Comments on: Recommended Reading for January 1st

By: romham

romham — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:45:54 +0000

Thank you for the note re debates. That gets tired after awhile.

By: eastsidekate

eastsidekate — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:16:09 +0000

Thanks for the note regarding the last article. I’m transsexual and many of my family members and loved ones suffer from mental illness, as do I. I’m constantly frustrated by the lack of analysis of what it means to be “mentally ill” in debates about DSM/classification of trans-ness. In addition to the issue of stigma, activists are effectively arguing that trans people are “normal”, and should be eligible for “legitimate” medical care, unlike people with mental illness. Likewise, these activists are working on the premise that mental illness involves a cure (that is, pills to make one not trans, not autistic, or otherwise “normal”). The question these activists *should* be asking is whether mental illness requires a cure at all– the premise being that we’re individuals with the right to control our bodies and live our lives as we see fit.

By: Moria

Moria — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:45:55 +0000

In regards to the declassification of transgenderism as a mental illness:

I completely agree that no, being a transgendered person does not constitute mental illness. That’s not what it is; it’s a kind of gender identity, not a mental disorder. However, this quote, “It argues that trans people would then escape the stigma of mental illness that is frequently attached to them,” is a little problematic to me. While I agree that being transgendered should not be a disorder according to the DSM and ICD, I think that the idea of declassifying it to remove the “stigma” on mental illness is the wrong reason. It should be removed because describing such a gender identity as a mental illness is INCORRECT, not because mental illnesses are seen as shameful.

Transgenderism isn’t a mental disorder, but declassifying it as such partly to “destigmatize” people who are transgendered by saying “you’re not crazy, so don’t be ashamed… it’s not like we think you’re mentally ill, because isn’t mental illness so shameful?” hurts another marginalized group by furthering the idea of “stigmatized” mental illness.

By all means, transgenderism is not mental illness. But recognizing that while reaffirming negative ideas about mentally ill people isn’t the right way to go about correcting an incorrect definition.

By: Jayn

Jayn — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:25:23 +0000

I’m somewhat torn on the Fialka-Feldman issue. On the one hand, I’ve done both the on- and off-campus thing at university, so I completely understand wanting the ‘full experience’ as it were–it really isn’t the same when you’re divorced from the school community by living elsewhere.

On the other hand, he’s not a full-time student. While he’s certainly within his rights to ask to special permission to live in the dorms, I also feel it’s within the rights of the university to refuse.

I’m also strongly of the opinion that university is largely overrated in our culture, and feel that many people who are attending universities would probably be as well if not better served by a community college (not to mention save a buttload of money).