Is the pursuit of gender congruence through medical means an act of liberation or submission to societal norms? This is a question that has been at the forefront of debates surrounding gender nonconforming individuals for decades. On one hand, some argue that seeking out treatments such as hormone therapy and surgery to align their physical appearance with their inner sense of self is a way of reclaiming control over their bodies and expressing themselves authentically. Others contend that this process can be a form of subjugation to societal norms around what it means to be male or female, reinforcing traditional ideas about gender roles and expectations. In this essay, I will examine both sides of the argument and provide evidence from research to support my position.
Let's consider why people may choose to seek out medical intervention to achieve gender congruence. Many transgender and nonbinary individuals report feeling uncomfortable or even unsafe in their own skin due to their biological sex, which can lead to feelings of distress and depression. They feel trapped in a body that does not match their true identity, leading them to seek out ways to alleviate these symptoms. Hormone therapy and surgeries are often seen as viable options for achieving greater alignment between physical characteristics and internal senses of self, providing relief from dysphoria and allowing people to live more comfortably in their day-to-day lives.
Many argue that gender congruence can help improve mental health outcomes by reducing stressors related to social rejection and discrimination.
Studies have shown that transgender individuals who undergo gender-affirming surgery experience significant reductions in anxiety and depression levels afterward (Reyneke & Meyer-Bahlburg, 2018). These benefits suggest that pursuing gender congruence through medical means could indeed be seen as an act of liberation, enabling individuals to express themselves authentically and reclaim control over their bodies.
There is also evidence suggesting that seeking out medical treatments to align one's appearance with societal norms reinforces those very same norms. While some transgender and nonbinary individuals do desire treatments purely for personal reasons, others may feel pressured to conform to societal expectations around what it means to be masculine or feminine.
Research has found that cisgender individuals perceive trans men who undergo masculinizing procedures such as top surgery as less 'real' than cisgender men, even when they exhibit the same behaviors and attitudes (Nguyen et al., 2017). This stigma suggests that these treatments may not necessarily serve the individual but rather play into broader ideas about how society should behave based on sex assigned at birth. Similarly, some argue that hormone therapy and surgeries perpetuate rigid ideas about what constitutes a 'female' or 'male' body, reinforcing binary categories that limit self-expression. In this sense, seeking out medical interventions to achieve gender congruence could be viewed as submission to societal norms rather than an act of liberation.
Whether the pursuit of gender congruence through medical means is an act of liberation or submission depends heavily on the individual and their motivations for seeking treatment. For some, undergoing hormone therapy or surgery can provide immense relief from dysphoria and improve mental health outcomes, allowing them to express themselves authentically and reclaim control over their bodies.
There are also instances where gender congruence may reinforce societal norms around what it means to be male or female, leading to further stigmatization and limited expression.
The decision to seek out medical intervention should rest with the individual, taking into account their own needs and goals for achieving greater alignment between physical characteristics and internal senses of self.
Is the pursuit of gender congruence through medical means an act of liberation or submission to societal norms?
The pursuit of gender congruence through medical means can be viewed as both an act of liberation and submission to societal norms depending on one's perspective. For individuals who feel a deep sense of distress and discomfort with their gender identity, undergoing medical procedures to align their physical appearance with their internal experience may be seen as a way to achieve greater freedom and self-acceptance.