When encountering something unusual, abnormal, or strange, we tend to be surprised, shocked, uncomfortable, or even in denial. Something similar happened recently when the Miss Universe Canada candidate, Jenna Talackova, confronted us with something “bizarre.” She is a transgender who wants to take part in the 2012 competition!

This exposure was surely an unusual and difficult case for the pageant committee to deal with. They reacted in an unsurprising way, however, and the pageant announced in an official statement that Talackova was disqualified for the 2012 competition because she did not meet the requirements.

In the list of requirements for the Universe Canada competition, there were no rules mentioned regarding sex changes or cosmetic surgeries. The decision for disqualifying Talackova can therefore only be explained as discrimination and sexism. Talackova reacted bravely when she stated on Twitter: “I’m disqualified; however, I’m not giving up. I’m not going to just let them disqualify me over discrimination.”

Talackova was not left alone with her determination. She is probably the first Miss Universe Canada candidate ever to experience the positive impact of social media. More than 42,000 people signed an online-petition, claiming that the disqualification of Jenna Talackova was unfair. However, behind the social media scene, it is the feeling of injustice and discrimination that made people stand up for her, fighting for something very natural and yet difficult – the basic rights for women.

Basic rights should not be an abstract term, but our reality. Talackova does not need to justify her sex. She looks amazingly beautiful, and she feels, thinks, and behaves as a woman does. She is participating in the competition with her very heart and mind.

It is the social logic and habitus, no less than a historical product, that makes us think in categories – we and the other, whites and blacks, or women and men (non-women). We feel we need to justify ourselves in so-called “particular situations”: a platonic friendship, a different sexual orientation, a relationship between masters and apprentices, and now, a transgender in a Miss Universe competition. Why, and for whom?

Is an unnatural-born woman an alien and should be kicked out? To be honest, what is normal and common in our society anyway? The positive outcome of the online-petition showed us that it is indeed the century to embrace a common identity and a universe spirit. If the Donald Trump-owned beauty pageant has not learned anything from the movement of feminism, it should from Miss Talackova, to whom we say: “Good luck on the competition!”

Image Courtesy of   Jenna Talackova

The article Are We Ready For a Transgendered Miss Universe? appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The first study to characterize a cohort of U.S. children with diagnosed gender identity disorder, led by researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston, documents significant mental health risks as children struggle with strong feelings of being born “in the wrong body.” Findings appear in the March 2012 Pediatrics (published online February 20).

The study, led by endocrinologist Norman Spack, M.D., at Children’s Hospital Boston, in collaboration with attending psychiatrist Scott Leibowitz, M.D., reviewed the charts of 97 consecutive patients who were seen at the hospital from 1998 through early 2010 and met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) for gender identity disorder: a strong, persistent identification as being of the opposite sex (transgendered) and significant distress and discomfort with one’s biological sex.

Of these patients, who first came to Children’s Hospital Boston at an average age of 14.8 years, 44 percent had a history of psychiatric symptoms, 37 percent were taking psychotropic medications, 21 percent had a history of self-mutilation and 9 percent had attempted suicide.

Fifty-eight percent received a medical intervention. This consisted of opposite-sex hormones (to develop a physical appearance closer to the affirmed gender) for the majority who were in later stages of puberty, and puberty-suppressing drugs for the few children still in early puberty.

Spack and colleagues call for further research to assess these adolescents’ psychological well-being after both kinds of treatment. They urge early evaluation for children who show persistent gender-related issues, including consultation with mental health professionals and consideration of medical treatment when patients near puberty.  Anecdotally, children who receive interventions early do better psychologically.

“Just coming to our clinic for an initial visit was associated with a markedly reduced motivation to self-harm,” Spack notes.

Children’s Hospital Boston is home to the world’s largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 1,100 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, 11 members of the Institute of Medicine and nine members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Children’s research community.

Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children’s Hospital Boston today is a 395 bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children’s also is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

The article Children with Gender Identity Disorder Face Mental Health Risks appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.