Four Reasons To Stop Saying “Gender Dysphoria”
(continued from https://fstdt.com/633$N38RV7VS)
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The definition for “gender dysphoria” in children sounds very similar, but adds “preference for cross-dressing,” toys, games, and activities that are culturally associated with the other sex. For all age categories, the DSM-5 stresses that “in order to meet criteria for the diagnosis of gender dysphoria, the condition must also be associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.”

“Gender dysphoria” is no less a social construction than “gender” is. The concept of “gender dysphoria” on the one hand focuses on distress and on the other on a story that is supposed to explain this distress—the mismatch between sex and sex role stereotypes.

Using the term “incongruence” within these criteria suggests that everyone fulfills or should fulfill a sex role. It does not reject sex roles or sex role stereotypes themselves. It affirms them and just problematizes a probable distress with them. It also is based on ideas how congruence between sex and sex roles would look like which affirms the idea of traditional sex roles.

2. The concept of “Gender Dysphoria” is vague
Talking about “someone with gender dysphoria” could mean multiple different things. For example:

* She doesn’t conform to traditional sex role stereotypes and realizes that others accept her more if she pretends to be a boy
* She gets the constant message that homosexuality is a horrible thing and she gets rewarded when presenting as the other sex instead
* She has the urge to mutilate her body or feels a deep disgust towards her physique
* He has developed an autogynephilic fetish from the consumption of pornography
The term “gender dysphoria” is an umbrella term in the same way as the term “transgender.” It is basically useless when we strive to educate others on transgenderism.

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