Genders in transit: what is the difference between transsexuality and transgenderism?

The prefix trans comes from Latin and means ‘on the other side’ or ‘through’. Throughout the 20th century, its use has been fundamental to give names to diverse sexual identities, to corporalities whose self-perception does not coincide with the biological sex and the gender assigned at the moment of birth.

So, the term trans has become a umbrella category: groups identities such as transsexuality, transgenderism, transvestism and drag people.

At first glance, the terms “transsexuality” and “transgenderism” may seem synonymous; However, each one appears at different times and refers to particular characteristics of the trans life experience.

In this article, we are going to briefly explore the history of these concepts, the ethical and political stance involved in the use of each one, and the importance of identifying transphobia and fighting against it in everyday life.

Some history: transsexuality and the biomedical perspective

The term transsexuality formally appears in the mid-20th century, particularly in the biomedical scene. It was coined to describe those people whose gender identity differs from their sexual characteristics at birth.

History recognizes doctors David Cauldwell and Harry Benjamin as the first to formulate and use this concept clinically. One of the most important characteristics associated with the idea of ​​transsexuality was the desire that, according to doctors, Transsexual people reported transforming their corporality to make it coincide with the gender with which they felt identified..

In this way and, in accordance with clinical canons, Procedures such as sexual reassignment surgery and hormone therapy became elements that define both transsexuality andas well as individuals identified as transgender.

Likewise, transsexuality became a category to define “pathological” and “deviant” behaviors in relation to the concordance between sex and gender.

While both the DSM-V and ICD-11 have made efforts to reduce the stigma associated with transgender identities, diagnoses such as “gender dysphoria” and “gender discordance,” respectively, can still be interpreted as ways of pathologizing transsexuals. sexual and gender diversity and inscribing it within the framework of normalized binarism.

Towards depathologization: transgenderism and trans identities

So identities begin to appear that prefer to be called transgender. These are born as a critique of the biomedical perspective and seek to emphasize the fact that transformations on the body to inscribe it in the masculine/feminine binary do not have to be a requirement to experience a trans identity.

Although in some cases transgender people can undergo hormonal or surgical interventions, What they are really looking for is to question cisnormativity and the social imperative of correspondence between the physical materiality of the body and the assumed gender identity.

So, Transgenderism can be read as a search for depathologization of sexual diversity and a political commitment to understanding the historical and cultural ways in which we have built the relationship with our bodies.

Although for some LGBTI+ groups, especially in Latin America, transgenderism is an identity that emerges in the global north and ignores the struggles for the recognition of diverse bodies in public spaces and full integration into social life, Transgenderism is a powerful invitation to think about sexuality and gender from an enriched perspective..

Stop transphobia!

However, the most important thing, beyond establishing differences between terms and simply converting them into labels, is to recognize that Those who embody these concepts day after day face different violations of their fundamental rights.

Violence ranging from harassment, verbal aggression (in public spaces and on social networks), persecution and harassment, to physical aggression, rape and murder. Added to this are the denial of health services (whether or not associated with their gender transition), the difficulties in accessing education and the few job opportunities in conditions of dignity, recognition and fair remuneration.

Furthermore, many times the media are also responsible for creating, disseminating and strengthening negative stereotypes towards trans people, which in turn maintains and reproduces social prejudices, giving way to new forms of violence.

Actions such as informing ourselves about the experiences of trans people and their life experiences, using the appropriate pronouns according to the gender identity of the people, reporting and not reproducing any form of discrimination, violence or rejection of the trans community are important to make our society a more inclusive and respectful place, more tolerant of difference.

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