Transgender People in a Fantasy Setting

My fantasy setting features magic that allows a transgender person to change their body to one that matches their gender identity once they reach adulthood (It comes up once or twice) It still references that transgender people still have problems to go through, but I'm worried some people may see it as trivializing the transition process.

Thoughts?

Tales Of MU did it, the Steff character is a "halfkind" however she did not get an Easy Sex Change.

Magic uses could probably tell that someone had changed over. In many cultures, those who cross the gender barrier have more "magical ability". Or are more in tune with the spirit world.

So they could be hunted. As in real life their past may catch up with them.

edited 23rd Feb '14 10:23:28 AM by TairaMai

I think that execution is everything. I'd say write it first, then you can decide whether to publish it. Show it to some people privately first, preferably some people who are directly affected by the issues. Once you have it down on paper, you'll have something concrete to discuss.

I don't know if this would be a good direction to go in, though, as it tends to be based on ideas about gender essentialism.

No, this is a basis for some shamans in various cultures. It's the crossing over not that men and women are different. Seeing things from both perspectives.

Let's face it, the problem is the binary gender construct. It's basic: Y for girls, X for boys. Some cultures do have a "Z" for a third gender, but our western norms tend to color how we as outsiders see it. Best to look up "two spirit" and do the research.

edited 23rd Feb '14 7:48:22 PM by TairaMai

Edit: I was thinking you were talking about something else entirely, so disregard what was here previously. Although I do think the Two-Spirit concept is also not really a model you'd want to use as a base.

edited 23rd Feb '14 8:12:43 PM by nrjxll

I wasn't planning on using the 'Two Spirit' base anyway, mostly because it doesn't fit the story I'm trying to tell and also because it's cultural appropriation and would be hard to pull off tactfully.

This society does have a concept of a 'third gender' which consists of people who do not identify as a binary gender (agender, gender fluid, etc.) It's mentioned they have suffered some prejudice in the past and still do to some extent, but as of the beginning of the story, they are accepted by a majority of mainstream society.

I think the main problem will be people who are unable to change to their preferred gender because of family issues or other extenuating circumstances. Say that for example, a particular title only passes down to sons, only child is born physically male, but mentally female, and can't switch as the title must be passed down or the extended family loses their position.

My setting is relatively gender egalitarian so it would be very unlikely for a character to run into that situation.