SEX CHANGE?
By Dr Hera Lukman
“WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SEX CHANGE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL TRAPPED IN THE BODY OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?” We threw this question to Christians and here are some responses. Then, we asked DR HERA LUKMAN to weigh in.
KH, 43
I think people with a sexual identity crisis struggle perpetually. That’s debilitating. But will changing sex set them free from such deep-seated conflicts, or give them a second chance in life. I believe sex change does not really change who we are in the deepest sense. Our DNA cannot be changed. Our inside will still function by default male or female.
Samuel Ng, 31
I don’t agree with a sex change despite how much a person is proven to be of the opposite sex as I’ve personally experienced this problem. Although I was born a man, my emotional state and psychological placement is that of a woman’s. Also, the occasional mood fluttering and disposition of handling courtship and role in a relationship are those of a more female role. But the idea of changing one’s sex is changing what God has created and therefore goes against His will.
Annie, 71
Some are said to be born transgender. I don’t know how much of this is influenced by external factors such as biased literature, a misguided sense of liberal thinking and adventurism, There’s so much hurt in those facing this problem. I’ve seen this happen to a close friend. As a Christian, I told this friend that this is not natural, that God created man and woman. The person underwent sex change, looks different and is sulky most of the time. The family is so broken and suffers a lot of pain. I’m sure God is grieved too.
Melissa Tan, 31
Those who do feel trapped should have the courage to find out the reasons why they feel the way they do, the reasons why God made them the gender they are and the purpose we are to fulfill. When they know who He is, why and how He created them, they’ll then be able to resolve their identity crisis. After all we should never be defined by how we feel but who we are meant to be. A sex change takes away the journey of self discovery of who God intends us to be.
Fong Siew Keong, 52
People thinking of a sex change operation must ensure they’ve exhausted all other options as there’s no turning back. I don’t claim to understand the struggles they face but I’m sure that anyone seeking such a drastic course of action must be crying out for help. Jesus never turned anyone away, and He always sought to hear them out. We should do no less.
Adeline Lum, 32
All of us have different struggles, including feeling trapped in another gender’s body. We seek for freedom from the things that trapped us, such as changing our environment, partner or sex. But only Jesus Christ can set us free, for when the Son sets us free, we can be free indeed (John 8:36). That is the true freedom from sin. We can overcome in Him. Sometimes what we need is a change of heart.
Thumbelina, 22
I wouldn’t encourage sex change because of the cost and pain. Plus, it says you don’t accept who God made you to be. However, we have a freedom of choice but not freedom of consequences. In the end, it’s the choice of the person. As Christians, we can show love to these people and not be too judgmental.
Jeremy Tan, 34
I believe we are all made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27). Sex change, in my opinion, is saying that God made a mistake, as the intention is altering what God had intended. I can’t agree with sex change as I believe He did not make a mistake when He made us who we are at birth.
K, 22
I believe that provided there are adequate controls, adults with sound minds should have the autonomy to make their own decisions which do not harm themselves or others. So, yes to sex change.
Eugene, 33
Why is the question even being asked? I believe it’s about sex. I think changing gender is about having sex differently. God created sex in order to create the next generation. You may have issues that make you think you are of a different gender, but then what is the main reason for changing your gender? Is it for pleasure? A lot of people in this generation are about living for pleasure. So, having sex nowadays is not to have children but for pleasure. Being infertile defeats the purpose of sex, especially after a gender change and is against logic and reason.
A.H., 18
I think being trapped in a body of a gender you don’t want is like being imprisoned within yourself. However, a good support system and openness to alternative ways would be a good first step before the person goes through a sex change since this process is irreversible. For me, I think sex change is a gift for the modern society. It has helped people. But for people who do not have access to or information about this procedure, they just have to accept their body.
STEP INTO THEIR SHOES
Before responding to the above question, it is necessary to clarify a few terminologies so that we are all on the same page. In my view, although this question involves sex, it is more about gender identity (See table).
Terminology | |
Sex (Biological Sex) | Biological indications of being male or female (e.g. chromosomes, internal reproductive systems, external genitalia, etc.) |
Sexual Attraction | Feelings of sexual or emotional interest in another |
Sexual Orientation | An enduring pattern of attraction to another based on sexual desires |
Sexual Identity | Act of labelling oneself with reference to one’s sexual preference (e.g. heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, etc.)
|
Gender | Psychological, social and cultural aspects of being male or female |
Gender Identity | How one feels/thinks as male or female (e.g. how masculine or feminine) |
Gender Role | Adoption of culturally expectations for maleness or femaleness (e.g. girls are gentle and nurturing; boys are tough and less emotional) |
Recognising Assumptions: A Good Start Towards Engagement
There are many assumptions regarding gender identity. These assumptions may not necessarily be true even though they appear intuitively logical. I would like to explore two common assumptions I have come across.
Assumption 1: We Know the Cause of Gender Incongruence
Despite the lack of evidence to support a robust explanation for gender incongruence, i.e. inconsistency between one’s biological sex and gender identity, some people believe that gender incongruence stems from an innate biological problem. This school of thought is often referred to as the “Nature Camp”.
An alternative perspective provides a psychosocial explanation for gender incongruence. This “Nurture Camp” proposes that the person’s environment and his/her socialisation processes are key contributors to his/her experience of gender incongruence.
While both camps have contributed significantly to a greater understanding of gender incongruence, the current consensus among experts studying gender identity informs us to take note of three crucial findings: 1) We don’t yet know the mechanism behind gender incongruence; 2) The likely explanation for a person with gender incongruence involves an interaction of multiple biopsychosocial factors; and 3) Even if we identify the cause for one person’s gender incongruence, this should not be used as a template to understand the cause of another person’s gender incongruence. Gender identity issues are varied in experience and presentation.
Given the above observations, it is clear that there is no one-size-fits-all explanation for gender incongruence. Therefore, we must resist using a broad-brushstroke approach to portray someone’s struggle with gender identity because doing so is not only presumptuous, it trivialises the person’s lived experience. If our intention is to engage, we must accept that we don’t know what we don’t know and therefore, we must do a lot more listening and less assuming. Let the ones who wrestle with gender identity issues educate us with their stories and let them paint the picture that represents their deep struggles. Such a posture makes any engagement much more rewarding and facilitates more opportunities for exchanging perspectives.
Assumption 2: Gender Identity Is All About Choosing To Be Male Or Female
Many may assume that people who struggle with gender identity ultimately want to have a sex change. In reality, most do not automatically opt for surgical interventions due to the multiple physical, psychological and social implications associated with such procedures. Having said this, many people who struggle with gender identity issues experience great distress. For some, the distress is overwhelmingly debilitating, even after a sex change.
Those of us who don’t experience such struggles must refrain from assuming that gender identity is simply choosing to be a male or female, or that it is as straightforward as turning a switch on and off.
Having a clear gender identity may feel effortless for most of us because there is a congruency between our biological sex and gender identity. Hence, for most of us, gender identity is an automatic process that occurs outside of our awareness. There is no need for a conscious deliberation of our maleness or femaleness and how our gender contributes to our personhood.
However, for people who experience gender incongruency, the process of making sense of one’s gender can be an existential tsunami experienced on a daily basis. Some may wrestle incessantly with the meaning and purpose of their gender incongruency – their sexuality, their role in their community, and if the person is a Christian, how God fits in all of the aforementioned.
For these individuals, gender identity is not just about being male or female. It is about making sense of their personhood. It is no wonder that well intended legalistic instructions such as wearing the gender-appropriate clothing, behaving in gender-appropriate manner, adhering to stereotypical gender roles do little in bringing resolution or the much needed relief and comfort. Instead, such simplistic responses tend to create more burden, alienation, and loneliness. We must stop assuming that gender identity is about doing. It is not. Gender Identity is about being. It is always a good discipline to examine our assumptions because doing so sharpens our intellectual and moral integrity.
How would you respond to the above question now that we have explored the two common assumptions on gender identity? I must confess that I still make many knee-jerk assumptions that cause pain to others. I am very much a work in progress. May the LORD, Who gives wisdom generously to all who ask without finding fault, guide us into all truth and may He teach us how to love Him and to love our fellow man.
Dr Hera Lukman is a registered Chartered Health Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. She obtained her BA (Hons) at Simon Fraser University, Canada, her MSc at the University of Sheffield, UK, and her PhD at the University of Leeds, UK. For the past 15 years, Hera has taught Psychology at several universities in the UK and Malaysia. She is currently the Head of Psychology and Learning Centre at Methodist College Kuala Lumpur. As a Christian psychologist, Hera is passionate in integrating psychology with biblical principles in understanding personhood and one’s identity in Christ.

Asian Beacon: Jul – Sep 2018 (Vol 50 #3, p20-21)