In 2016, a controversial bill was signed in Georgia, banning transgender individuals from using restrooms designated for the sex with which they identify. In the wake of this legislation, Between the (Gender) Lines: The Science of Transgender Identity explored what was known at the time about transgender identity, discussing scientific evidence for its biological bases, as well as the social and psychological ramifications of binary gender classifications. Regrettably, both the text and the figures in this article were being abused by those seeking to support their own beliefs. As such, we decided to remove this article in 2021 to prevent its further misappropriation by individuals and groups seeking to oversimplify this complex subject and promote views that lack a scientific basis.
We still believe in the value of rigorous scientific research about transgender identity and encourage you to read the published, peer-reviewed studies that we cited in the original article if you are interested in learning more about this topic (linked below):
- Transsexuality among twins: Identity concordance, transition, rearing, and orientation
- A sex difference in the human brain and its relation to transsexuality
- Male-to-female transsexuals have female neuron numbers in a limbic nucleus
- A sex difference in the hypothalamic uncinate nucleus: relationship to gender identity
- Changing your sex changes your brain: influence of testosterone and estrogen on adult human brain structure
- Regional gray matter variation in male-to-female transsexualism
- White matter microstructure in female to male transsexuals before cross-sex hormone treatment: A diffusion tensor imaging study
- The (CA)n polymorphism of ERβ gene is associated with FtM Transsexualism
- Should transvestic fetishism be classified in DSM 5? Recommendations from the WPATH consensus process for revision of the diagnosis of transvestic fetishism
We also encourage you to explore additional resources on this topic:
- For a SITN blog article discussing sex determination, check out “I’m XY and I Know It”: Sex determination systems 101
- For a quantitative view of transgenderism in the US, take a look at this analysis from Times Union
- For a review of discrimination against transgender persons, see this report from the National Center for Transgender Equality
- For a more complete discussion on queer acronyms, see this description from BBC news
- For an in-depth look at how disagreements over restroom usage has shaped policy, check out this Politico article
Sincerely,
The SITN editorial team
It is really useful content, as it is cover all main points in it’s post. The best content I’ve to read today.
informative and helpful article.
very useful article keep it up.
“Regrettably, we decided to remove this article in 2021 to prevent its misappropriation … ”
It is indeed regrettable that Harvard pulled this article. Thanks for the alternative links, but this censorship is a problem in itself. If misappropriation and misunderstanding by ignorant people is a reason to stop publishing research, we’ll be back in the Middle Ages any day now.
It is sad they had to remove the article due to bigots and all misappropriating things they don’t really understand
Please bring back the original article, I feel like it was a good beginner intro to the basics of gender and sex.
How were the subjects selected?
Are there any statements about the psychological profile of the test subjects and their habitus?
Very helpful and informative. Thank you
Its very useful and quality base article. thanks a lot. Kindly post like this.
Thank you again
i don’t know what to say…
So which is it, transgender women have brains like cisgender men or gender isn’t binary?
The studies conducted in 1995 and 2000 by two different independent teams of researchers found that transgender women (i.e. male-to-female transsexuals) had a brain structure in both size and cell density more closely resembling that of cisgender women than cisgender men; and vice-versa transgender men (female-to-male transsexuals) had a brain structure in both size and cell density more closely cisgender men than cisgender women. Meaning transgender women have brains more closely aligned with cisgender women.
Interestingly, since the publishing of this article, the study of transgender brains has expanded to include teenagers with gender dysphoria. As reported by Dr Julie Bakker, from the University of Liège, Belgium, the research team found evidence that transgender teenagers with gender dysphoria show functional brain characteristics that are typical of their desired gender.
Reference: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180524112351.htm
Are there any numbers on the examinations? Unfortunately I could not find a corresponding link.
What would be important for me is the following information:
How many
-Trans women
-Trans men
-Cis women
-Cismans
were examined?
What age were the respective test subjects?
How long were estrogen and testosterone taken in the trans group and in the comparable cis group? In what doses and from what age and about what period of time?
How were the subjects selected?
Are there any statements about the psychological profile of the test subjects and their habitus?
Were the cis women more feminine or did they contain a spectrum from feminine to very masculine?
The same goes for the cis men?
Can one see the original brain screens and not just the schematic representations?
Is there some way to get this information?
I would be very grateful for an answer.
With best regards
Maxima