Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/790815
al•ly A straight ally is a heterosexual and cisgender person who supports equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ social movements, and challenges homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. cis•gen•der Noting or relating to a person whose gender identity corresponds to that person's biological sex assigned at birth. gen•der bi•na•ry The idea that there are only two genders, and that they are distinct, opposite, and disconnected from each other. gen•der ex•pres•sion How a person chooses to present their gender identity. gen•der i•den•ti•ty Refers to a person's innate, deeply felt sense of being; usually male or female, but not always. gen•der neu•tral Someone who does not identify with any gender. May use neutral pronouns such as they/them/theirs. gen•der non•con•form•ing Someone who is not interested in conforming to societal views of how any one gender should be portrayed. in•ter•sex A general term used for people who are born with a variety of conditions in which the reproductive or sexual anatomy do not fit typical definitions of female or male. Intersex conditions can be anatomical or genetic and may manifest in a wide variety of ways. Many genetically intersex people will never know of their condition. sex (male/fe•male) Refers to our biological and physical anatomy. Biological sex is used to assign gender at birth. For most people, sex and gender are aligned. trans•gen•der Noting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond to that person's biological sex assigned at birth. trans man (FTM, F2M) A person whose assigned sex at birth was female but identifies as male. trans wo•man (MTF, M2F) A person whose assigned sex at birth was male but identifies as female. ter • mi • nol • o • gy One Client's Perspective By Max Galligan I t is important, now more than ever, that vulnerable populations have safe spaces where acceptance and understanding thrive. Oftentimes, these communities duck away from places or situations that could make them susceptible to discrimination, and unfortunately this could result in them avoiding seeking the help they need. Massage therapy has proven to be very beneficial for trans individuals and has the potential to make waves within the community, because it allows those who carry large amounts of mental and physical stress to find a place of relaxation, comfort, and oneness within themselves. As a strong supporter of massage therapy and body memory work, I believe that proper therapeutic touch has the potential to relieve built-up, gender-related trauma, especially related to feelings of body dysphoria, a discomfort stemming from the existence or nonexistence of certain body parts and traits. But, these needs cannot be met without first having "the conversation." A safe space develops from asking a client about their gender identity, preferred name, and pronouns. By listing such questions on the client intake form, everyone from the MT to the receptionist will have the ability to make the client feel welcome. Circumstances of misgendering can lead to an uncomfortable situation for both parties, diminishing the overall benefit of the session. Transitioning can bring on changes and challenges for the body. Although those who choose to embark on the journey of hormone replacement therapy clearly weigh the pros heavier than the cons, there are the possible risks and side effects lingering in the background. Consequences for trans women may include an increased risk for developing blood clots, gallstones, and breast cancer, and for trans men may include ovarian cysts, increased blood pressure and cholesterol, headaches, and acne. As a transgender male who has suffered from facial and body acne following hormone replacement therapy, I understand that massage is a great contributor to healthy and radiant skin, but it was important that my massage therapist also understand the tremendous sensitivity of my skin. I can't help but think that conversations such as these will help educate the masses and could result in a trans population that carries less stress, experiences an increase in feelings of happiness and contentment, suffers less chest and back pain from compressing/binding, endures less severe postsurgical scarring, and gains an increase in nerve regrowth due to a boost in tissue massage. Max Galligan is a transgender male and massage therapy aficionado studying transgender issues in contemporary society. C h e c k o u t A B M P 's l a t e s t n e w s a n d b l o g p o s t s . Av a i l a b l e a t w w w. a b m p . c o m . 69