Transgender: Transition Success Series

If you're transgendered and want to develop a more feminine voice, this is the starting point for you. Whether you're transsexual, crossdresser or otherwise identify yourself as transgender, there is a wealth of information contained within Melanie's transgender voice training article, in the free online voice training resources listed at the end of the article and in Melanie's training video How to Develop a Female Voice. Many transgendered people struggle with their voice. Indeed many pass flawlessly in appearance only to be given away by their voice. With work, most of us can succeed in attaining a passable feminine voice. It does take work, perhaps a lot of work; but the rewards are well worth it. Bookmark this page and begin your journey to finding your feminine voice. You have found everything you will need to have the perfect voice you need to complete your feminine persona.

Posted by: Koryn on 2010-03-09, 08:17:37

Gender Identity refers to a person's actual or perceived sex, and includes a person's identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth. People who are transgendered are people whose anatomies and/ or appearances do not conform to those considered appropriate for culturally predominant gender roles. They have physical and/ or behavioral characteristics that readily identify them as having a non-conforming gender identity. In other words, transgendered people, to varying degrees, "transgress " cultural norms as to what a man or a woman "should be. " Of course, not all people who transgress cultural norms in regards to gender are, or should be, considered transgendered as we are discussing here. In that case, that would include a woman who works as a pipe fitter or a male nurse. However, when transgender is used in the case of a "sexual minority ", we are generally referring to one of the following five categories: Transsexuals were born into one gender but identify psychologically and emotionally as the other. Transsexuals are generally thought to have a condition called gender dysphoria (also called Gender Identity Disorder). Those who are born physically male but are emotionally and psychologically female are called transsexual women. Those who are born female but are emotionally and psychologically male are called transsexual men. There is some disagreement as to whether gender dysphoria is a physical condition, a psychological condition or both. Some scientists believe that gender dysphoria occurs when the developing fetus is in the womb and that a chemical imbalance occurs their development, that affects sexual difference. The primary way transsexuals differ from other transgendered people is that in almost all cases, they seek to modify their bodies through hormones, SRS (Sexual Reassignment Surgery) or both. This process (which may take several months or many years) is called Transition, where transsexuals will make major life changes in order to bring their physical appearance in line with their gender identity. Some of those changes include changing their name and gender designation on legal documents such as birth certificates, driver's licenses and social security records. However it is achieved, the ultimate goal of transition is to enable the transsexual to live completely as the gender with which they identify. It is extremely important to remember that male to female transsexuals are women, just as female to male transsexuals are men and should be referred to and treated as such. Intersexed people were born exhibiting some combination of both male and female genitalia (usually determined by the doctor to be either a clitoris that is "too large " or a penis that is "too small. ") As one can imagine, such a diagnosis is entirely subjective. At birth, the attending physician or parents or both "choose " which gender to raise the child, necessitating surgery and/ or hormonal treatment that must be continued throughout the child's life. Many intersexed people, now adults, are advocating for an end to the way intersexed children are seen as "damaged goods " needing to be fixed. Crossdressers (previously known as transvestites) identify as, and are completely comfortable with, their physical gender at birth, but will occasionally dress and take on the mannerisms of the opposite gender. Of course, cross-dressing is more onerous on men, since our culture accepts the idea of a woman wearing pants, but not a man wearing a skirt. Most cross-dressers are heterosexual men. The term transvestite is now considered offensive and should not be used because it is associated with negative images of sexual fetishism. Drag Performers include people like Ru Paul, or Elvis Herselvis (a well known lesbian Elvis impersonator). Drag performers are precisely that - performers. They dress and act like the "opposite " sex for the entertainment of an audience. For them, drag is a job - not an identity. Some are gay - some are not. Some identify as transgendered - most do not. It is important to be aware of the fact that some people, including many drag performers themselves, do not consider drag performers to be members of the transgendered community. Gender blenders, bi-gendered, androgynes and others - Not all transgendered people fit neatly into the above categories. For some, such characterizations of gender and gender identity are more constraining than liberating. Gender blenders may or may not identify as one or the other in a binary gender system (i.e. either/ or, male/ female) and many times will assume a mixture of male and female dress and characteristics, combining elements of both. Cisgeneder is NOT UNDER THE UMBRELLA but the following is what it means. . . Cisgender is the opposite of transgender. Meaning their Gender identity and their body sex match.

Transgender: Transition Success Series

Free transgender article, widely considered to be the ultimate how to guide.