Picture this: one day you wake up and youre in a new body.

This new body youre in is

the opposite sex then what youre used to. When you walk into the bathroom the reflection you
see is something you cant recognize. You try and tell people that there something wrong. No one
believes you though. They all think youre a little crazy for saying youre in the wrong body.
Youre not happy being forced to become somebody else because this new body just doesnt feel
like home, and everything you do feels like a lie. However when you tell people that youre
thinking of changing back to your correct body, people start to look at you funny. They inform
you that if you do it you going to be alienated from just about everyone you know. Others might
look at you differently at work, which could possibly get you fired. So youre given two choices
1) you live this life in the wrong body. Youll be unhappy, but youll at least fit in the social
norm, and have all your current friend and family. Or 2) you can change back to the body you
know that youre supposed to be in. Choosing this one will be hard, and youll lose a lot, but
youll be happier. Which road do you pick?
Most cisgender (the term refers to people who identify with the gender they were
biologically born with) they take it granted that they dont feel wrong in their own body, but
there are people who are not this lucky. Above is what every transgender person faces. There are
some that pick the first option. Then there are other that have the courage to pick number two
who risk everything they have. When I interviewed Emilie Jackson-Edney, I asked her how she
had the courage to make the choice into becoming who she always felt she was. Emilie
explained it to me like this. It becomes a life or death situation. Its one thing to have thoughts
about suicide, but its something different when you know how and when youre going to do it.
That is when I knew I didnt have a choice anymore (Jackson-Edney). In this minority group,

44 percent of the female and 38 percent of the males have attempted suicide. These are the
numbers we can track. We will never know how many of them actually succeed in killing
themselves, (Williams Institute).
Explaining what the word transgender means can be a bit of a tricky task, as it means a
little something different to everyone. More or less, the word transgender is an umbrella term for
someone who feels their biological sex isnt their actual sex. This doesnt mean they are going to
rush to get surgery, or that surgery is even the solution to the issue. Recently I conducted a
survey. I posted my survey on my Facebook to get a wide variety of people to see what they
thought the word gender to means. For the most part people gave some form of saying it is
male/female. Some would branch out to say something along the lines that its a scientific term
of defining people. For people who are cisgender, gender seems so basic. Though there a lot
more to it. It should be seen less like boxes people fit in and more like a spectrum with Barbie on
one side and GI Joe on the other, and where you might fit on the spectrum. (Jackson-Edney
interview). When doing my research I read from many source that it isnt uncommon for a
transgenders to never think about getting surgery. This is due to the fact they dont fit the
extreme on either side of the spectrum, or the solution isnt right for them. There are other things
they might do. Such as taking hormones to change their body a bit, or something like binding
their chest down. Wearing clothing that more gear towards the opposite sex. Though again this is
different for every person. Like cisgender, transgender come in many different forms. How they
pick to express themselves and feel right in their own bodies will vary.
There is no exact number on how many transgender people there are in the United States.
There are many reasons why this number cant be fine. The main reason is, well never know just
how many arent out. The other is the fact the term transgender is still a new term, and something

were still learning about. Though the best guess we have on the population of this minority
group, is around 700,000 people (Williams Institute). That is roughly about 3-5 percent of the
population in the United States. With a number so low there no wonder why so many people
dont know much about this group, and why there are so many myths about his minority group.
While doing my research, I talked with people, read a lot of articles, and watch some
documentary on the subject. There seem to be a lot of common misunderstanding about
transgenders. So I put together a list of some common myth I saw between everything I
researched, and explained why they are myths.
Myth number one: People pick to be this way. They could be happy the other way.
Nobody would choose to be constantly at risk for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by
strangers. No man who was basically in the social alpha group (straight and more or less white)
would choose to deliberately make his life more difficult just for the hell of it. Sernine Elliot
(Elliot Serenine interview). This is one of the biggest myth that people believe about transgender.
There are a lot of people that believe that no one is born in the wrong body. That transgender
people just make it up. They couldnt be more wrong about this. It might not be something we all
understand, but these people know full well who they are, and that they have no other choice
then to change to who they are supposed to be. If they dont change to who they are, they will
always be living a lie. They also will never fully be happy until they make the change.
Myth number two: Transgender has something to do with a person sexual orientation.
Though it is common for transgender to be linked to lesbian and gay groups it has nothing to do
with that. Many believe they are just put in with gay and lesbian grouping because they are all
minority group that society is just not ready to fully figure out yet. Knowing that someone is
transgender doesnt automatically make you know their sexual orientation. When they come into

their new body it has nothing do with who they want to romantically be with. Transgender can be
straight, gay, or anything in between. Again transgender are like cisgender they come in many
shapes, sizes, and styles. At the end of the day we are all humans.
Myth number three: You can just look at one and tell they are transgender.
Many people think for whatever reason that a transgender person is easy to spot. That
theyll stick up like a sore thumb. Can you tell by looking at the pictures below who are
transgender vs not?

Images provided by:

http://www.oddee.com/item_98038.aspx

Looking at the pictures above, that I found on http://www.oddee.com, you might be thinking,
well clearly that one, and that one arent, oh but that one is for sure. The truth is all eight images

above are transgender. They were born a different sex, and made the change to their proper sex.
Even though some people may think once a person has changed their sex to fit how they feel
theyll look like a freak, its false. With the form of treatment out there people are able to be
happy in their own skin without everyone knowing theyve changed.
Myth number four: Drag queens, crossing dressing and transgender all mean the same
thing.
For people who dont know a whole lot on this subject it may seem like they are all the
same. Though the reality of it is all three of them are a different thing. They look close to the
same, but arent. Drag is an art form. People who do drag are giving people a performance. It is
strictly for entertainment only. Most of the people doing drag are not transgender or have any
desire to ever change to the opposite sex. (Kreitler,) In the same idea, most transgender dont
have any desire to do drag. Cross dressing are people who wear clothing of the opposite sex to
express themselves better. Most people who cross dress identify with their birth sex. (LGBTQ
Ministries). While transgender is something that involves changing to the correct sex. They dont
feel right in their own body, and wont until theyve changed themselves to how they feel is
right.
Myth number five: Transgender is a mental disorder.
Calling it a mental disorder not only is it wrong, but also implies that if you take a pill or
something of that nature you can cure someone from being transgender. That being transgender
is something people need to be cure for it so theyll never have the thoughts about changing
again. There is no cure of transgender other than becoming who they were meant to be. The
proper thing to call it is Gender Dysphoria. (HRC).

Myth number six: That all transgender are out to trick people.
This couldnt be further from the truth. Rarely if ever are transgender out to trick
someone. The media is great at playing up this myth. Which might be some of the reasons so
many people think this. Most commonly when a transgender character is on TV it is because the
male lead of the show has gone on a date with a girl. He then later finds out his date has a trans
history. When the lead character finds out they are normally grossed out. Hell go to his group of
friends or family and explains how he got tricked. They make fun of him because he couldnt tell
or because he got fooled. This is an image that is hurting the community. (Evans, P) They are
like everyone else with some baggage from the past. Maybe they dont bring it up right away that
they use to be the opposite, but do you tell all your secrets right away? Especially a secret that
has a history of causing people physical harm once people find out. They also dont always talk
about it right away, because they have always felt they are the person in front of you. They have
a trans history, but that doesnt define who they are now. We need a better portrayal of
transgender on TV. There are a lot of benefits that could come from this. It could cut down on
some of the confusions trans teens have on this subject. Making them understand themselves
more, and helping with their depression. This could also help the mass in learning more about the
people that are going through this.
Myth number seven: Transgender people arent real men or women
This has to be one of the most harmful myth that can be said about a transgender person.
While they might not fit into what most people are used to, they are still human. They made a
change into feeling more comfortable with who they are. Saying they arent a real man or woman
is just disrespectful. What really defines who fits into these real categories? They are not any less
human because they have a trans history.

These are just a few myths that are commonly mistaken about transgender. Its important
to understand why they are myth so that you can better understand them. They also have a lot of
different struggles they face. In a survey connected by the William Institute in January 2014 they
found the following statistics: fifty seven percent of transgender loose contact with their family.
The family doesnt want to learn why they are making this change. There are even some who
believe they are a pervert because they want to do something like this. This is commonly a
thought because a lot people thing the change has something to do with sex. Over fifty percent
said how they have been bullied at some point in school. They also found that around half of
them suffered some type of physical or sexual abuse at work or school. An alarming sixty nine
percent experienced homelessness. A lot of times when they come out with who they are. This
number is so high because a lot times they lose their job, and because most lose their family.
They dont have much support to help them out. There also around forty percent of them that
have been physically or sexually assaulted by law enforcement upon finding out what they are.
That must be such a scary world to live in. To know that you dont have any protection from the
law enforcement against people hating on you for no reason. That in fact, they might be causing
them issues. In case that wasnt bad enough sixty percent of them were refused by a health care
professional for treatment due to who they are. I watched a documentary called Southern
Comfort. It was one of the saddest stories Ive ever watched. It followed Robert Eads in his final
year. He passed away from ovarian cancer. No doctor wanted to help him out because they were
worried what other people might think if they had a transgender in their office. Even when
Robert explained to the doctors that his tumor was the size of a softball they still would deny
him. By the time he finally found someone to help it was far too late. Regardless of how you feel
about the choice that the other has made, cant we all just agree a humans life (no matter their

choice) is worth saving if we can? There are so many people fighting for inmates on death row.
Saying how that is so inhumane to kill someone just because they committed a crime. Well what
is humane about letting someone die because youre not comfortable with how they live their
life?
Something that is now being done to help out the trans community is starting treatment as
a child. Children about to hit puberty can take puberty blocker, which will stop them from going
through their biological puberty. Then at around 15 or 16 they can start taking hormones to get
their body to how the sex they feel they should be. Then at 18 they are allowed to have surgery if
that is a step they want to take. (Becoming Chaz). Starting treatment this earlier can help make
changing the sex organs easier and less painful in the future (Dvorak). Many people may be
feeling something like that is just too risky, and many might not agree with this solution. If you
are one of those people thinking that its important to know one of the main reasons that that
puberty blockers are recommended is to help give the kid more time to figure out who they are,
and for their therapist to decide it right without making any rash decisions on it. (Jackson-Edney)
Puberty blockers are fully reversible and that is why theyre used when a kid says they might be
transgender. Since they are reversible that leaves no side bad side effect for the children. From
the documentaries Ive watched and the interviews Ive done. The one thing all transgenders
seem to agree on is that puberty is the worse time of their life. That is why they support it. Many
people start to know they are in the wrong body by the age of 3-6. Though at a younger age,
there not much different for kids between sexes, beside what you might play with. When your
body goes through the change of puberty, you start to develop breast or facial hair. Slowly their
body become less and less what they think it should be, and more like a strangers body. Chaz
Bono explains how he used to hate his picture taken. Its common for a lot of transgender people

to feel this way. The person in the picture is someone they just dont know. Seeing that image can
make some transgender people even more depress. Its a reminder of their outside is showing the
wrong image to the world of how they feel on the inside. Puberty is about the time where
transgender youth star getting signs of depression. More reason to support the treatment early.
Study has shown with the treatment trans kids are just as happy, if not happier, than their peers,
as well as just as successful as their peers. (Dvorak)
So how can you help? The best way you can help is educate yourself. Dont just assume
you know everything about them. Respect is another big thing to keep in mind. This means if
youre going to ask questions about it know what is appropriate, and what is not. Basically know
what your limits are around them. Asking things about their private parts or how sex is like, are
not appropriate questions. Another major question that is not okay to ask is what was your old
name? I hate when people ask me my name. It is part of my life I dont want to go back to, and
it makes me feel like they dont see my new life here as Emilie. (Jackson-Edney). Another part
to respect is keeping in mind pronouns. If the person in front of you is presenting themselves as
male you use the terms connected along with that sex. You wouldnt want to be called by another
pronoun so dont do it to them even if they just started their change. Make sure that youre not
giving back handed compliments. Some people have the best intentions, though saying
something like you look just like a real woman. Isnt helping (GLAAD). A comment like this is
just pointing out the fact more that you werent born as a woman, and I know it. They are trying
so hard to fit into society boxes of what is normal, comments like this can make them feel like
theyre not making it. Last the biggest thing you can do to help a transgender person is listening
to them (GLAAD). This may seem like a no brainer, but so many people forget this one. They

are so busy trying to help in other ways they dont do the most basic one, and in some cases the
most needed one.
Since the term transgender has only really been in our vocabulary since the early ninety
there still a lot on the subject that is being researched, and the word meaning is always changing.
There is a lot more research being done. The one thing that can be agreed on is: were all human,
and deserve to be treated the way. Everyone should have the same comfort of going to a doctor
when youre sick. Or being protected the same way by law enforcement. The world will be a
better place when accept a bit of change. Nature delights in diversity. Why dont humans? Lola
Cola (Southern Comfort).
SOURCES:
Becoming Chaz. Dir. Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. Perf. Chaz Bono, Cher, Jennifer Elia.
World of Wonder, 2011. Netflix.
Dargie, E., Blair, K. L., Pukall, C. F., & Coyle, S. M. (2014). Somewhere under the rainbow:
Exploring the identities and experiences of trans persons. The Canadian Journal of
Human Sexuality, 23(2), 60-74. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1554625678?accountid=9649
Dvorak, Petula. "Drug Treatments for Transgender Kids Pose Difficult Choices for Parents,
Doctors." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 19 May 2012. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Elliot, Seranine. Email interview. 19 Sept. 2014
Evans, Robert and P Amy, 5 shocking realities of being transgender the media ignores,(2014)
September 2014 http://www.cracked.com/article_20997_5-shocking-realities-beingtransgender-media-ignores.html
GLAAD Tips for Allies of Transgender People." @GLAAD., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Griffin, Crystal. Transgender surveymonkey.com, 2014. Online.
Haas, Ann, Philip Rodgers, and Jody Herman. "Suicide Attempts among Transgender and
Gender Non- Conforming Adults." The William Institute, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Sept.
2014.
HRC. "Transgender FAQ | Resources." Human Rights Campaign. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.

Jackson-Edney, Emilie. Personal interview. 18 Sept. 2014

Kreitler, Katy. "Top 10 Myths About Transgender People." Everyday Feminism. Everyday
Feminism, 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.
LGBTQ Ministries, Transgender 101, Multicultural Growth and Witness Unitarian
Universalist Association, (2013) September 2014,
http://www.uua.org/documents/lgbtq/transgender.pdf
Marksman, Erin R. (2011) Gender Identity Disorder, the Gender Binary, and Transgender
Oppression: Implications for Ethical Social Work, Smith College Studies in Social Work,
81:4, 314-327, September 2014

Penny, Laurie. "Not Everyone Is Born A Boy Or A Girl And Stays That Way. Its Time To
Rethink Gender." New Statesman 143.5215 (2014): 42. Academic Search Premier. Web.
12 Sept. 2014.
Quince, . "when do you know." N.p., 02 08 2010. Web. 15 Sep. 2014.
http://genderfork.com/2010/question-when-do-trans-people-realise-it
Southern Comfort. Dir. Kate Davis. Perf. Robert Eads, Lola Cola. Q-Ball Productions, 2001.
Hulu.
Transgender men images Online image. http://www.oddee.com/item_98038.aspx 18 Jan.
2012. Web. 20 Sept. 2014
Wilson, Danielle. "'Trans'-Cending Stereotypes: Tackling Transgender Bias In The Workplace."
HR Specialist: New Jersey Employment Law 6.6 (2011): 6. Small Business Reference
Center. Web. 15 Sept. 2014