The Plight of Transgenders: Trans Women Are Women!
Nature is incredible and beautiful. From bacteria to protozoa, from fungi to plants, from animals to humans, there is so much diversity. Even within biological groups and phyla, females and males exist, a biological distinction necessary to continue the reproductive cycle. Both female and male function slightly differently at a physiological, morphological, anatomical and histologically, with different hormones, organ structures and body shapes and completely unidentical reproductive systems, but no one is more or less superior to each other.
Within the female-male binary, biological sex is not fixed but exists on a spectrum. There are gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual and asexual individuals. However, since it is trans awareness week, we shall be centering trans women and men! So, if you are a transgender reading this, celebrate your "genderhood"!
The Biological Sex and the Gender Identity
When you are inside your mother's womb undergoing development through the stages of pregnancy, one important aspect is determined: will you be a girl or a boy? At the cell level, the X-Y chromosome pair decides this. If your chromosome pair is XX, congratulations, you are biologically a girl! If you are XY, congratulations again, you are biologically a boy! In simple terms, this is something assigned to you: your biological sex.
Gender identity, in simple terms, is what you feel. "I am a boy biologically but I identify a girl." Many might disagree, arguing that gender is a social construct. This is not an entirely wrong statement either; biology alone does not explain the real struggle, social systems do. Gendered expectations like women should cook and men should earn are social, not biological. But this is an incomplete picture as this understanding confuses gender identity with gender as a social construct. Certain biological factors, combined with neurological factors, influence your gender identity and even sexual orientation, that is, whom you are sexually attracted to. Sometimes gender identity matches with the biological sex and sexual orientation involves opposite sex attraction, that is, the individual is cis. Other times, the picture is more complex.
Why Are Some People Trans
There is no definitive answer, as research is still ongoing, but here is what we know:
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As mentioned above, gender identity is an innate, deeply held sense of one's own gender.
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Genetics: A correlation has been observed, especially in twin studies, showing a higher concordance rate among identical twins as compared to unidentical ones.
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Brain structure: Over time, scientists have discovered that trans individuals' brain structures are similar to the gender they identify with. A trans man's brain might resemble the brain of a cis man.
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Hormonal environment: The hormonal environment in the womb during embryonic and fetal stages impacts gender identity during crucial stages of development.
How Do Transgenders Transition?
You must have heard of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Trans women use estrogen and anti-androgens to spark femininity and suppress masculine features respectively. This is known as feminizing HRT. Masculinizing HRT, on the other hand, involves testosterone to embrace masculinity.
Similarly, there are surgical methods to induce transitions. For trans women: Facial feminization surgery alters facial bone structure. Voice feminizing surgery raises voice pitch. Chondrolaryngoplasty reduces the Adam's apple. Breast augmentation is performed. Orchiectomy removes the testicles. Vaginoplasty creates a vagina. For trans men: Mastectomy removes breast tissue which is followed by chest reconstruction. Hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy involve surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries/oviduct respectively.
Some individuals also undergo voice therapy and hair growth or removal procedures.
Trans Politics
Historically, transgender individuals have faced social stigma and isolation all around the world. Lack of knowledge is one of the reasons. Even today, if a boy opens up that he identifies as a girl, or vice versa, in the worst case, he is kicked out of the house by his own parents. Only if those parents took the possibility of their child being a potential rapist or pedophile this seriously...
The belief that trans identity is unnatural is often motivated by religion. Right wing politicians exploit people's emotions with slogans like "we do not want men in women's bathrooms!" Trump popularized the "no men in women's sports," referencing Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer who is ironically a woman by birth, weaponizing the claims of "male biology" despite the IOC clearing her; she just has a stronger physique. I wonder where this sudden concern for women's safety comes from though, when the topic is trans... or immigrants!
Violence against Transgenders
Are Transgenders Mentally Ill?
Trans people experience gender dysphoria, which is distress due to inconsistency between their gender identity and biological sex. But transgenders are not mentally ill inherently. But transphobes love bringing this up, explaining why one should not "choose" to be trans because of mental health issues like this. Now, it is true that trans people suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. But gender dysphoria is not even the main reason behind this. In fact, the surgical or hormonal treatments mentioned above are often opted for to combat and control gender dysphoria. The same people who cite mental health concerns are the ones who bully and harass trans people. Even at homes, conservative parents offer no emotional support. As mentioned earlier, trans individuals may be abandoned and families stop talking to them. In India, for instance, many trans folks rely on begging or ritualistic soliciting, as they are not accepted in society or the workplace despite the government of India recognizing trans as a third gender. You see? Class, gender, gender identity, race, culture; Everything intersects!
Globally, as per a 2023 meta-analysis, 29% of transgenders have attempted suicide. Other studies suggest that the percentage lies between 32 to 50%, with 41% for the USA. In Indore, India, in October 2025, 24 trans people attempted suicide over a monetary dispute.
Are Transgenders Unnatural?
By now, it must be clear that there is nothing unnatural or even immoral about being transgender. Morality involves choosing to do good or bad deeds. As a trans person, you have no choice; you are just born like that. Even animals show characteristics of trans behaviors, if that makes transphobes feel any better!
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Some lionesses are known to show masculine traits, both physical, like manes and behavioral, like roaring.
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Some male bird species, like the peacock, display female-like plumage for a period after they mature. The reason, however, is to avoid aggression from older male birds.
Want to know some more? We have animals who can transition their sex, without any surgery:
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Clownfish: Born male, they change gender to female if the dominant female in the school dies.
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Slipper Limpets: These snails switch from male to female, a transition triggered by physical contact.
You think that is the limit of nature? We have annelids like earthworms with both male and female reproductive systems.
Feminists and Trans Rights
In general, trans individuals suffer under the same patriarchal system, the same system that has been devastating for women for centuries, for not meeting the social gender expectations. Feminists are therefore supportive of the trans cause, whether it is trans woman, trans man or a nonbinary individual who identifies as trans. Intersectional feminists, in particular, highlight how sexism and transphobia amplify each other. Laxmi Narayan Tripathi is an Indian transgender rights activist, dancer, and actress. She was the first transgender person to represent the Asia Pacific at the UN in 2008. Sarah McBride is the former press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign and now a state senator in Delaware. She is the first transgender person to hold a state senatorial seat in the US.
On the other side of the coin, however, are TERFs, an acronym coined by Viv Smythe which means trans-exclusionary radical feminist. Smythe is a TIRF (trans-inclusive radical feminist) herself. TERFs hold the view that trans identity reinforces traditional gender roles, and many mirror the same conservative views, claiming "a man cannot be a woman." Let us be clear: TERFs are fundamentally misguided in their analysis as they confuse gender identity with gender as a social construct. Gender as a social construct can and must be abolished, but gender identity cannot be erased due to the very biological basis it holds. Once again, trans people are not trans by choice. It is something they feel from inside, neither does the trans identity inherently reinforce gender roles. It is up to the trans individuals what they want to do.
Some Trans-Inclusive Policies
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Malta: A leader in LGBTQ+ rights in Europe, Malta passed the Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act of 2015, which allows for legal gender change based on self-determination.
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Canada: The Canadian Human Rights Act, Bill C-16, and the Criminal Code prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. No surgery is required for legal gender change.
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Netherlands: Provides access to gender-affirming healthcare with no need to undergo surgery to change legal gender.
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Taiwan: Known for high levels of social acceptance and legal protections for trans individuals.
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US: Some states, specifically coastal ones, show higher social acceptance of trans individuals.
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Iran: Yes, Iran too, the government recognizes transgender individuals. However, there are legal and social repercussions. Individuals have to transition surgically, which is government funded too. Also, forced medications are widely criticized. It is definitely not the same as other governments, but it is coming from a theocracy like Iran! Being gay is where they draw the line though.
In the above map, purple resembles legal, pink resembles legal after surgery, red resembles illegal, deep red resembles legal in theory, de facto illegal
Final Thoughts
Trans individuals face discrimination, violence, and systemic exclusion simply for existing authentically. Trans women, in particular, face a double burden: transphobia and misogyny. They are denied jobs, housing, healthcare and basic dignity. They are murdered at alarming rates, especially trans women of color. Yet they continue to fight for their right to exist. The argument that "trans women are not women" is not based on science, biology or compassion. It is based on fear, ignorance and a rigid attachment to gender norms that harms everyone. Biology is not binary; it is a spectrum. Gender is not a costume; it is an identity. And humanity is not defined by chromosomes but by our capacity to recognize and respect the dignity of all people. Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are valid. And anyone who stands against their rights stands against human rights. So on this trans awareness week and every week after, remember that liberation is not complete until it includes everyone. Abolish the patriarchy, dismantle transphobia and build a world where everyone can live authentically without fear.
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