I was watching this fascinating video lecture by a neurobiology professor and the brain regions that are dimorphic and are correlated with expressions of male and female gender alignment; but the comments devolved on accusations of "trans medicalism". My assumption is that this is an accusation of boiling down transgenderism to sex-characteristics as expressed through the brain, and the possibility of "testing" that would deny transgenderness if the person doesn't have these correlating sizes previously identified in research.
Am I missing something?
So medical professionals & scientists obviously don't have the end claim on the experience of their patient (early pain research on women, black, independent folks more than indicate that) and what are folks supposed to do if they need to 'pander' or 'placate' professionals for appropriate care, medication, etc.?
Does it look like another profession, which is more socially involved rather than versed in technical expertise? Medical intervention will always lag behind and be conservative (since we are always learning new stuff) and so it is secondary to an individual or groups situation. You know of anything that makes it so there isn't like a 'single gatekeeper'?
For my mental disorders I was lucky enough to get diagnosed and so far have care from a physician, and the waitlist for a psychiatrist who are the only ones allowed to explore other treatment options is super long. I get they have great technical expertise, and cmon, it's been years and I have a sense there can be a stop-gap between 'super cold/distant medical person' and 'frontline empathetic social worker'...
From what I've heard, many trans people do exactly that - ie, describe how they feel gender dysphoria even if they don't. Over time I think more and more people will be pro trans and over time the doctors who deal with it will learn more and someday trans people won't have to do that when seeking care - but we live in a time where many doctors don't want to provide trans health care at all, and only do so because they can get in trouble for discrimination if they don't, so I say say what you need to say.
thankfully DIY options exist at the minimum, and a strong community of support among trans people.