Monday, December 7, 2009

Gender Identity and Hormones: Cause and Effects

Written by Kelly L. Hunter


Gender Identity has long been debated on a societal level; in part because of the stigmatic fears and lack of understanding associated with such taboo subject matter. Gender development and other issues associated with hormonal imbalances have more than likely been around for as long as humans have inhabited Earth. However, a lack of education may be one of the many reasons that gender issues have been an “off-limits” topic at the dinner table and in the media for decades. Suicide rates among individuals who have experienced gender identity disorders used to be relatively high. Thankfully, as humankind has evolved so has the universal thought process, leading to a quest for knowledge and truth and a better understanding of human development and behaviors. Psychologists have determined that hormones have a significant affect on an individual’s mental and physical development, thus affecting his or her behaviors.
Research suggests that individuals who experience gender identity issues are born with an extra X or Y chromosome. For years this has been an obvious issue amongst the male population and is said to occur less often in females (WebMD, LLC, 2009). However, more women are coming forward with their own stories and experiences. Technology and education has allowed experts the ability to not only treat and council these men and women but also has allowed numerous individuals to switch his or her gender completely through surgical procedures and hormone therapies. The rate of suicide amongst these individuals has also dropped substantially over the years because there is now a better understanding as to why hormonal imbalances occur; along with treatment options that are now available to the public. Possibly the overwhelming growth of the Entertainment Industry has opened the eyes, ears, and hearts of the world. MTV, for example, has “reality” shows that follow the lives of different individuals as they struggle with their gender and undergo the process of hormonal therapies and in some cases, gender re-assignment surgery. Whatever the case may be, gender identity issues are no longer on the back-burner of the societal mind and progress is being made by medical experts. In order to fully comprehend what gender identity disorder is one must first understand hormones and how they affect human behavior.
Hormones are chemical substances that are generated from specific components of the blood stream and act as messenger molecules inside the body. These molecules are made by various glands like the Pineal and Pituitary glands and distributed throughout the body to various targeted areas where they regulate and control how cells and organs perform. Hormones have been determined to have a significant affect on an individual’s development and behavior. For example, during ovulation periods, women tend to eat less and oftentimes become irritable with sporadic shifts in mood. “Emotional and behavioral changes may include anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks, tension, lack of co-ordination, decreased work or social performance and altered libido” (Lichten, 2009, ¶ 2). Insulin is also a hormone which is produced by the B cells located in the Pancreas. Insulin is released into the blood stream where it helps to regulate glucose production for energy purposes. When the B cells produce too much or too little insulin an individual can become lethargic and dizzy and can often result in a diabetic coma. Hormones also affect the way an individual feels about themselves and how they view their sexual identity.
When hormonal imbalances occur, in regard to gender identity disorders, a person may experience an enormous sense of discomfort and disconnect from his or her anatomic gender. “Gender identity disorder is a condition in which a male or female feels a strong identification with the opposite sex” (WebMD, LLC, 2009, ¶ 1). The imbalance of hormones can cause a person to dress and act like an opposing member of their sex. In some cases, a woman who feels as though she is actually a man will bind her breasts with a bandage in order to conceal her physical appearance. Some men will dress as women and even inject female hormones in order to change their physical appearance and their voices. “The disorder affects an individuals self-image, and can impact the person's mannerisms, behavior, and dress” (WebMD, LLC, 2009, ¶ 2). This rare disorder can be detected as early as childhood and has no known cause; however, experts speculate that there is a genetic connection and that chromosomal abnormalities may be a direct cause. Children and adults with this disorder may experience or display specific characteristics of fear including withdrawal from social settings, anxiety, depression, and a desire to rid themselves of their existing genitalia.
With tremendous controversy still surrounding gender identity disorder, debate continues to be a major factor in opposing viewpoints. While some experts believe that biology is the main root of this disorder, others believe that environmental factors like parents can play a large role in the influences of sexual differentiation and gender identity amongst individuals. There is no proof that a person’s environment will sway him or her one way or the other when it comes to gender identity. There is also not enough solid evidence for the American Medical Association to fully conclude that biological factors are the one and only cause of hormonal imbalances; however, there is enough evidence to suggest that this is a possibility. Regardless of the cause, there is an issue and there are enough individuals who have experienced the symptoms associated with gender identity disorder to conclude that something isn’t right. “For psychologists, understanding the effects of social and environmental stereotype cues can augment more internal biological and psychological explanations of behavior. What's more, their research on such cues can lead to insights into how to reduce their negative impact (Kersting, 2003, ¶ 14).
In conclusion, gender identity disorder is a real and serious issue that affects many Americans and people around the world. Although there is no known cause for this rare disorder, strides are being made in order to better understand and help treat the individuals who are experiencing its troublesome physical and emotional affects. Whether the nature of this disorder is caused from biological and psychological affects or from environmental factors has yet to be completely determined. However, research has concluded that there is an overwhelming possibility that an imbalance of hormones may very well be the leading cause and reason why so many individuals are born one sex and grow up feeling as if they belong to another. As time progresses and humans continue to evolve, hopefully enough knowledge will be gained to more adequately diagnose and treat these men and women early on in their lives. Thus, allowing more individuals to grow up feeling as if they truly belong to themselves and to society.














References

Kersting, K. (2003, October). Countering insidious stereotypes . Monitor on Psychology, 34(9).
Retrieved December 5, 2009 from http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct03/countering.html

Lichten, E.M. (2009). US Doctor. The State of Michigan. Retrieved December 5, 2009 from http://www.usdoctor.com/pms.htm

WebMD, LLC. (2009). WebMD. Retrieved December 5, 2009 from http://www.webmd.com/sex/gender-identity-disorder