Quote:Your position suggests it's a conscious choice without underlying factors or influence.  Certainly our society is becoming increasingly tolerant of non-conventional behavior, but simple acceptance proves little.  We're not just talking about dress and mannerisms, we're talking about a person altering his/her gender through chemicals and surgical procedures.  

 

How drastic must a physical alteration be before a person choosing to undergo such a transformation is considered mentally ill?   Is there a point at which the desire and willingness to do so indicates a deeper problem?

 

A better question might be why mental illness, instead of just a different mental state? There seems to be a mindset here that if it defies one's sense of reason, there must be something wrong.

 

The person I mentioned above is rational, responsible and intelligent. She works hard, takes care of her family. Yes, she takes a low dose of hormones, and has undergone breast augmentation and laser treatments to remove facial hair. Is that any more a sign of mental illness than a person undergoing cosmetic surgery? i don't see all that as altering her gender as much as manipulating her physical appearance. At the very worst it's vanity, not insanity.

 

If she is mentally ill, the world could use more mentally ill people like her.

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