Transgenderism: A Case Study of the Movie TRANSAMERICA

By Francine R Goldberg and Ph.D.

This guide is designed to be used as a companion to the Weinstein Company movie, TRANSAMERICA. It presents a unique and entertaining learning opportunity for both mental health professionals and those who are not trained in mental health. It brings to life the issues transgender people face with its scene-by-scene information about the movie. For mental health professionals it serves as an entertaining up-to-date course with an opportunity to earn continuing education credits. For non-mental health professionals it allows the movie to be an entertaining vehicle that educates readers to recognize and understand transgenderism; know the potential risks to individuals, relationships with families, friends, co-workers and fellow students; and to know about resources for a safe and productive life.
It will explain, demonstrate and guide participants in the application of knowledge about transgenderism, including definitions, assessment, DSM diagnosistic issues, gender reassignment surgery, standards of care, trauma, victimization, medical and mental health treatment addressing family, parenting, vocational, substance abuse and HIV issues. The movie portrays a textbook example of a person who is transitioning from a male to a female and is valuable for learning about transgenderedism. It should be emphasized that the "Hollywood effect" may tend to over/under exaggerate the issues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781934107140

Book preview

Continuing Education Information

For information about Continuing Education credit for watching the movie TRANSAMERICA and using this e-book as your guide go to: www.BeneficialFilmGuides.com

Learning Objectives

This guide is designed to be used as a companion to the Weinstein Company movie, TRANSAMERICA. It presents a unique and entertaining learning opportunity for both mental health professionals and those who are not trained in mental health. It brings to life the issues transgender people face with its scene-by-scene information about the movie. For mental health professionals it serves as an entertaining up-to-date course with an opportunity to earn continuing education credits. For non-mental health professionals it allows the movie to be an entertaining vehicle that educates readers to recognize and understand transgenderism; know the potential risks to individuals, relationships with families, friends, co-workers and fellow students; and to know about resources for a safe and productive life.

It will explain, demonstrate and guide participants in the application of knowledge about transgenderism, including definitions, assessment, DSM diagnosistic issues, gender reassignment surgery, standards of care, trauma, victimization, medical and mental health treatment addressing family, parenting, vocational, substance abuse and HIV issues. The movie portrays a textbook example of a person who is transitioning from a male to a female and is valuable for learning about transgenderism. It should be emphasized that the Hollywood effect may tend to over/under exaggerate the issues.

Specifically, to learn about:

• The definition of transgender, identifying the groups under this umbrella

• The transition process of male to female (MTF) and female to male (FTM) transgendered people

• The Standards of Care for treatment

• Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS)

• The randomness of transgenderism

• Transgender resources, including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), Intersex Society of North America (ISNA), the ballroom scene and internet technology.

• Ethical guidelines for treatment

• Assessment and diagnostic issues for DSM IV-TR’s Gender Identity Disorder (GID)

• Unemployment, underemployment and employment discrimination

• Legal I.D. issues

• The role, obligations and responsibilities of clinicians

• Theoretical ideologies and psychotherapeutic interventions

• Psychological, emotional and oppressive issues faced by transgendered individuals

• Transgenderism and substance abuse

• Issues for transgendered children

• Issues for children of transgendered parents

• Family therapy issues and interventions

• Gender development and expression

• Parents response to transgendered children

• Factors associated with a resilient adaptation for children of transgendered parents

• Similarities and differences between transsexual and intersex individuals

Outline of Scenes

Transgenderism

• Transgender Defined

• The Transgender Model

• Randomness of Transgenderism

• The B rain and Sex

This is the Voice I Want to Use

• Disclosure

• Social Isolation

• Sexual Reassignment Surgery

• World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)

• Harry Benjamin Standards of Care (SOC)

• World Professional for Transgender Health

• Ethical Guidelines

• DSM-IV-TR Gender Identity Disorder

• Stigma

• Treatment and Health Insurance Issues

• Gender Identity Disorder Controversy

Stanley Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

• Unemployment, Underemployment and Employment Discrimination

• Legal I.D. Issues and Problems

• Commercial Sex

• MTF Sex with a Woman

• Role of the Clinician

• Obligation and Responsibility of the Clinician

• A Note about Theoretical Ideologies

• Transgender vs. Transsexual Models

• Gathering Clinical Data

Allegedly He’s My Son

• Transgendered People in the Prison System

Fasten Your Seat Belt

• Scene Description

Unwanted Homecoming

• Clinical Needs Beyond Transgender Issues

The Lovely Scenery

• Clinical Differences between MTFs and FTMs

• Lacking Language for Identities

• Passing, Conflict, Anxiety

• Transgenderism and Substance Abuse

• Children Substance Abusers of Transgendered Parents

Proud To Be A Christian

• Disclosure to Children of Transgendered Parents

History Lesson

• Guidelines for Self-Disclosure

Sammy’s Wigwam

• Passing: A Defense Strategy with a Psychological Price

• Oppression: From Negative Looks to Murder

• Ignorance and Misunderstandings within the Gay Community

• Invisibility

• MTF and FTM SRS Procedures

• Transgenderism in the Western World

• American Disabilities Act

Stranded

• Transgenderism and Sexual Orientation

I Thought Your Parents Were Dead

• Problems in Receiving Family Therapy

• Similarities in Historical Reflections among Transgendered Individuals

Family Dinner

• Stigmatization’s Influence on Education

• Suicidality

• Gender Development and Expression

• Parental Responses to Transgendered Youth

• Alienation, Isolation, Homelessness and Substance Abuse among Transgendered Youth

• Internet Technology

• The Ballroom Scene

Revelation

• Betrayal

• Family Intervention

• Mourning and Redefinition

• Unnecessary Concerns Causing Opposition to Continuing Contact between Transgendered Parents and Their Children

• Factors Associated with a Resilient Adaptation by Children of Transgendered Parents

• Family Law and Civil Family Courts

Surgery

• The Role of the Clinician in Dealing with Guilt

Toby’s Acting Debut

• Consequences of Withheld Disclosure

Notes About Intersex

• Intersex Defined

• Intersex and Sexual Orientation

• Similarities and Differences between Intersex and Transsexual Individuals

• Intersex Society of North America (ISNA)

Transgenderism

Transgender is a term that is used to refer to multiple categories of gender variant people, including transsexuals, people who believe that their physiological bodies do not represent their true sex, prefer to be referred to as men or women according to their gender identity and gender presentation, and may or may not have had sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) [also referred to as gender reassignment surgery (GRS)**; cross-dressers, people who dress in the clothing of the opposite sex for erotic fulfillment or for social fun; masculine-identified females; feminine-identifies males; intersex* and other differently gendered people.

* See Notes About Intersex at the end of this e-book.

** Many see the surgery as a reassignment of one’s biological sex, thus,

SRS; others see the surgery as a reassignment of gender, thus. GRS.

The 1990’s brought an increasing awareness among researchers and clinicians that genital SRS is not uniformly desired or sought by all persons who dress and behave as a member of the other sex on a full-time basis. This new paradigm originating from transgendered people themselves provided an alternative to the model of transsexualism which had held sway since the 1960’s. The initial model held that transsexuals were trapped in the wrong body, experiencing a psychic pain that could be alleviated only by body transformation. The new model views gender as a continuum rather than a male/female dichotomy and calls for individualized gender trajectories, which may or may not include hormonal therapy and SRS…. The transgender model changed the locus of pathology; if there is pathology, it might more properly be attributed to the society rather than the gender-variant individual. Those who are most visibly different are at risk for discrimination, hostility, and violence from an intolerant culture, and often from their schools, churches, police and other government officials, and even family members…. This societal mistreatment can result in psychological difficulties, including shame and guilt and resulting self-destructive behaviors,