Difference Between Transgender and Transsexual
Main difference
The main difference between transgender and transsexual is that transgender is the mental change to adopt the desired gender instead of the one assigned by birth, while transsexual is the physical change to adopt the desired gender through medical assistance.
transgender vs transsexual
Transgender is the term that is associated with the mental and psychological sense to change gender, while transsexual is the term that is associated with the desire to physically change one’s gender status. Transgender people are mentally biased to possess the desired gender; On the other hand, transsexual people are so desired that they even use medical help to depress or acquire the different sexual traits.
The term transgender was first used by a psychiatrist named John F. Oliven in 1965; on the other hand, the transsexual was first reported by Norman Haire in 1930 after the completion of the first genital reassignment surgery. In the word “transgender”, gender is the term that is associated with social and cultural roles and preferences, while in the word “transsexual”, sex is associated with the physical characteristics of the body.
Transgender people generally do not participate in surgical or hormonal treatments to change gender, while transsexual people mainly participate in the use of surgical and hormonal treatments. Transgender is not included in the permanent change of gender; on the other hand, transsexual people are involved in permanent gender change physically. Transgender people can call as transsexual as they can or cannot use medical help, while transgender people are not called transgender.
Comparison chart
| Transgender | shemale |
| Transgender is the sense that one takes on a gender other than the gender assigned at birth due to personal choice by mental factors, usually without medical help. | Transsexual is the sense that one permanently changes the gender different from the current one through medical assistance, such as hormonal and surgical treatments. |
| Source | |
| In 1965 by John F. Oliven | In 1930 by Norman Haire |
| Term Association | |
| Gender associated with social and cultural roles | Sex associated with physical characteristics |
| change specification | |
| apparent change | permanent change |
| level of desire to be | |
| Wanted | Highly desired even to change physically |
| transition character | |
| psychological and apparent | physical and physiological |
| medical considerations | |
| Does not usually involve medical assistance | Involve medical assistance |
| Hormonal and Surgical Association | |
| not acquired | specifically purchased |
What is transgender?
Transgender is the term assigned to those humans who are different from their actual assigned gender, as they prefer to choose a different sex than their actual one. Transgender people behave, express themselves, identify and feel for the sex other than their birth sex. Gender is the term associated with ‘social and cultural roles’. Transgender is the internal sense of the mind of the individual who wishes to possess a gender other than that of birth. Transgender is the opposite of cisgender.
In 1965, a psychiatrist named John F. Oliven used the term ” transgender,” which replaced the earlier notation of “transsexualism.” Transgender is associated with the psychological and social desires that drive them to acquire a different gender. Transgender people can also be referred to as third gender, genderqueer, androgynous, bisexual, non-binary, and non-conforming. Transgender can also be called a transvestite.
Transgender people have to face multiple social criticisms, pressures and lack of acceptance. Therefore, these societal factors can cause psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, panic conditions and thus also increase the chances of suicide. Transgender people also face gender dysphoria. Some mental health professionals also provide treatment for mental illness due to gender non-acquisition or when someone is willing to transition. Some of the transgender people also receive medical and surgical care, such as hormone replacement therapy for trans men and trans women.
What is transsexual?
Transsexual is the term attributed to the permanent transition to the desired sex other than that assigned by medical care. The word “sex” is explicitly attributed to “physical attributes and preferences.” They are so convinced and confirmed that they use significant surgical and hormonal assistance for the transition to sex, since they also want to change physically.
In 1930, Norman Haire reported the completion of the first genital reassignment surgery, leading to the root of transsexualism. In Benjamin’s book, the transsexual is considered a subset of transgender. Sex reassignment therapy, hormone replacement therapy, hormone blockers are some medical treatments used by transgender people. Transgender people not only physically transitioned, but also changed their names, gender roles, and legal sex selection.
Transsexual is the physiological transition from one to a trans man or woman. Transgender people also face social pressure and criticism. Some religions are also intolerant of transgender people. Trans people can express the desired sexuality that they want. There are many appearances in the media of transsexual people. In the world, some states provide legal laws for transgender people.
The measure of the occurrence of transsexual people in the country’s population is measured in 10,000 or 100,000 people, it is called incidence, and the incidence ratio varies from one state to another.
Key differences
- Transgender is the term related to the sole desire to display the gender opposite to the actual gender acquired at birth, while transsexual is one’s desire to change gender other than the actual physical one.
- The term transgender was first used in 1965 by John F. Oliven, on the other side of the coin, transsexual was first reported in 1930 by Norman Haire after the completion of the first genital reassignment surgery.
- Transgender does not involve permanent gender change, while transsexualism involves permanent gender change through medical assistance.
- Transgender is the term associated with social and cultural roles; on the other hand, transsexual is the term associated with physical characteristics or attributes.
- Transgender does not imply medical care to depress or enhance physical characteristics; On the other hand, transsexual involves surgical and hormonal treatments to suppress or enhance physical characteristics.
- Transgender people behave, express themselves and identify themselves by the gender other than their assigned one, while transsexuals not only behave or express themselves but are also physically changed to another gender than their assigned one.
- Transgender implies the psychological and apparent transition to another gender; On the other side of the coin, transsexual implies the physiological transition from the actual gender to others.
- Transgender people are not medically changed or changed by surgical or hormonal treatment; on the other hand, the transsexual is medically modified by surgical and hormonal treatments to acquire the desired gender.
Final Thought
Transgender is the term that is associated with one’s personal desire to apparently change their gender from the one assigned at birth, while transsexual is associated with the desire to change gender permanently with medical assistance such as hormonal and surgical aids.