Auto-gynephilia/Auto-androphilia =/= Transgendered

Some years ago, a man named Ray Blanchard proposed the theory that there are two types of mtf transsexuals: homosexual transsexuals, those who transition because they are attracted to men, and auto-gynephilic transsexuals, those who transition because they are sexually aroused by the image of themselves with female sex organs. This theory is known as the Blanchard Autogynephilia Theory. Similar theories regarding auto-androphilia (arousal of the image of oneself with male sex organs) have also been brought up, but through my own research I have not found any real major studies done on the subject. Although Blanchard’s theory has received much criticism regarding the methods he used for research and that his theory renders real transgenderism illegitimate, turning it into a sexual fetish as oppose to an identity problem. Autogynephilia and autoandrophilia have both been added to the DSM-V (Disagnostic and Statististic Manual of Mental Illness) as a subcategory of Transvestic Fetish.

Among the transgender community, many people find themselves genuinely fearing that they have this condition and that they are not actually transgendered. On the message board that I frequent, it is not uncommon to see people starting threads describing their situation and asking if it sounds like that may be autogyne/androphilic.

My personal opinion? Sure, autogynephilia and autoandrophilia may exist, but it is not the cause of transgenderism. Transgenderism is not a matter of sexuality, it is a matter of identity (which is something I will be writing another blog about shortly) and thus the two are not connected. Perhaps there may be confusion among many transgendered people because they in fact do become aroused when they think about themselves having the sex organs of the opposite sex, but I do not see it as part of being transgendered.

Through personal experience (though other people will have different cases), I personally believe the arousal that comes from imagining oneself with the opposite sex’s genitals is more associated with comfort regarding the sex organs. I for one cannot become aroused if I’m thinking about myself with female organs, but get all riled up imagining myself with a penis. Does this make me autoandrophilic? I don’t know. I prefer to go with the flow when it comes to sexuality instead of over-thinking it. I’m not entirely sure how to properly word what I really think about my own situation. I have gender dysphoria and consider my female parts as better left ignored or as outright terrible, thus I do not feel aroused when I imagine myself with these body parts. The average man would not be aroused by thinking of himself as a woman, why would I?

The fact that transgenderism and autogyne/androphilia  are connected seem unusual to me, and I do not think the two should be connected. Many people already believe that transvestites and transgendered people are one and the same, and this is only another incorrect assumption, one that tries to over-simplify transgenderism and further establish it as a mental disease. Although autogynephilia and autoandrophilia should not be something for transgendered people to fear, for as I mentioned, sexuality and gender identity are not the same thing.

What if I Said I had a Birth Defect…

Would you believe me if I told you I was born with a birth defect? That despite the fact that I am a man, my genitals are deformed and look nothing like a penis, and that I also outwardly appear to be a woman because of this birth defect. Would I be more believable if I explained that I was born with a defect that made me look like a woman in every way, but in fact I was a man?
Would it make sense? Would there be less hate if transgenderism was considered a birth defect and not a mental illness?
Biological differences between men’s brains and women’s brains have been found, and during studies regarding the differences, transgendered people were found to biologically have brains like that of their desired sex instead of their biological sex. In a way, transgenderism is more of a physical disorder rather than a mental disorder (although gender dysphoria in itself can become such a problem that it can be considered part of a mental illness). If transgendersim were regarded this way as oppose to a matter of identity or sexuality, would it be taken more seriously instead of being rejected by majority of people as either a bizarre choice or an outright abomination?

Such are the things I wonder when I catch sight of myself in the shower.