Controversial trans* question #1: On trans* and Bodily Integrity Identity Disorder

I've got two questions that I've spoken about a bit with friends but not really anyone who's known much about the issues, so I'd like to get thoughts from people who do know what they're talking about. I'll ask them in separate threads because although they're related they're not on the same topic. I don't really agree with the views but when I've thought about it I've had a hard time coming up with totally convincing arguments against them.

What is the objective difference between trans* folk having sex reassignment surgery (SRS) (hopefully that's the right term) and people who have bodily dsyphoria about other parts of their body, such as people who want to have their limbs amputated? It's called Bodily Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID). This question was prompted because I recently read a news story about a woman who wanted to be paralysed from the waist down so purposefully had accidents to try to do so, and was trying to find a doctor who would sever the spinal nerves for her.

How do you refute the argument that the difference between people with BIID and people who are transgender is only one of degree and not kind, and that both are more deserving of therapy rather than surgery? One obvious way which I can think of that they differ is the studies that find transgender individuals to have brains more similar to the gender they identify as rather than their physical gender.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Second question here:
http://emptyclosets.com/forum/chit-...ans*-question-2-gender-roles.html#post1696244

 

Re: Controversial trans* question #1: On trans* and Bodily Integrity Identity Disorde

I can see where you're coming from, but my question isn't so much about the physical fact of the removal of body parts, more about the psychology that creates any kind of dissatisfaction with a person's physical being.