Throwaway to avoid getting doxxed

I know there are probably arguments against centering biology in the discussion about trans people (and if you want to make these arguments to me please do, I'm all ears), but I have found that many transphobes are brought to reflection when told that transgender feelings have a congenital basis, like homosexuality. I have been testing this. Again, I realize this might be a flawed or wrongheaded approach and I am open to criticism.

Anyway, my issue is that, while I have read some research, I do not have a strong enough grasp of the field as a whole to be forceful with this rhetoric. If I start posting studies, I might end up cherrypicking a position that is open to strong criticism.

I realize the research itself is unsettled and many questions remain, but I just want enough to inspire doubt. I want people to doubt that their current understanding of trans people is correct.

This study published in nature found correlations in the parietal lobe that might be associated with perception of one's own body, but I do not feel comfortable posting studies anywhere until I feel more confident that I know what I am talking about.

*got rid of the word "transsexual"

  • throwaway_159246837 [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago
    transphobic line of rhetoric

    the response will be "obviously two twins are going to be predisposed to the same delusions and personality flaws"

    • CrimsonSage [any]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Uhhh.... yeah it's called genetics. That response is just a person being a bigoted asshole. Twin studies are all about controlling for genetic variation to determine what traits hold regardless of environmental factors. This is a method used to test everything from mental health to metabolism.

      I am curious what kind of biological evidence you are looking for? If you are expecting to find a study saying they found a trans "gene" you ate going to be disappointed. Strong correspondence of simple genetic factors to complex behavioral phenomena are unfortunately rather rare.

      • throwaway_159246837 [none/use name]
        ·
        2 years ago

        I guess I'm looking for two lines of evidence: differences in the brains of adults, and developmental stuff (hormone levels during pregnancy?) that might be expected to produce differences in the brains of adults.

        Also looking for good studies demonstrating that transitioning is the best treatment. Bonus points if the studies can be compressed into concise soundbites.

        I do not expect to find a paper that says "we found the trans gene," although there might be some interesting genetic cluster analysis out there.

        • CrimsonSage [any]
          ·
          2 years ago

          The different brains line is difficult because brain scan tech is really really iffy, and dissected brains come from trans people who have been on hormones which would affect the tissues. As to the developmental stuff, that's also a really difficult line because it's hard to get data in stuff like that without running into intersex phenomena and that isn't the same thing.

          Treatment is definitely a good way to go though you are going to run into the same issues with people just being bigots as you will with genetics.