5 Reasons Why Gender-Affirming Care Is Important
Today, people are increasingly aware of the importance of gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, as well as those who are questioning their gender identities. At the same time, there is a growing concern amongst the transgender community that political developments could make it even harder to access gender-affirming care in the future. For many people, finding gender-affirming care is already difficult. It is not always easy for transgender people to find doctors and therapists who understand their unique needs.
What is gender-affirming care? Why is it so important? This phrase can refer to both therapy and medical services that help transgender people live comfortably in alignment with their gender identity. Gender-affirming care spans a wide range of psychological and physical healthcare services. Let’s explore why gender-affirming care is so crucial for the transgender community.
1. The Opportunity to Explore Identities
Many people who seek gender-affirming care are not even certain about their gender identity. Nor are they sure if they want to transition in the future. But gender-affirming care represents a safe space where they can explore different possibilities, request different pronouns, and share their feelings confidentially. They can also reflect on how they might try socially transitioning and presenting themselves publicly.
2. Supporting Better Mental Health
Overall, transgender people or those who are unsure of their gender identity experience better mental health when they have access to gender-affirming care. They are at a lower risk for common mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. They are less likely to struggle with suicide ideation.
Gender-affirming care gives transgender people a place to share their feelings and discuss the challenges they’re going through without being invalidated over and over again. They do not have to defend their right to exist as who they are in these spaces.
3. Reducing Gender Dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is a deeply distressing experience for transgender people. Being unable to live in a way that reflects your true gender can make it feel as though your body and mind are out of alignment. There is a persistent discomfort in your own skin, even when it seems like you should be happy and content with your life circumstances.
Gender-affirming care can drastically reduce gender dysphoria. Depending on the individual’s specific symptoms, needs, and goals, this care might include therapy, hormone treatments, or gender-affirming surgeries.
4. Increased Self-Confidence
Many transgender people struggle with self-confidence prior to transitioning. They might feel like they are just putting on a brave face for the world. But inside, they constantly feel uncertain about who they are, or how people would react if they shared that they were questioning their gender.
Transgender people frequently struggle with low self-worth because they cannot live as their authentic selves without getting the care they need. When they finally do begin gender-affirming care, they might have a sense of pride in themselves and hope for a brighter future.
5. Body Acceptance and Positivity
For lots of transgender people, body confidence can feel like an unobtainable goal. The idea of looking in a mirror and being content with the person looking back at you can seem impossible. But with gender-affirming care, many transgender people can achieve body neutrality. This entails a lack of negative judgments about their bodies.
Body positivity does not need to be upheld as the ultimate goal. Many cisgender people struggle with celebrating their bodies, too. However, some transgender people do end up embracing body positivity through gender-affirming care, after many years of feeling negatively about their bodies.
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