Childhood Of Transgender

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

The Childhood of Transgender

I have heard it said before that the early stages of the actual journey of transition are much like the early days of childhood with the transitioner having to learn all of the things which a natal child would have to learn. The difference is that by the time most of us get to the age of transition we have, in many cases, years and possibly decades of living and learning under our collective belts. Many times this accumulated knowlege, because it is from the wrong gender, actually makes the journey worse not better, when that is added to the stubbornness and attitude of your average two year old the picture is not a pretty one.

The years of living can be a two edged sword, they can hinder us by clouding our judgment with ideas, actions, and mannerisms of the old gender or they can give us the wisdom and maturity to say to ourselves that "Ranting, raving, hollering and complaining isn't going to get or isn't getting me anywhere." It may take a trusted outsider, a loved one, or someone else who is special to us to say "Look, if you don't let the team do their jobs you will never get anywhere" it is in that moment when we finally see how we are our own worst enemy that we gain the maturity to advance on our journey. In many ways our journey can be likened to the journey of person through their lives, especially in cultures where Rite of Passage ceremonies are still common. 

Our birth is the moment we accept who and what we are as Transgender, after that comes a period of time where we are helped along the path to the next ceremony. This period is variable and depends entirely on us, how readily we learn what we need to and how deep our introspection and meditation has been.

Then comes that magic day, the day of the puberty ceremony; we take it to the next person to guide us along and they begin by making sure all is well with us and then issue the compounds with allow puberty to begin. This is by far the longest stage of the journey, but rightfully so because it is also the one where we do the most changing and growing. Durring this time we have much to learn about how our bodies are changing, how we are supposed to act, talk, think and behave as our new self. This cannot be accomplished in a day, month, or year and for some cannot be accomplished in several years.

Finally when we are judged ready for the rights and responsibilities of full adulthood we are sent to see not one but two elders, both of whom must adjudge us fit and ready for the final stage of the journey. If they approve then we are off to see the person whose magic hands can complete the transformation and make us the full adult we so long to be.

This is a somewhat philosophical look at the journey of transition but I think it goes someway to demystifying the steps by likening them to the journey of life and what we need to learn at the various stages. For me the day I was diagnosed was like the day I was finally born, I was on the way to being what I should have bee fifty years ago. Now in the space of a couple years I need to learn what it is to be a woman, how to think, act, talk, and react like one.

Am I ready for the adult role yet? No, since my pubertal phase has only just started and I have not learned what I need to learn in order for the elders to adjudge me ready. Will I be ready one day for those rights and responsibilities, yes, and then I will be ready for the next stage of the journey.

[Bulldog1948]

Joanna,

This is an extremely well written article. One has to live the journey in order to explain the journey.

Mike

[Guest angie]

As the journey continues and new stages are reached,

You celebrate each acomplishment with an,Atta Girl,you did good

and keep on.That is the nature of our journey,to celebrate the small

steps,that keep building up to bigger more confident steps,as we continue

to grow into out role.It is cool as you feel,and know you are getting there.

Angie