Gender Identity Disorder Emphasizing the Role of Family

This article analyzes the ‘gender identity disorder’, while emphasis is placed on traits carried as a result of the family upbringing of the ‘abnormal’ as compared with the normal persons. Identity has different dimensions, one of which is gender identity, which is acquired during childhood. These traits result from certain conditions particularly in the family environment which affects them. Gender identity disorder is constant inclination towards other sex or persistence on belonging to other sex and deep uneasiness with gender and gender role given to the person, which can have serious outcome for the individual, his family and society. This study focuses on characteristics of the people having this symptom and their families in Kerman Province. To analyze this disorder in Kerman all people that had referred to Welfare Organization of Kerman Province, nationally known as ‘behzisty’, were studied. This is a quasi experimental study. The experiment group was compared with normal (control) group, selected by assimilation process, interview and filling up initial and final questionnaire. The data was collected by interviewing both groups and analyzing the files of the experimental group. It should be mentioned that TTest was used to compare the role of families of the two groups. It was found that various variables at personal and family levels showed meaningful differences between the experimental and control group. These variables are as follows: Parents’ behavior during childhood, socialization process, emotional participation, emotional expression in the family, effective relationship with the family, sexual abuse and unsuitable dress, and makeup used during childhood.