My face is clearing up! I've noticed a conciderable difference from the last picture I posted 8 days ago. I also got a haircut which makes me look less greasy in general. I had a little bit of a cold this week so I've had to force myself to lay low. I feel much better today than yesterday, so that's a plus. Next tuesday I have chemo, which is always a good time. Yesterday I stumbled across this frightening article. (I say frightening because it brings up so many issues, both medically and emotionally, that are hard for anyone to wrap their minds around.) I wasn't going to comment on it, but I feel like I'm posting it so I should.
Pregnant Transman
So what do I think?
It's difficult for me because I want to say good for him. Way to be secure enough with who you are enough to defy every gender boundry known. However, I can't do that. Knowing what I know about the effects of testosterone on a female's reproductive system, I am astounded that his eggs were able to be inseminated. I was reading that there has been countless studies about the effect of testosterone on a fetus and the findings aren't good. More likely than not the child will be intersexed, first of all, among other abnormalities. Psychologically and physically I can't imagine being on testosterone for 8 years, going off it, and having the hormonal influx of a pregnant woman. This situation brings up so many ethical questions as well. Okay, so now we've proven that a "man" can give birth. But should we do it? As someone said in a group I'm in, will the child have to find out in school that humans aren't like seahorses and it's the female of the species that usually give birth? Does his name go on the birth certificate as the mother, and if so, where does his wive's name go? Here we are, questioning the gender markers of simple words such as mother and father. Because technically this man is the mother, because the mother gives birth in our society and therefore has maternal rights.
I'm giving myself a headache ;P
Okay, so I'm going to play my own devil's advocate. I mentioned before that the years of testosterone probably messed up his reproductive system enough to cause birth defects. In a heterosexual "normal" birth, women encounter possibilities for birth defects all the time, whether she's a smoker, it runs in the family, they found the gene for Downs Syndrome, etc. So am I advocating that these women shouldn't give birth? No. These women also don't identify as men, which is what I struggle with.
I identify as a transman. What does that mean? I was born with a female body and I am taking testosterone to correct my hormones. My brain is wired as male. I present myself as male and live my life as such. Men are not wired to have babies, therefore I consider myself not wired to have babies. I did not harvest any of my eggs before beginning hormone treatment and I don't regret that.
This entire issue is much bigger than "Society says women have babies and men don't," because it's not just society: It's science. It's nature. I'm all for being liberal and to each his own, but I have a hard time wrapping my mind around something that literally flips everything on it's head. I think a lot of transpeople are afraid that this situation will do bad things for the community, and people will think "LOOK! They can procreate now! Now they can make more of themselves and TAKE OVER!!" I'm all for pushing the envelope, but when is it too far? I'd love any opinions on this matter because obviously it's taking up a lot of my brain.
And to Thomas Beatie, Congratulations on your baby. I hope everything works out and she is happy and healthy. I'm sure you will make a great parent.
