Ignorance and hostility a fatal combination<\/p>\n
Although often incorrectly labeled waria -- an acronym from
\nwanita (woman) and pria (man) -- transsexuals are not necessarily
\nhomosexuals.<\/p>\n
Nor are they transvestites who are men with a phobia for
\ncross-dressing. For true transsexuals the need to become totally
\nmale or female can be a life-and-death matter -- literally. Some
\nresearchers claim only 50 per cent survive beyond age 30; social
\noppression, personal shame and never-ending bigotry frequently
\nlead to suicide.<\/p>\n
Gender and sex are separate, though often confused. In
\ntranssexuals, the area of the brain that determines gender
\nidentity is in conflict with the reality of different sex organs.<\/p>\n
Transsexuality is also known as gender dysphoria -- mental
\ntrauma regarding gender. It can be experienced by people who are
\nborn either male or female.<\/p>\n
It is believed to be caused by hormone mix-ups that may be
\nlinked to the mother suffering stress at a critical time during
\npregnancy, though the evidence is unclear. About one in 30,000
\nbabies is born transsexual. The phenomenon also occurs in
\nanimals.<\/p>\n
The condition should arouse compassion and understanding. In
\nother cultures transsexuals are often revered and considered to
\nhave special mystical powers.<\/p>\n
In the Indonesia of the 1960s positive attitudes toward the
\nhandicapped were rare. It was to take another 40 years before the
\nnation had a near-blind man as head of state. Last century, the
\ndifferent were persecuted, even by the church.<\/p>\n
During the early days of the New Order regime there were no
\nopen bookshops full of modern texts on sexuality, no Internet to
\nbrowse, no \"Dear Doctor Love\" newspaper columns. Sex in its many
\nmanifestations was a taboo topic, particularly in regional towns.<\/p>\n
Although Indonesian society is now more open, in many
\ncommunities people like Lina may still be subject to hostile
\nstares and whispered comments -- actions that can seriously
\ndamage the emotionally frail.<\/p>\n
-- Duncan Graham<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ignorance-and-hostility-a-fatal-combination-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }