jnevin said:
Technically, it's inappropriate to apply the term "IT" to any human. It implies a level of disrespect, such a term is dehumanizing, a la
"it puts the lotion on it's skin."
Look, they've actually proven, with brain imaging, that the vast majority of transgendered people (and a large proportion of transvestites) actually have different brain structure and its congenital, meaning, they're born with it. They have structures in their brains that correspond to the opposite gender.
Now, lets talk about perception of self. What forms your self image? Is your self image based on what you see in the mirror? By the feedback you get from other people? By pictures you see of yourself? Uh uh, it's all in your brain. How you perceive yourself is what makes up your self image. Not how others see you, not even what you see in the mirror (as proven in extreme cases by anorectics and the broad spectrum of other body dysmorphias).
If your brain is telling you that you are a female, despite the fact you have a penis, despite what you see in the mirror, how fucked up is your life going to be? How can you EVER be a happy person?
Try imaging it this way (because I've noticed its common to some degree in a lot of men): We have TONS of guys on this site who are NEVER big enough, despite working out, eating big -- and actually BEING big -- in their minds they are STILL that 115 lb. skinny ass kid who got the shit kicked out of his ass on a daily basis. But at least they get something tangible, they can workout and log it and lift it and see progress, on paper they can remark, HEY, I'm benching 250 and last year I could only bench 200, etc.
What's the poor transvestite supposed to do? Your eyes and birth certificate tell you you're a guy, but your head is saying GIRL. Imagine what you would feel if you woke up tomorrow and LACKED that penis! How fucked up would you feel?
Nobody would CHOOSE to subject themselves to the genital reassigment surgery unless there was just no other solution.