Article Review: Gender dysphoria and gender identity

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[. . .] Obviously, Sara/Sawyer considered himself a girl even though her biological sex was male. Internally, she felt as if she were female and thus lived and reacted as such. As noted earlier in this article review and summary, there is a mental illness angle to the concept and definition of mental disorder. However, it has shifted from being a malady to something that causes pain and distress. Indeed, rather than the life and identity of the person being considered "wrong" or anomalous, there is instead the concept of how their gender confusion and problems cause them problems and not that they're acting in an improper way. For example, bipolar disorder is itself a mental disease and the disease itself AND the consequences it causes are both considered to be problems that should be addressed. In the case of gender dysphoria, only the latter of those two things is considered the problem. The confusion and gender issues are not irrelevant but the real issue to be addressed are the social, mental and other things that are caused as a result of the ignorance about gender confusion and the internal strife that people with gender dysphoria undergo (Yarhouse, 2015).

The overall number of people that have gender dysphoria is actually pretty low. Overall, the rate is one in every 215 to one in every 300. The number of transsexual adults is rather microscopic overall, coming in at about 0.005 to 0.014% of men to about 0.002 to 0.003% of women. Of course, so many of the people that are undergoing gender dysphoria would not dare reveal this to anyone else, let alone a clinician, counselor or doctor. As such, these numbers are almost certainly less than what is really going on in terms of prevalence and rates. For this and many other reasons, there are absolutely gaps when it comes to the research. Just one major example is how and when to intervene when it becomes clear that gender dysphoria might be in play. The article being reviewed in this report uses the example of a young child who acts like he has long hair and that fashions a towel to look like a dress. In the end, the vast majority of children who behave in such a way end up being completely fine. Indeed, it can just be a phase or due to something other than gender dysphoria. For sure, not every man (or teen) that dresses up in drag is the least bit confused about their sexuality or gender identity. However, there are people that remain confused and conflicted and there are four main ways in which this all concludes or continues. Those would be the person living in the manner that is expected of their biological sex, they engage in cross-gender behavior on an intermittent basis, they adopt a cross-gender role through sexual reassignment (like Sara did) or they remain conflicted and the matter remains unresolved (Yarhouse, 2015).

Truly assisting and helping people from a Christian perspective when it comes to gender dysphoria would and should include several distinct approaches or "lenses", as staed by the article. Those lenses would be integrity, disability and diversity. Integrity is about seeing maleness and femaleness "stamped" into one body. Disability is about the prospect of living with gender dysphoria in a "fallen world". Diversity is about how these people are still children or God and are just a different manifestation of his glory and creation (Yarhouse, 2015).


Just one way that we can be sensitive and caring is to refer to people with their desired gender pronoun. In the case of Sara, many might be inclined to refer to Sara as a "he" or "him" since he was born as a biological male. However, it is common practice in journalistic and other circles to refer to her as Sara and as a "she", to at least be respectful and mindful rather than combative and confronting. Even if there is apprehension and confusion over what gender dysphoria is and how to address or handle interactions about the subject, being nasty or hostile is not a Christian way to behave.


Yarhouse, M. (2015). Understanding the Transgender Phenomenon. Retrieved 26

January 2017, from [END OF PREVIEW]

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Cite This Article Review:

APA Format

Gender dysphoria and gender identity.  (2017, January 26).  Retrieved November 20, 2019, from

MLA Format

"Gender dysphoria and gender identity."  26 January 2017.  Web.  20 November 2019. <>.

Chicago Format

"Gender dysphoria and gender identity."  January 26, 2017.  Accessed November 20, 2019.