Gender Identity Disorder

Gender Identity Disorder: The Dilemma Within
Gender identity is our awareness of being male or female. Gender identity almost
coincides with genitals. If we have a penis, we feel ourselves to be male. If we have a vagina, we
feel ourselves to be female. Some people have a dissociation of gender identity and sexual
organs. Some men feel that they are women trapped in men’s bodies whereas some women feel
that they are men trapped in women’s bodies. Gender identity disorder, also called
transsexualism, is a phenomenon of being aware that one has been trapped in the wrong body
(Rosenhan, Seligman, & Walker, 2001).
Transsexualism is rare, with a prevalence among men that varies from 1 in 40,000 to 1 in
100,000; among women, prevalence varies 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 400,000. It can be diagnosed in
childhood and in adolescence. Transsexualism, now called "gender identity disorder" is an
enduring feeling of severe discomfort with one's own anatomical se...