The roots of identity

Wikipedia defines identity thusly....

"....the qualities, beliefs, personality traits, appearance, and/or expressions that characterize a person or a group. Identity emerges during childhood as children start to comprehend their self-concept, and it remains a consistent aspect throughout different stages of life"

In essence this describes transgender people because belief in who they are plus expression remaining consistent throughout life are definite trademarks. Identity is not something one acquires but is intrinsic to the person. Additionally it does not necessarily always involve changes to physicality although some of us do make bodily changes to fortify authenticity and make living in society more possible.

My analytical mind struggled with the concept of identity for a very long time because I doubted that my situation was one which involved it. When you are not self-accepting you find ways to convince yourself that your feelings are not native to you but are acquired through some sort of childhood misfortune you did not ask for. The idea of pathology occurs to you repeatedly as you go into adolescence.

The more I read, the more I realized not all forms of gender variance were intrinsically wired and certain people were able to indulge in expression with much less investment or attachment. It helped me to realize how wide this sphere can be and it is how I began to recognize certain archetypes.

That sexuality is involved makes sense when one considers it is not an aspect one readily detaches from the whole person. The idea that identity was tainted because of it became a hypothesis which made less sense especially as I shook off my almost puritanical religious upbringing. This did not mean that some people didn't prioritize their cross gender expression with sexual energy, but that its mere presence in many did nothing to nullify an identity.

If we are dealing with something intrinsic to a person then its roots must always be there from the outset which is why transgender people need to comb their early history for signs to help them discover themselves and validate that they are not misguided in their self-assessment.