Gender Nonconformity and Transgender Mental Health
    Gender nonconformity is the expression of gender characteristics that are socially
    and culturally associated with the opposite sex. Gender roles, femininity, and
    masculinity are concepts that have social and cultural meaning and agreement.
    Because male gender roles and masculinity are culturally more restrictive than
    femininity (women can wear pants, but men can't wear skirts) gender
    nonconformity (femininity) in boys, whether straight or gay, is often treated as more
    serious and results in stronger rejection compared with gender nonconformity
    (masculinity) in girls. Gay, Lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth and adults,
    who express gender-atypical characteristics, are more apt to be targeted for
    hostility and discrimination.

    Compared with gender-conforming men or women, who express strong gender
    roles, gender identification, including fathering/mothering, and investment in power
    and social hierarchies, gender-atypical men, women, gays, Lesbians, and
    especially transgender folk, experience the following:

  • More childhood trauma and sexual abuse
  • More verbal and physical abuse
  • Raped by relatives and/or lovers more frequently
  • More experiences with harassment and bi/homo/transophobia
  • Higher levels of mental distress
  • Higher levels of parental and peer rejection
  • Higher levels of fear and attachment anxiety
  • Higher risk of eating disorders
  • Higher body dissatisfaction
  • Higher suicide attempts
  • Feeling different, lonely, depressed, stressed, and victimized
  • Loss of social support
  • Lower self-esteem

    To protect themselves, boys, especially, are conditioned and learn to "pass" within
    the construction of socially defined gender expression. Those who don't "pass" are
    more likely to be afflicted with parental discouragement, self-esteem issues, social
    rejection, harassment, hostility, abuse, and even death.

    The experience of gender nonconformity, sexism, and homophobia, listed above
    may result in unresolved trauma, PTSD, generalized anxiety, relationship fears, or
    ineffective coping mechanisms. In counseling, it is important to pay attention to
    gender expression and its psychosocial consequences. Childhood gender
    nonconformity appears to play a role in the long term-mental health issues for
    men, especially gay men and male-to-female (M-to-F) trangender women. Gender
    affirming and supportive counseling is an important adjunct to a healthy and
    positive life.

    Don't wait for your challenges to become overwhelming or self-
    destructive.  Seek and get help NOW!

GLOW Counseling can help with a variety of mental health and sexuality issues:

Click here for information on sex and internet porn addiction in my Denver, mental health practice.
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Click here for more on women's mental health issues in my Denver psychotherapy practice.
Click here for more on men's mental health issues in my Denver psychotherapy practice.
Click here for more on GLBT mental health issues in my Denver Gay psychotherapy practice.
Click here for more on GLBT domestic abuse and violence in my Denver Gay therapy practice.

CALL NOW! For a free, confidential, phone consultation: 303-399-2314
3500 E. 17th Ave., #3, Denver, Colorado,  80206--info@glowcounseling.com
GLOW Counseling
Moshe Rozdzial, LPC
Denver, Colorado

Growth, Liberation, Opportunity & Well-being
Psychotherapy for emotional, sexual, spiritual, and mental health
Gender Non-conformity and  Transgender Mental Health
HOME
GLOW Counseling: Denver, Colorado, psychotherapy, sex therapy, and mental health
"youth and adults,
who express
gender-atypical
characteristics, are
more apt to be
targeted for
hostility and
discrimination"
CALL or E-MAIL NOW! For a free consultation:
303-399-2314  or  info@glowcounseling.com