The Transmasculine Experience: Mental Health and Gender Identity by V Wilson
Content Warning: the following article contains mentions of suicide and mental health which might be distressing to some readers.
By Laker @ Pexels
Non-Binary Identity and Mental Health
I came out as transmasculine non-binary in 2022 and my relationship with masculinity is a complex one. While I identify with aspects of masculine identity, I don’t completely identify with manhood. This isn’t something that only non-binary people experience, I think that in many ways we all have some kind of relationship with both masculinity and femininity. For this reason, the gender binary is incredibly problematic to me and that’s why I think the non-binary experience could be a vital part of the conversation surrounding masculinity and mental health. And even more so, a vital part of the journey to dismantling toxic stereotypes.
Those who are concerned with mental health issues have expressed for a long time that gender expectations, especially those of men, are extremely harmful and reductive. For example, men are expected to conform to exaggerated masculine traits such as being strong and not displaying emotions or vulnerability. If these expectations are challenged then their masculinity is questioned. This toxic masculinity is a result of society’s deep-rooted cisnormativity (the idea that people whose gender matches their assigned sex are what is normal or correct) and heteronormativity (the idea that opposite-sex relationships are what is normal or correct). As a result of this societal stigma, men are much less likely to express emotions and seek help for mental health issues.
This has led to a substantial rise in suicidal rates in men. In 2021, the ONS (Office for National Statistics) found that the suicide rate amongst cisgender men in the UK was around 16 deaths to 100,000 people compared to cisgender females which was 5.5 deaths to 100,000 people. Cisgender males made up three-quarters of suicides, coming to around 74%.
The non-binary experience offers relief from these destructive expectations because it aims to deconstruct the gender binary and the restrictive gender roles that are so heavily ingrained into our society. It’s a more complex experience of gender and it is an identity that challenges negative gender stereotypes.
Issues We Face
That being said, trans and non-binary people have their own share of mental health struggles but are often left out of the conversation. Unsurprisingly then, there haven’t been many studies on suicide within the transgender community and so statistics are hard to find. However, we do know that the rate of suicide and suicidal ideation in transgender youth is significantly higher than that of the general population.
Whilst data on transgender suicides is limited, statistics from Stonewall’s school report from 2017 show that transgender youth do suffer from disproportionally high mental health issues. They found that 92% of trans youth have thought about taking their own life, 84% have self-harmed and at least 45% have attempted suicide.
But in spite of these concerning statistics, trans mental health issues are often ignored and access to mental health support is difficult.
The Importance of a Creative Outlet
And so, creativity is not just important for giving transgender and non-binary people an outlet for the intense emotions that come with trans existence but also acts as a medium through which we can spread our story and be seen. Art is a platform that gives transgender people, and other minorities, a voice within society.
That’s why as a trans creative myself, creating art is not only important as a cathartic and therapeutic process but also to make trans and non-binary issues visible. Below is a piece I created which I titled ‘Pluck The Parts’ and explores my experience with gender dysphoria and the distress it causes me.
‘Pluck The Parts’ by V Wilson, oil on canvas board.
I began the piece by doing a study of my nude body in oil. Being faced with my own physicality in this way was deeply dysphoria-inducing for me and it’s for this reason that I also often avoid looking at myself in the mirror. I then covered these parts in paintings of flowers; which I wanted to represent femininity. I chose this imagery because the body parts of those who are assigned female at birth are often described to be “blooming” during puberty. Yet, to me these flowers aren’t pretty or attractive but a nuisance; more like weeds that I wish to be plucked from my being. The process of covering the parts of my body that make me experience intense dysphoria was deeply cathartic and acted as a way of mentally removing these parts. Through this painting, I was able to invent an image of myself that was more in line with how I wished to see myself when I look in the mirror.
Being creative should be an outlet for anyone of any gender identity. We all feel emotions and that’s normal. Creativity plays an essential role in deconstructing this stigma around masculinity and mental health and helps spread the message (through art, photography, music and other creative modes) that it’s okay to feel no matter how you identify. We should aim to deconstruct these harmful stereotypes around gender identity and mental health as it’s something we all encounter. The non-binary experience demonstrates how we can do this; we can all embrace the entirety of gender, it is a spectrum that everyone experiences. We need to create a society where everyone can feel comfortable expressing how they feel, and ultimately, feelings transcend gender.
If you are struggling with any of the experiences discussed in the above content, here are some links to places where you can seek help:
Samaritans: 116 123
Papyrus: 0800 068 4141
SHOUT: 85258
MindLine Trans+: 0300 330 5468
LGBT Foundation: 0345 330 3030
Written by V Wilson
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This article was written in association with Mindless Mag. By partnering with the social change platform Guy Cry Club CIC could connect with their network of global storytellers who then produced a series of articles exploring masculinity, mental health and creativity. Find out more about Mindless Mag and the brilliant work they do below.
