The Pressure to Transition.

I think another way that trans* folks conform to gender stereotypes is through the pressure to medically transition. It can be surprising that pressuring to medically transition can come from within the community, but it does happen. Quite often trans* people encounter other folks in the lgbtq community who think they are "not trans enough", or believe that "you wont ever pass like that". This can trigger a sort of self hatred for that person's body that may have not been there before. As well as not allowing them to just be comfortable expressing themselves for who they really are.
It is becoming more and more common for people to ask a trans* person after they come out, "so when are you going to go on hormones?". This is usually common for non-lgbtq people to ask of trans* folks so it can be especially difficult when its from places you wouldn't expect it. It makes it hard for those trans* folks who don't want to go on hormones, or can't for some reason or another, seem like they are not a "true" gender. Even most trans* websites and forums are aimed at helping other folks get hormones or pay for surgery.

This way of assuming that all trans* people are sort of "cookie cutter" type deal, where everyone comes out the same in the end. There needs to be more advocacy and support for trans* people who don't transition medically.
A pretty awesome guy that I've watched on youtube talks a little bit about how doctors can tell you that you may need to take hormones and also how you shouldn't let that deter you from making the decisions yourself.

An article that I read that talks a little bit about the "cookie cutter" theory of trans* folks is called "Transforming the Paradigm of transgender health: a field in transition". It talks mostly about how in the medical field there is a push in the new DSM for "gender incongruity" to be listed rather than "gender identity disorder". This is relevant to this stereotype because if there is a shift from associating trans* people with a disorder makes it seem like there is one cure. This makes it hard for those who do not want to take hormones to still be legally recognized by some states as their gender. This also leaves out the people who might not want hormones but want surgery. A lot of places require that you be on hormones for a certain period of time before you can be eligible for surgery.



Bockting, W. O. (2009). Transforming the paradigm of transgender health: a field in transition.. Sexual & Relationship Therapy, 24 (2),