Gender Identity Disorder

Living a life feeling out of place, with the wrong feelings, and in the wrong body, for a person with Gender Identity Disorder, this is how they feel day to day. According to the DSM-IV-TR, Gender Identity Disorder is characterized by a strong, persistent cross-gender identification, persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of inappropriateness in their gender role of that sex. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), children, adolescents and adults who exhibit a preoccupation with getting rid of or losing their primary and secondary sex characteristics, associated with different mannerisms and actions of the opposite sex; while holding a belief that he or she was born the wrong sex are believed to be classified with a Gender Identity Disorder. In order for Gender Identity Disorder to be applied to the person affected, the disturbance cannot be concurrent with a physical intersex condition and the conditions must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning. (Tavener 581)

Growing up with Gender Identity Disorder, a child typically shows the attributes and mannerisms in dress and play of the opposite sex. There will be a gender reversal in the sense of each gender stereotype. Boys will avoid roughhousing and play fighting; they might find a better sense of comfort in traditionally feminine clothing. In the adverse side, girls growing up with this disorder will find the more rough and tumble play rewarding along with loose fitting masculine attire. A child’s ability to self-identify as male or female will directly influence their preferences for playmates and toys; children whose gender-identity is developed are more likely to prefer same-sex ...

... middle of paper ...

... by Kenneth Zucker. Scientific Advisory Committee of NARTH (2007): 1-14. Print.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Print.

Dr. Phil Show: "Little Boy Lost" Episode on Gender Identity Disorder. 13 Jan. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2010. .

Lippa, Richard A. Gender, Nature, and Nurture. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2005. Print.

Taverner, William J. Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.

Wharton, Amy S. The Sociology of Gender: an Introduction to Theory and Research. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2005. Print.

Wyndzen, Madelyn H. All Mixed Up: Gender Identity Disorder Case Study (GID). GenderPyschology.org, 1998. Web. 12 Oct. 2010. .