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Gender Identity Disorder: The Dilemma Within Gender identity is our awareness of being male or female. Gender identity almost coincides with genitals. If we have a penis, we feel ourselves to be male. If we have a vagina, we feel ourselves to be female. Some people have a dissociation of gender identity and sexual organs. Some men feel that they are women trapped in men’s bodies whereas some women feel that they are men trapped in women’s bodies. Gender identity disorder, also called transsexualism, is a phenomenon of being aware that one has been trapped in the wrong body (Rosenhan, Seligman, & Walker, 2001). Transsexualism is rare, with a prevalence among men that varies from 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 100,000; among women, prevalence varies 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 400,000. It can be diagnosed in childhood and in adolescence. Transsexualism, now called "gender identity disorder" is an enduring feeling of severe discomfort with one's own anatomical sex, accompanied by a strong desire to be rid of one's genitals and to live as the opposite sex. Transsexuals usually but not always cross-dress to be in agreement with their own gender identity (Maxmen & Ward, 1995).
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