An opaquely written Harvard study and linked press release prompted false reporting that gynecomastia surgeries for boys are vastly more common than gender-affirming surgeries for trans kids.
I use the word "male" twice: once to describe the male identity of cisgender males getting gynecomastia surgery, and again to describe trans males getting top surgery. Anyone who finds the term "trans male" impossibly confusing could be asked to simply remember the notion of "opposites day" from childhood and proceed accordingly. These are not difficult concepts.
You could you the more accurate phrase “trans identifying male/female”. Given that biological sex never changes, this phrase is easy to understand, accurate, and doesn’t erroneously validate terms like “cis”.
We do not need a word for someone who is not suffering from gender dysphoria.
I agree with Steve and have the same distaste for those phrases, but I also understand that you need to use those terms to communicate what is going on without sounding like a complete crank.
As a complete crank myself, I would use "self-inflicted medical mutilation" rather than GAC, and I would stick to male/female, boy/girl, man/woman based on the sex of the person and not their self-proclaimed gender identity. But, in addition to being a complete crank, I'm not a journalist :-)
I know this has been a point of contention before, but as recent Olympic shenanigans have reminded us, specificity and precision of language really matters here.
"whether these were double mastectomies (known as “top surgery,” conducted on trans males), breast augmentations (for trans females)"
A trans male, i.e. a male who is trans, would not get a double mastectomy. A trans man, i.e. a man who is trans, and is therefore female, would get a double mastectomy.
Similarly, a trans male needs to have their prostate checked, as they're male. A trans man does not, as they're female and lack a prostate.
This conversation goes best when there is a clear distinction between sex (male/female) and gender (man/woman), and I think your important and valuable reporting on this issue would be that much more helpful if you maintained that distinction.
A plastic surgeon I know made another observation that I think is relevant to this discussion of relative frequencies, and what labels to use. He said that by far, the most common surgery he was called upon to do was breast reduction surgeries for middle-aged women who had a variety of physical problems associated with having very large breasts, including back pain. (Being a small-breasted woman, these problems never even occurred to me. ) This is another whole category to put into the mix. The desire for this surgery has nothing to do with gender dysphoria.
Apart from this addition, I found this a very helpful breakdown of the stats. I am inclined to agree that the obfuscation is deliberate.
The obvious difference is that a double mastectomy removes the breasts’ milk ducts thus preventing their use for their biological purpose. A reduction or augmentation for cosmetic purposes does not prevent the breasts from functioning.
It also often disconnects the nipples. So even if some milk ducts remain, the milk has no way to get out. Prisha Mosley, who recently had a baby and had top surgery as a youth but later detransitioned, has reported that this is extremely painful.
It is quite common for women who have had breast reductions for cosmetic purposes or other medical concerns i.e. back pain from the weight, skin rashes, to have issues with breastfeeding as a result.
These people (Hobbes and Turban and their ilk) deliberately mislead. I’m been trying to convince myself otherwise but I can’t seem to come to any other conclusion.
The use of the terms “gender affirming surgeries” and “cisgender boys” really grinds my gears.
You're going to need to cope, Steve. I needed to use those words to reflect what was in the paper.
I get it.
Even worse is the word “males” when you are discussing females and vice versa.
I use the word "male" twice: once to describe the male identity of cisgender males getting gynecomastia surgery, and again to describe trans males getting top surgery. Anyone who finds the term "trans male" impossibly confusing could be asked to simply remember the notion of "opposites day" from childhood and proceed accordingly. These are not difficult concepts.
You could you the more accurate phrase “trans identifying male/female”. Given that biological sex never changes, this phrase is easy to understand, accurate, and doesn’t erroneously validate terms like “cis”.
We do not need a word for someone who is not suffering from gender dysphoria.
I agree with Steve and have the same distaste for those phrases, but I also understand that you need to use those terms to communicate what is going on without sounding like a complete crank.
As a complete crank myself, I would use "self-inflicted medical mutilation" rather than GAC, and I would stick to male/female, boy/girl, man/woman based on the sex of the person and not their self-proclaimed gender identity. But, in addition to being a complete crank, I'm not a journalist :-)
I know this has been a point of contention before, but as recent Olympic shenanigans have reminded us, specificity and precision of language really matters here.
"whether these were double mastectomies (known as “top surgery,” conducted on trans males), breast augmentations (for trans females)"
A trans male, i.e. a male who is trans, would not get a double mastectomy. A trans man, i.e. a man who is trans, and is therefore female, would get a double mastectomy.
Similarly, a trans male needs to have their prostate checked, as they're male. A trans man does not, as they're female and lack a prostate.
This conversation goes best when there is a clear distinction between sex (male/female) and gender (man/woman), and I think your important and valuable reporting on this issue would be that much more helpful if you maintained that distinction.
A plastic surgeon I know made another observation that I think is relevant to this discussion of relative frequencies, and what labels to use. He said that by far, the most common surgery he was called upon to do was breast reduction surgeries for middle-aged women who had a variety of physical problems associated with having very large breasts, including back pain. (Being a small-breasted woman, these problems never even occurred to me. ) This is another whole category to put into the mix. The desire for this surgery has nothing to do with gender dysphoria.
Apart from this addition, I found this a very helpful breakdown of the stats. I am inclined to agree that the obfuscation is deliberate.
The obvious difference is that a double mastectomy removes the breasts’ milk ducts thus preventing their use for their biological purpose. A reduction or augmentation for cosmetic purposes does not prevent the breasts from functioning.
It also often disconnects the nipples. So even if some milk ducts remain, the milk has no way to get out. Prisha Mosley, who recently had a baby and had top surgery as a youth but later detransitioned, has reported that this is extremely painful.
It is quite common for women who have had breast reductions for cosmetic purposes or other medical concerns i.e. back pain from the weight, skin rashes, to have issues with breastfeeding as a result.
Hey guys is there any good blog post on substat critiquing to yell integrity's project on the cash review
Yale’s “Integrity Project” Is Spreading Misinformation About The Cass Review And Youth Gender Medicine
Part 1 of a two-parter that is not going to increase your faith in highly credentialed experts
https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/yales-integrity-project-is-spreading
Thanks man I have a question will you ever write a book on this topic
These people (Hobbes and Turban and their ilk) deliberately mislead. I’m been trying to convince myself otherwise but I can’t seem to come to any other conclusion.