Transgender – The Journey to Your True Self

Defining gender based solely on external physical characteristics no longer reflects today’s standards. Gender and the identity that comes with it are, above all, what each individual feels and makes of it. This becomes especially important when a person’s outward appearance doesn’t align with how they truly see and feel about themselves. That disconnect often leads to deep inner conflict and can cause challenges in everyday life.

The journey toward accepting one’s own gender identity, and beyond that, gaining acceptance from others, is often long and difficult. We want to offer our support and have taken a closer look at the topic of transgender – both to gain clarity ourselves and to help every one of you do the same.

• What Does Transgender Mean?
• The Difficulties of Being Transgender
• Transgender – Options on the Path to the True Self

What Does Transgender Mean?

We know that for many, the term still raises questions. That’s why we want to start by clearly explaining what “transgender” actually means. Even though awareness and education around this subject have progressed significantly in recent years, it remains a complex concept for many and one that deserves thoughtful explanation.

“Transgender” refers to people who do not identify with the gender that was assigned to them at birth based on their external physical characteristics. A trans man, for example, is someone who was assigned the female gender at birth but identifies as male. A trans woman is someone who was assigned male at birth but identifies as female.

There are also people who identify as transgender because they don’t feel they belong exclusively to either of the binary genders. The spectrum of transgender identities is broad and diverse and difficult to define in rigid terms. Because gender is deeply personal and can’t be defined by physical appearance alone. Instead, every person determines for themselves how they see and experience their gender.

In this context, you may also come across terms like “trans identity” or “gender incongruence.” These terms also describe the experience of not identifying with the gender assigned at birth.

To raise awareness and foster understanding, demonstrations and public actions are held all over the world in support of more acceptance for the wide range of gender identities. You may have seen the transgender flag before it stands for transgender pride and gender diversity. It was created in 1999 by Monica Helms and features three colors, each with its own meaning:

• Blue: Represents masculinity, for those who identify as male.
• Pink: Represents femininity, for those who identify as female.
• White: Represents people who are non-binary, meaning they don’t identify strictly as male or female. It also includes intersex individuals and those who are in the process of transitioning.

There are many other flags too such as the well-known rainbow flag, another powerful symbol of the Pride movement. Since the transgender flag was first flown at a Pride parade in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2000, it has become widely recognized and a key emblem of the movement.

Because for trans people, the journey to their true self is rarely an easy one.

The Difficulties of Being Transgender

Those who feel comfortable in their own body, meaning they identify with the gender assigned to them at birth, can hardly imagine the difficulties and conflicts that a trans* person might experience. Because while you may be sure of who you are, others might not be. They don’t see you as you feel inside. For example, if you feel like a man but are in a woman’s body, you may be addressed as “she,” introduced as a girlfriend, and have to use the women’s restroom just to name a few examples. In all these situations, you experience inner conflict because you don’t identify with the female gender but can’t easily live that truth. All this can make the process of discovering your identity and publicly or visibly expressing your true gender very difficult.

If you are at peace with yourself and decide to dress according to the gender you personally identify with, this can also lead to misunderstandings and even hostility. Nevertheless, most trans* people describe this step of coming out as very liberating. Afterward, they finally feel at harmony with themselves and their bodies and can live fully in the gender identity that matches their self-image.

For many, being transgender can also mean undergoing gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapy. We explain what exactly is possible in the next section.

Transgender – Options on the Path to the True Self

Trans* people usually feel different early on. But before this becomes visible externally or before any gender-affirming measures are taken, the journey is often long. First, the affected person must accept and embrace their true gender. Once this gender affirmation shows in their outward appearance, this process is called a transition. It usually takes several years and initially involves changes in appearance, but also includes social, legal, and medical steps. Legally, this may mean updating the gender marker on ID documents or changing one’s name. Medically, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery are options:

• Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapy aims to create physical changes in trans* people that align with their self-identified gender. Trans* women take estrogen, while trans* men take testosterone. Estrogen can cause breast growth, fat redistribution to hips, thighs, and buttocks, softer skin, reduced muscle mass, and less dense body hair in trans* women. Testosterone in trans* men can deepen the voice, promote beard and body hair growth, shift fat from hips and thighs to the abdomen, stimulate muscle growth, and stop menstruation.
  Besides these physical changes, many trans* people undergoing hormone therapy also report psychological improvements and better quality of life, as hormone therapy helps align the body with their perceived gender identity.
• Gender-Affirming Surgery: As the name suggests, gender-affirming surgery removes physical characteristics that don’t match the person’s self-identified gender.
  For male-to-female surgery, this means removal of the testicles (orchiectomy), penis (penectomy), and urethra, creation of a neovagina (vaginoplasty), and reshaping of the clitoris and labia (clitoroplasty and labioplasty). Breast augmentation and removal of internal reproductive organs may also be performed.
  For female-to-male surgery, the vagina is removed (vaginectomy), or in some cases closed off (colpectomy). A penis and testicles are constructed and the urethra repositioned. This can be done using a testicular prosthesis, a metoidioplasty (where the clitoris is enlarged and repositioned to form a penis), or a phalloplasty (constructing a penis from skin grafts). Mastectomy (removal of breasts) can also be performed if desired.

Before starting hormone therapy or surgery, several hurdles must be overcome. These usually include psychiatric evaluation and thorough medical counseling, since these procedures are often irreversible. If you are considering gender-affirming procedures, think carefully and gather as much information as possible about the potential consequences. Connecting with others who have had similar experiences can also be very helpful.

Of course, each person decides individually how far they want to go with gender affirmation. For some, dressing according to their true gender is enough; others want to fully embody the gender they identify with. Individuality is key. But no matter what gender you identify with, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable in your own body ♥

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