What Makes People Transgender?
The short answer is - we don’t know, however; Evidence has shown there are genuine, measurable differences between transgender people and their cisgender counterparts.
Scientific research has the power to enhance many lives, but can also do exactly the opposite if not handled properly. Although looking into the science behind what makes people trans can be fascinating, it does raise a question: what do we really need to know?
A bioessentialist view, is the idea that biology plays are larger role in determining human psychology or development than social, economic, or environmental factors. Ref. 3JVD3YTTFD
While biology may be an important component to the transgender experience, the problem with bioessentialism is that describing transgender people purely as a quirk of nature, may also set the precedent that it can be altered and “repaired”. This could put it’s subjects through damaging experiences, worsen social stigma, and contribute little to the quality of life for transgender people.
What we know now, is that transgender people exist. Research with a focus on better treatment may prove to be a healthier and more beneficial pathway in the long run.
Some Avenues Of Research
Genetics
There appear to be significant genetic differences between transgender and cisgender people. Ref. YAOKYLJJYL
Research has also shown that identical twins are more likely to share the same chances of developing gender dysphoria compared to other types of siblings, which could be another indicator that there is a significant genetic component to the development of gender identity - Ref. VCCUMZSIND | Ref. LHMXZKETEJ.
For reference:
- Dizygotic twins - Ref. RLCKACZYNS
- Monozygotic (identical) twins - Ref. RNLREQCBVI
This paper: Ref. GBDSZWBMHB, also shows a correlation within non-twin siblings, albeit at a lower frequency than that of identical twins.
Phthalate Exposure
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable and flexible, also known as plasticisers. These chemicals leech out of some plastics during the ageing process and end up in our waterways and food - Ref. SOCWCPXWZO.
There is some evidence to suggest that in-utero exposure to phthalates could disrupt the sexual development of a fetus prior to it’s birth. Alongside this, phthalates can lead to an increase in total fetal testosterone levels, which in turn increases the chance of the fetus developing an autism spectrum disorder as well as gender dysphoria. - Ref. LQPQUXYYPU
Although this may be an interesting concept, it has been noted that this is a controversial topic within the scientific community and more research in the area is needed. Ref. DRERWKAJZG
Brain Structure &/or Chemistry
Neuroplasticity refers to our brain’s ability to grow and adapt, where after certain experiences, repetition and time the brain is able to physically rewire itself.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are multiple studies indicating that transgender people’s brain structure is often skewed towards their gender. Although interesting, this is somewhere that the adaptable nature of our brains works against us - we can never know whether those differences in a person’s brain are the cause or consequence of a person’s experiences.
Nonetheless, these differences do exist, and have shown in a few studies over the years. Some further reading:
Transgender People & Autism
There is a strong correlation between a person having an autism spectrum disorder and being transgender. Statistically, a person is between roughly 3 - 6 times more likely to question their gender if they are autistic - Ref. HSCMFYCIER | Ref. CNQHDXYBIS. This is a staggering statistic, and while it may be tempting to assume that there is a causal link between the two conditions it is important to note that there are significant social differences for neurodivergent people which must be considered.
One proposed explanation is that a person with autism may struggle to conform to societal norms, thus, making them more likely to question the societal expectations of which gender expression are no small part. Ref. WMDIMCXGAJ
Why Is Research In This Field So Complicated?
You may often hear people say: “has been proven by science”, or “science has shown XYZ to be true” but when we dig deeper we often find that the truth to be more complicated. Theories we draw from data are nothing more than a model used to try and understand that data more clearly, and as a result there are inherent philosophical limits to what “knowledge” itself actually means.
It’s this falsifiable nature of science that remains at the core of all valid scientific research. If a claim isn’t falsifiable, it can’t be tested - and without testing, any ‘data’ supporting it lacks scientific validity.
This also means that no matter how much data we can gather regarding the nature of transgender people, we may never understand with 100% certainty. The question of why transgender people exist spans biology, psychology, sociology, and culture, many of which are aspects simply unable to be captured easily in study. Inevitably, this means that research will always open the doors to more questions which people simply didn’t have a good enough platform of understanding to ask before - our understanding will improve, and yet comparatively little can be proven.
Ethical Practice Is A Moral Imperative
While understanding the fundamentals of the transgender experience may be appealing and potentially beneficial in developing appropriate treatment pathways, it unfortunately has the capacity to be severely harmful to it’s participants.
You could look into the following cases for further reading:
These are just a couple of examples of studies which caused vast amounts of suffering to those involved. Ultimately, the scientific community has learnt from situations like this, but a large portion of that learning revolves around the fact that studies like this can never happen again. Careful consideration and planning must go into all research to ensure the safety and well-being of the population.
The Problem With Twin Studies
When using twins in research it is also important to take into account that very often the participants are raised in the same environment. This means that although patterns may form, environmental factors may be a contributing factor as well as their genetics - Ref. PBUDDCRPQQ.
Ideally multiple sets of twins, some raised together and some raised separately, should be included in any given study, or that researchers examine the results of multiple studies together before reaching a verdict. This allows researchers to adjust for environmental factors more accurately and make better sense of any patterns which begin to form.
A Link Between Gender & Sexuality
One issue that researchers may face, is that there does appears to be a significant link between gender non-conformity and sexuality. This overlap may make it difficult to isolate traits which are specific to gender identity alone. At least one study serves to examine this: Ref. TMRGJHIYHJ.
The Sample Size Problem
Depending on the dataset you look at, transgender people only accommodate for approximately 0.5% - 1% of the population, with an approximate split down the middle for either transfeminine or transmasculine individuals (and a small group of non-binary people). This makes it particularly hard to create a study which uses an appropriately large sample size.
The Conditioning Problem
In line with neuroplasticity (mentioned here), our brain structure can be heavily influenced by the way we are conditioned - Ref. LSETHUHBUN.
Given that everyone is subject to social conditioning, almost every aspect of a person’s life may serve to alter their brain. This makes it almost impossible to study a human brain which has not been affected by their experiences in broader society.
Wrapping Things Up
It’s no big secret that science has a huge bearing on people’s lives today, no matter who they are. While scientific inquiry into transgender identity has offered some insight into it’s potential biological underpinnings, from brain structure and gene expression to prenatal hormone exposure - these pathways remain inconclusive.
As history has shown, scientific claims, however tentative, can be misused to pathologise or invalidate transgender people. Focusing too narrowly on causes may unintentionally reinforce the idea that trans identities require justification or explanation, rather than simply focusing on expanding the types of care that have already been demonstrated to be effective, and can genuinely improve people’s lives.
In the future, a more holistic, trans-informed approach to research - one that centres lived experience and prioritises harm reduction may offer a more just, and meaningful path for the future.