ABSTRACT
A broad model of female gender disorder is presented in which distinctions are drawn between gender dysphoria, defined as an internal emotional state of discontent or discomfort associated with one’s gender, the fantasized solution of wishing to be the other sex, and the request for hormonal and/or surgical sex reassignment. This model is applied to three clinical cases, representing both transsexual and non-transsexual types of gender disorder. Subsequent discussion explores some of the questions raised by considering these components separately, and also presents some hypotheses about the nature of gender dysphoria in women.
