Nature or nurture: What is there behind transsexuality?
Nature or nurture: What is there behind transsexuality?
JAKARTA (JP): Rejection or indifference: These are the two
most common reactions transsexuals have to deal with in our
society.
Given the fact that transsexuals face extreme prejudice and a
lack of acceptance, experts have tried to figure out whether
people are born transsexuals or whether it is socially developed.
Is it through nature or the nurturing a person receives?
Budi Matindas, a psychology lecturer at the University of
Indonesia, explained that there were two opposing theories on
transsexuality.
The first argument states that transsexuality is the result of
genetic factors. Experts touting this view argue that recent
research has found evidence that biological factors are related
to human sexual preferences.
The majority of transsexuals believe this theory. Many feel
that they were born with the wrong body.
The second theory claims that transsexuality is socially
developed.
"The urge for a transsexual man to become a woman usually
occurs when he is seeking his identity. During this time, he may
experiment with various available alternatives," said Budi,
adding that such experimentation may be the result of curiosity
or the desire to seek excitement.
Social factors also contribute to this theory. According to
Budi, peer acceptance, family recognition and general social
pressures may be behind the reason why some men and women start
to associate their gender identity as being opposite to their
physical body.
"The attention a boy gains from acting effeminately during
adolescence may lead to pleasure, which he seeks to fulfill
again. This attention may come in the form of anger, or
laughter."
The burdens of male responsibility may be another contributing
factor for some men who find they have an urge to be a woman.
As a psychologist, Budi leans to the second theory.
"Unlike animals, our sexual attraction is not based on
chemical reactions in our body such as scents. It usually comes
through a cognitive process," said Budi.
Budi argued that for some men, seeing transsexuals in the
Taman Lawang area of Menteng was exciting. He claimed that such
excitement does not originate from sexual urges, but from
curiosity.
"According to societal norms, this activity is not right. Yet
the need to fulfill a desire may overcome the boundaries set by
society," Budi said
"So for many people, visiting Taman Lawang is similar to
sightseeing, much like going to Borobudur or Ancol."
The sexual behavior of people seeking a sexual encounter with
one of the transsexuals offering sex in Taman Lawang cannot be
simplistically explained, he said, since it is formed through
individual experience.
Budi explained by saying that every individual has their own
taste in food and drink. Sexual preferences are developed
individually in much the same way.
"When a person loves durian, you call this taste. But when he
likes transsexuals as a sexual partner, you call this deviation.
This is not right," he said.
"Once a certain taste is formed, there will be a strong urge,
both consciously and subconsciously, to fulfill it," he added,
explaining why customers regularly returned to transsexual
prostitutes.
There are several erroneous beliefs regarding sexual contact
with transsexual prostitutes.
Many clients of sexual transactions in the Taman Lawang area
do not use condoms. The reason is that AIDS and sexually
transmitted diseases are not taken seriously.
The deputy director of the Pelita Ilmu Foundation, Syamsu
Rizal Djauzi, said this trend was dangerously common.
"Some men still believe the myth that having intercourse with
transsexuals is safe.
"Since many transsexuals do not have vaginas, some foolishly
believe that they will not pass on sexually transmitted
diseases," Syamsu said. (46/ylt)