The purpose of this paper is to explore my discomfort with the topic of transsexualism and transsexual clients in my development as a therapist. For some unexplained reason, I feel intimidated when I encounter transsexuals. Moreover, the concept of transsexualism is frightening and repulsive to me. From an intellectual perspective, I realize that transsexualism challenges my assumptions and beliefs about gender roles and norms. In order to critically examine my discomfort with this topic, I will not only conduct a thorough literature review on this subject, but also observe the interaction of transsexuals in a real-life setting such as a cafT in South Beach, Florida.
As defined by Gooren (1988), transsexualism refers to the condition in which individuals of a particular sex believes that they belong to the other sex. Moreover, they possess tremendous hatred for their biological sexual characteristics. Therefore, there is a discrepancy between their biological sex and their gender identity that is shaped by their self-perception of their gender roles (Money, 1988). In terms of the clinical and the diagnostic criteria, transsexualism falls under the section of "Gender Identity Disorder" in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000, pp. 576-582). According to the APA (2000), adults with Gender Identity Disorder are governed by a consuming desire to lead the life as a member of the opposite sex in every respect. They experience tremendous discomfort when they are required to act in accordance with social expectations of their biological sex. Though they vary in their desire to realize their gender identities, adults with GID typically dress and behave as though they are members of the opposite sex. Others also modify their physical appearance by undergoing hormonal procedures or surgery (p. 577).
Even though the 20th century has been characteriz...