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T-Notes

#1.The Mid-Life Awakening

  By By Anne Vitale Ph.D. -- Mar 17, 2022

Notes on Gender Role Transition
By Anne Vitale Ph.D.

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T Note #6

The Mid-Life Awakening
September 6, 1997

Although seeing gender dysphoric clients who are in mid life is not new to me, the recent increase in genetic males who are in their late forties and early fifties coming in to work on their gender issues is too large to simply ignore. Why the sudden increase? Is there a special profile associated with this group? What have they been doing about their problem all these years? Is it too late to do anything about it? In this Note, I'll pass on what I have learned about this phenomenon and some of the results of my work with these individuals.

One of the first questions I ask when doing an intake interview is: "How were you referred to me"? The most common answer I get these days is they he...
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T-Notes

#2.Sexism in the Male-to-Female Transsexual

  By By Anne Vitale Ph.D. -- Mar 17, 2022

Notes on Gender Role Transition
By Anne Vitale Ph.D.

T NOTE #7

Sexism in the Male-to-Female Transsexual
October 16, 1997

One of the most interesting aspects I have found in my work with genetic males struggling with deep seated gender dysphoria is ingrained sexism. Although it would seem to be completely out of place in this population, the fact that it is present and present almost exclusively in genetic males tells us a great deal about how some men feel about femininity and about aspects of the nature of gender dysphoria.

As a general rule, the men I am speaking about present for therapy appearing decidedly male, often to the point of wearing full beards. In addition, they are more often then non-sexist males who present to be married, to have children, and to have never considered having a homosexual experience. Outside...
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T-Notes

#3.Relationships: The Bane and the Promise

  By Anne M. Vitale PhD -- Mar 17, 2022

Notes on Gender Role Transition
Anne M. Vitale PhD

T Note #8

Relationships: The Bane and the Promise
.April 10,1998

Relationships are both the risk and the hope for people dealing with crossdressing and gender issues. Recognition by parents, a spouse, children, significant others and friends as the gender they feel themselves to be is extremely important. Ultimately, it is the need to relate honestly with the rest of humanity that eventually forces people to admit first to themselves and then to others that they have a gender identity issue. That all should go well in making that revelation is the hope. The risk is that the almost overwhelming fear of losing friends and family and becoming absolutely alone in life will be realized.

In all my years of working with people with Gender Identity Disorder, it is clear now that th...
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T-Notes

#4.Primary and Secondary Transsexualism--Myths and Facts

  By -- Mar 17, 2022

Notes on Gender Role Transition

By Anne Vitale Ph.D.

T NOTE #9

Primary and Secondary Transsexualism--Myths and Facts
January 22, 2000

It is with dismay that I continue to encounter individuals with gender identity issues using the terms Primary and Secondary Transsexualism as diagnostic indicators. The terms show up repeatedly in Internet chat rooms, in the Internet news groups, in my email, and by individuals presenting to me in my private practice. The individuals who self-identify as Primary Transsexuals are usually using the term to mean that they are "Benjamin Type VI, true transsexuals." Those who self-identify as Secondary Transsexuals are usually trying to diminish their condition and to find some way to deal with their gender dysphoria without having to face the possibility of transitioning. As we shall soon see...
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T-Notes

#5.Emergence--a danger filled, critical time in a transsexual's life

  By Anne Vitale PhD, Editor -- Mar 17, 2022

Notes on Gender Role Transition
Anne Vitale PhD, Editor
T NOTE #11

Emergence--a danger filled, critical time in a transsexual's life


By Anne Vitale Ph.D.

July 18, 2002

Emergence is a term entomologist use to describe that period in an aquatic insect's life when it leaves the relative safety of its birth place at the bottom of a stream or lake, rises through the water column, confronts the surface tension barrier and, if successful, passes thorough to become an airborne adult. It is a danger filled, critical time in the life of these animals.

I am borrowing this term to describe a similarly danger filled, critical time in a transsexual's life. However, unlike the insect, the beginning and end of a transsexual's emergence is vague and harder to describe. Roughly it starts when the individual ...
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