GENDER
IT’S COMPLICATED
What most individuals don’t realize is that transgender is an umbrella term (hence the
graphic above). This encompasses any individual who crosses over or challenges their society’s
traditional gender roles and/or expressions. This could be somebody who dresses more masculine
as a female, or someone that is transitioning physically to the opposite gender. Time plays a key
role for some of these identities. For example, someone that has decided to transition may
decide to seek hormone therapy.
Throughout the process of hormone replacement, they may experience what is often
referred to as ‘second puberty’. This manifests in different ways for every individual, for example
a female transitioning to a male might experience things such as; facial hair growth, lowering of
the voice, and more. Everyone’s experience is different, and every timeline is different.
Circumstances, safety or even simply choice may determine when an individual is ready or willing
to transition or not. Whether someone decides to physically transition or not, is a personal and
innate decision they make for themselves, and should remain so.