Why do people believe that... transgender people can be forced to conform to their gender?

It is well known that many obstacles that transgender people face are due to misunderstandings and social prejudices. One of the things that transgender people have to face at least once is being forced to express themselves according to their birth gender, such as being forced to cut their hair, use words, and dress. Because a society that adheres to the binary gender system thinks that expression should be in accordance with the gender at birth, leading to the wrong belief that transgender people can be forced to abandon their identity and return to expressing themselves according to their birth gender.

What is this belief?

It is the belief that society believes that if transgender people are forced or pressured to abandon their identity and act according to the identity that society sees as consistent with their birth gender, they can regain their sense of self that matches their birth gender. This is caused by the belief that transgender people are foreign and must do something to return to normal. This attempt to force is called Conversion Therapy, which is a treatment program for people suspected of having a different gender identity. It is mostly popular in religious communities. This process uses violent methods, both physically and mentally, such as placing them in an inappropriate environment along with attempts to instill false beliefs, repeatedly using harsh words, and even forcing them into marriage. To make the target feel guilty and think that being transgender is abnormal.

Matthew Scott Montgomery, a famous actor who has starred in many famous series, revealed to his fans last year on the podcast “Vulnerable” about his childhood when he came out to his family that he was gay. “They were so angry that they wouldn’t say anything. My mom was on her knees.” Then Matthew’s father invited and almost forced him to join a therapy session at a place. There, Matthew went through a lot of dehumanizing procedures, such as hypnosis, convincing them that what they were was upsetting to those around them, and electrocution therapy. “They made me think of certain situations, like hugging a handsome guy. Then they would shoot electric currents into my hands.” Matthew would be forced to join such therapy every day when he was free from school and acting. Even though Matthew is free from that cruel environment, he still has emotional scars that affect his current life.

But often, coercion comes from society as well. It is often in the form of conditions that are indirectly forced by referring to appropriate behavior, such as work that often requires the person to dress and act according to their birth gender, especially in jobs that people believe require a credible personality. Must be respected or a government agency that has clear internal regulations regarding uniforms that are divided by birth gender. One of the cases that was complained to the Gender Discrimination Commission was a case in which a transgender woman who had worked as a teacher for 6 years was threatened to wear a male civil servant uniform, causing the complainant to feel lethargic and paranoid from the threat. Although later there was a correction and compensation for the victim, this was just one of many cases in which security and job positions were used to force transgender people.

But in reality, gender can change.

One important thing about gender that should be considered when discussing this issue is that gender is not fixed. A person may discover that they have female gender at one point in time, but later may discover again that they are not in the two-gender box or non-binary. These things are defined as genderfluid, which can occur in many aspects, not limited to feelings of identity. For example, having feelings of attraction to different genders that are actually not limited to gender, or gender expression that is a personal right. All of these are normal and the body can change according to various factors.

The important thing about changing gender is It is that the person must have the feeling or sense that need by himself, both from self-exploration, the perception from the factors that have been added to his life, without being forced or threatened by prejudice against different genders or trying to change anyone's identity. Because choosing to believe and express one's own identity is one of the basic human rights that cannot be taken away, according to the principle of Self-Determination. Therefore, any attempt to change one's identity by force, no matter what method is used, is considered violence. Of course, sometimes it may be possible for the target to really change themselves, but that is a change based on fear and self-protection only, and it still leaves scars for the person who is forced. Wouldn't it be better if we changed from forcing a person to be something else that creates discomfort, to studying and understanding what a person is and being ready to embrace diversity to be a true part of society?

Reference

• Author unknown. (28 April 2022). I went through ‘conversion therapy’ – no trans person should face that torture again. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/28/conversion-therapy-trans-person-torture-uk-government
• Sirilak Suksawat1, Jirayu Phomai2. (28 June 2021). LGBTQ+ hard to find a job? Talking to Coco Kavintra, a trans woman who applied for 200 jobs but no one called. Urban Creature. https://urbancreature.co/kavindhra-tiamsai-work-for-lgbtq/
• Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Institute. (2021). Brief decision of the Discrimination Decision Committee by Gender Fluidity 2016 – 2019 (1st ed.). Publisher: Piramit Creation Co., Ltd.
• Sabra L. Katz-Wise. (December 3, 2020). Gender Fluidity: What It Means and Why Support Matters. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gender-fluidity-what-it-means-and-why-support-matters-2020120321544
• JP Mangalindan. (September 19, 2023). Disney Star Matthew Scott Montgomery Details His Harrowing Experience with Electroshock and Conversion Therapy. People.com. https://people.com/matthew-scott-montgomery-details-experience-conversion-and-electroshock-therapy-7972009

Author: Naraset Phatthanangkun