TRANSWOMAN

Transwomen or trans-women are transsexual or transgender people who have been identified as members of the male sex since infancy, but believe that this is not an accurate or complete description of themselves and therefore usually identify and live as women.

Transwomen who feel that their gender transition is complete often prefer to be called simply "women", considering "transwoman" or "male-to-female transsexual" to be terms that should only used for persons who are still transitioning. However, even after transitioning, transwomen have biological differences from cisgender women; for example, most have XY chromosomes. However, women does not necessarily refer to biological sex, it can also refer to cultural gender role distinctions. Those who still identify as transwomen after transitioning may describe themselves as "post-op" (as distinguished from "pre-op") transwomen. Transwomen who do not want sex reassignment surgery, are sometimes described as "non-op". Most transwomen feel that surgery is only a small part of a complete transition and that transwomen should not be defined by their surgical status. Others dislike the term transsexual and prefer to call themselves transgender woman.

People of conservative cultural backgrounds or beliefs tend to look upon transwomen, if they are attracted to men, as effeminate gay men who took their effeminacy to an extreme level.

If attracted to women, they are perceived by the proponents of the Autogynephilia theory as otherwise straight men with an abnormal fetish. This view is contested, as part of the debate on the associations and distinctions between homosexuality and transgender, and the issue of autogynephilia.

Sexual orientation

Most recent scientific studies and reports by support groups, help lines, etc. indicate that the percentage of transwomen who consider themselves lesbian, bisexual or asexual is higher than in the general female population. The details, however, differ; with scientific papers usually reporting a higher number of heterosexual-identified transwomen than support groups report, perhaps influenced by demographic factors: what kind of people have access to support groups, as well as methodologies used for individual studies.

See also

Transition-related

• Transitioning
• Hormone Replacement Therapy for Transwomen
• Hair removal
• Genital reassignment surgery for Transwomen
• Facial Feminization Surgery
• Other surgical procedures

General transgendered topics

• List of transgender-related topics
• Transgendered

Fiction

• Transamerica (film)

External links

• TS Roadmap -- Resource guide for transsexual women and those aspiring to transition
• Transsexual Women's Successes
• Lynn Conway - Her goal is to "illuminate and normalize the issues of gender identity and the process of gender transition
• Transsexual Women's Resources - run by Anne Lawrence, a controversial figure due to her support for the autogynephilia theory
• Older Tees Medical, support, and general resources for transwomen
• Mom, I Need to Be a Girl - a book by the mother of a young transwoman

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