Exploring Bullying And Gender Dysphoria Among Filipino Adolescent Gays and Lesbians

Abstract or Introduction

The present study determines the relationship of bullying experiences, and the self-perceived gender dysphoria of Filipino teenage gays and lesbians. They express a strong cross-sex identification, and oftentimes insist on living in discrimination, being trapped in the wrong body, thus, they make a major decision to undergo hormonal treatment or sex surgery. Failure to do is causing them distress, depression, and low self-esteem. There is no study that supports mild experience of bullying that may not lead them to experience gender dysphoria.

The majority of teenage gays and lesbians are less bullied though there is a minimal difference, verbal bullying remains the most common type of bullying, followed by social bullying, physical bullying and attack on property. Averagely bullied are those who experience discrimination and violence in school; they are either frequently bullied or easily upset, but not both. On the other hand, highly bullied are the ones who experience loneliness and often have the lowest self–esteem because of violence experience in the school. They are the ones who frequently accept unwanted actions. There is a significant direct correlation between bullying experience and their self-perceived gender dysphoria. Since the majority of gays and lesbians are less bullied, the level of gender dysphoria is only mild. They are mildly disturbed with the incongruence of their mind-body connection.

Gender dysphoria manifests among children, adolescents and adults. Gender dysphoria is usually accompanied by depressed mood, anxiety, and behaviour problems, all of which can considerably heighten the level of distress. When a gay or a lesbian experience a distressing bullying, the level of gender dysphoria is heightened, and they may opt to undergo cross hormonal treatment.

Keywords: social bullying, gender, incongruence, LGBT, penectomy, vaginoplasty, mastectomy or phalloplasty