I've posted this question under physical and life sciences as I don't know if there is a more suitable place.
As transgenderism is coming to the fore so much nowadays, I just wondered what, if any research has been done on this? I don't want any discussion as to whether it's against God's will or whatever, I simply want to understand from a scientific pov.
From what I understand 'sex' and 'gender' are two different things (I'd always assumed they were the same thing before).
I am a woman (female) and I definitely don't feel like a man and wouldn't want to be one (except for practical reasons, such as it would be really handy when taken short to be able to 'go' behind a lamp-post LOL). But what a pain to have to shave! How awful not to be pregnant and give birth! I think it must be awful being a man. But, of course, conversely men might think they'd hate to be a woman.
But what makes a man feel like a man? What makes a woman feel like a woman? What makes a person, born male, feel female...and vice-versa?
I know some women who one might say, have more 'masculine' traits, and some men who have more 'feminine' traits, but so far as I know, they still see themselves as male and female. So, does it depend on some hormonal or chemical thing, or the way the brain's wired up?
One thing I don't understand is why men who 'become women' (sorry, not well put probably), from what I've seen seem to want to wear high heels, do their hair, put on make-up etc. Do they like doing that? Or is it because they feel that is what a woman does? I mean, as a woman, I've never been particularly into make-up and 'prettying myself up'. I've always tended to like practical hair cuts and practical clothes...men's clothes tend to be far more practical than women's (that's not to say that I wear men's clothes , just that I tend go for women's practical clothing like jeans etc...just wish women's clothes had sensible pockets). I suppose what I'm saying is that I don't think it's a prerequisite to being female that one wears make-up etc.
If there are any transgender people here, as well as medical or science people, if you would give any insight as well, that would be great.
As transgenderism is coming to the fore so much nowadays, I just wondered what, if any research has been done on this? I don't want any discussion as to whether it's against God's will or whatever, I simply want to understand from a scientific pov.
From what I understand 'sex' and 'gender' are two different things (I'd always assumed they were the same thing before).
I am a woman (female) and I definitely don't feel like a man and wouldn't want to be one (except for practical reasons, such as it would be really handy when taken short to be able to 'go' behind a lamp-post LOL). But what a pain to have to shave! How awful not to be pregnant and give birth! I think it must be awful being a man. But, of course, conversely men might think they'd hate to be a woman.
But what makes a man feel like a man? What makes a woman feel like a woman? What makes a person, born male, feel female...and vice-versa?
I know some women who one might say, have more 'masculine' traits, and some men who have more 'feminine' traits, but so far as I know, they still see themselves as male and female. So, does it depend on some hormonal or chemical thing, or the way the brain's wired up?
One thing I don't understand is why men who 'become women' (sorry, not well put probably), from what I've seen seem to want to wear high heels, do their hair, put on make-up etc. Do they like doing that? Or is it because they feel that is what a woman does? I mean, as a woman, I've never been particularly into make-up and 'prettying myself up'. I've always tended to like practical hair cuts and practical clothes...men's clothes tend to be far more practical than women's (that's not to say that I wear men's clothes , just that I tend go for women's practical clothing like jeans etc...just wish women's clothes had sensible pockets). I suppose what I'm saying is that I don't think it's a prerequisite to being female that one wears make-up etc.
If there are any transgender people here, as well as medical or science people, if you would give any insight as well, that would be great.