treatment that helps them best. Sounds like she is a champion of your cause, not an antagonist.
Just my opinion though.