Sad that the other thread was locked just because someone was done contributing to it. I'd like to continue the conversation.
That makes sense. I don't really have a problem with "simply being a man." It comes naturally to me. RetiredAg's friend, obviously not. It would probably help to give him some practical steps. Some homosexuals can begin to desire the opposite sex with some help. Others cannot, but at least they have an option to abstain (practically). But a person who desires to be the opposite sex (transsexuals) must be guided to "act like" their sex. You can't simply abstain from being either male or female. It's an either/or, in my opinion. So what are practical steps a man like his friend can take to be a better man?
BusterAg said:Again, a lot of this is in the sub-conscious processing and emotional development, with a whole host of Oedipus issues, etc. I'm not sure we know the answer to your question, precisely, though, as this phenomenon of fathers changing genders and remaining as part of the family is quite new.Create Account said:
I guess my question is, what does RetiredAg's friend need to do to no longer be a man? Assuming his affirmation remains the same, when does it cease being "fatherly" affirmation? Obviously I said earlier he should strive to be more manly, not less. What does that look like? What can he do to be more of a man, and not a woman?
If you believe that Freud was on the right track (which he often was), simply being a man that other women (who like men) might find sexually attractive in some way is probably enough. Masculine is masculine, and boys and girls know it when they see it. Simply be a man, and love and affirm your daughters. That's it.
I can't imagine that changing your name to a girls name, and asking to be called "her" wouldn't confuse this process quite a bit.
That makes sense. I don't really have a problem with "simply being a man." It comes naturally to me. RetiredAg's friend, obviously not. It would probably help to give him some practical steps. Some homosexuals can begin to desire the opposite sex with some help. Others cannot, but at least they have an option to abstain (practically). But a person who desires to be the opposite sex (transsexuals) must be guided to "act like" their sex. You can't simply abstain from being either male or female. It's an either/or, in my opinion. So what are practical steps a man like his friend can take to be a better man?