what is "social dysphoria"?

submitted by ywnbawfan2 from self.GCdebatesQT

So i can understand physical dysphoria to some degree even if i disagree with transitioning but what is social dysphoria? how is it any different from discomfort caused by gender norms?

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[–]MarkTwainiac 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

To me, the more fundamental question is: what exactly do people mean by the words "gender" and "dysphoria" in the term "gender dysphoria"?

[–]peakingatthemomentTranssexual (natal male), HSTS 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I feel like social dysphoria is discomfort comes from existing in the world being seen as your sex. Some of it is connected to physical dysphoria because it might remind you that your body isn’t what you feel like it’s supposed to be. If you have deep body issues, it can just make them worse. This is probably like the official truscum answer lol.

I don’t think it’s totally separate from gender norms though because those get imposed on you because of your apparent sex too. If you aren’t what people expect for someone of your sex, you can suffer a lot of harassment and people aren’t comfortable with you. Especially if you ever passed as the other sex, you might know that so many things about you that cause problems for you aren’t problems if people see you as the other sex because you fit better. It’s not fair or right that roles are imposed on us, especially children, but it’s still how it is many times and it’s really hard to not fit like that. You can’t even feel safe if that’s how people are seeing you. Not that their aren’t safety concerns the other way too, so it may just be because of trauma. Dismantling gender norms would help with this type of social dysphoria at least. I hope this made sense!

[–]HouseplantWomen who disagree with QT are a different sex 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Over investment emotionally in gender stereotypes and the false and problematic belief that a refusal or failure to meet the standards imposed on their sex means they are not their sex.
Pink=girl and blue=boy as a core unquestionable doctrine and applied to their personality whenever possible. In a word, it’s sexism.

[–]comradeconradical 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

GC here, from what I understand it is indeed tied with discomfort of the gender norms associated with one's sex as well as coveting the gender norms of the opposite sex. But, I think it's more about how other people perceive you and act towards you on the daily, compared to physical dysphoria where the discomfort is with one's own body. (Though even then I would venture to say many feel physical dysphoria because of how their sex's image is portrayed in the world, we are social beings after all...)

But, I'm sure someone who is QT would have a more detailed take on this question.

[–]worried19 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I was never physically dysphoric, but I've experienced what I guess would be termed "social dysphoria" since I was 3 years old. I'd define it as intense distress over conforming to gendered norms. For example, a tomboy might hate wearing a dress. But a socially dysphoric girl would be distressed to the point of depression or suicidal feelings.