{"id":2255524,"date":"2024-05-30T04:50:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T08:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-woman-frantically-cutting-off-her-own-breasts-proves-we-need-less-gender-affirmation-not-more\/"},"modified":"2024-05-30T04:51:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T08:51:58","slug":"a-woman-frantically-cutting-off-her-own-breasts-proves-we-need-less-gender-affirmation-not-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-woman-frantically-cutting-off-her-own-breasts-proves-we-need-less-gender-affirmation-not-more\/","title":{"rendered":"The Urgency of Reducing &#8216;Gender Affirmation&#8217; in Light of Self-Mutilation Events"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fa-woman-frantically-cutting-off-her-own-breasts-proves-we-need-less-gender-affirmation-not-more%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2255524&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In May, a\u2064 New Zealand newspaper reported an 18-year-old trying\u2064 self-mastectomy due to anxiety.\u2062 Despite NZ&#8217;s healthcare system covering &#8220;gender-affirming&#8221; treatments, this \u200ccase raises concerns about discrimination.\u2062 Advocates \u200dcall for \u2063better access to\u200d prevent desperate acts like\u2062 these, highlighting the need for\u200d more inclusive healthcare \u200dfor transgender individuals. In May, a New Zealand\u2062 newspaper highlighted an\u200d 18-year-old attempting self-mastectomy out of anxiety. This incident sheds light\u2063 on discrimination \u200cissues despite\u2064 NZ&#8217;s healthcare system covering &#8220;gender-affirming&#8221; treatments. Advocates stress the urgency of improved access to healthcare to deter\u200c such drastic actions and emphasize the importance of inclusive healthcare for\u2063 transgender\u200b individuals.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>In May, a New Zealand newspaper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nzherald.co.nz\/nz\/transgender-teen-tries-to-cut-off-own-breast-in-self-mastectomy-wellington-doctors\/CRR4LWBBU5B7RLBIHBEDZOGU3Q\/\">reported<\/a> an 18-year-old female was admitted to the emergency room after attempting to remove her own breasts due to anxiety over an upcoming pool party. Despite New Zealand having universal health care, which covers \u201cgender-affirming\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/programmes\/here-we-are\/story\/2018774391\/high-costs-long-waits-trans-healthcare-barriers-remain-in-some-regions\">medical options<\/a>, this case has been widely reported as evidence of a larger system that discriminates against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/succession-star-brian-cox-defends-j-k-rowlings-trans-stance-again-calls-her-critics-high-and-mighty\/\" title=\"\u2018Succession\u2019 Star Brian Cox Defends J.K. Rowling\u2019s Trans Stance Again, Calls Her Critics \u2018High And Mighty\u2019\">transgender-identifying people<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>LGBTQ Nation, for example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lgbtqnation.com\/2024\/05\/transgender-teen-attempts-self-mastectomy-before-pool-party\/\">argues<\/a>, \u201cThe lack of gender-affirming care drove [her] to this desperate act.\u201d Another New Zealand site <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newshub.co.nz\/home\/new-zealand\/2024\/05\/call-for-better-access-to-gender-affirming-surgery-after-kiwi-teen-attempts-to-remove-own-breasts-at-home.html\">declared<\/a>, \u201cCall for better access to gender-affirming surgery after Kiwi teen attempts to remove own breasts at home.\u201d The teenager was already taking testosterone and was on a waiting list for an elective double mastectomy, covered by the country\u2019s health care system.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-874288929\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-e9d8854ef814bf79ee3afc38d47442d5 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-e9d8854ef814bf79ee3afc38d47442d5\"><\/div>\n<p>The teenager just couldn\u2019t wait the year timeframe, and the \u201csignificant psychological stress of having breasts at an upcoming pool party, pushed [her] to try the surgery [herself],\u201d according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nzmj.org.nz\/journal\/vol-137-no-1595\/an-act-of-desperation-self-attempted-gender-affirming-mastectomy\"><em>New Zealand Medical Journal<\/em><\/a>. So she watched YouTube videos on self-mastectomies and began removing her own breasts. She was rushed to the hospital, where her self-inflicted wounds were addressed. However, to prevent further self-harm, the doctors elected to perform the double mastectomy right then.<\/p>\n<p>The hospital proudly reported the patient was doing well: \u201cHe reported improvement in self-esteem and self-confidence and his ability to complete school work, and was looking forward to enrolling at university.\u201d The case is being used by activists, including medical professionals, to push for more \u201caccess\u201d for transgender-identifying patients. \u201cWith increasing demand and associated psychological and possible physical harm, it is crucial for public services to be more accessible to an under-served population,\u201d according to the <em>New Zealand Medical Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Gender Minorities Aotearoa Executive Director Te Ahi Wi-Hongi, implying home surgeries are common due to long waiting times, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nzherald.co.nz\/nz\/transgender-teen-tries-to-cut-off-own-breast-in-self-mastectomy-wellington-doctors\/CRR4LWBBU5B7RLBIHBEDZOGU3Q\/\">told a New Zealand paper<\/a>, \u201cNobody wants to do [self-surgery], and people know they\u2019re probably not going to have good outcomes, but it\u2019s an absolute absence of options for most.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While LGBT activists are exploiting this case as evidence of a greater need for transgender services, paid for by the government and available with little to no barriers, they seem unaware of the message they are really sending. We are repeatedly told that transgender individuals do not suffer from a psychological disorder and that they experience distress solely due to a lack of social acceptance and access to health care.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-9f041001f24c4b7c5938b9e4f168ebb3 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-9f041001f24c4b7c5938b9e4f168ebb3\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Sign of Bad Mental Health<\/h2>\n<p>However, here is a case of a young woman having exactly what activists demand is necessary and still being driven to drastic self-harm in her pursuit of so<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brett-favre-blasts-olympics-allowing-trans-athletes-to-compete-against-women-its-a-man-competing-as-a-woman\/\" title=\"Brett Favre Blasts Olympics Allowing Trans Athletes To Compete Against Women: \u2018It\u2019s A Man Competing As A Woman\u2019\">-called gender identity<\/a> and validation. We are meant to believe that waiting a year for free elective surgery was so unacceptable and oppressive that she had no other choice but to cut open her own breasts at home?<\/p>\n<p>Outside the transgender context, self-mutilation, especially of sexual organs, is considered a severe example of mental illness or distress. A <a href=\"https:\/\/psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/full\/10.1176\/appi.ajp-rj.2023.180402\">2023 study<\/a> published in <em>The American Journal of Psychiatry<\/em> on male genital self-mutilation (GSM) argues, \u201cThe available literature suggests that GSM is a manifestation of co-occurring psychiatric illnesses (namely, psychotic and substance use disorders).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In one case of a male who performed this procedure on himself, \u201cThe patient was initiated on antipsychotic medication given his documented history of schizophrenia and his providers\u2019 concern for symptoms of delusions and disorganized thought process.\u201d How can one case of self-mutilation related to sexual body parts be due to delusion and irrational behavior that is considered a serious psychiatric condition, but another case of self-mutilation is a legitimate cry for help for so-called medically necessary health care?<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Body Image Disorders<\/h2>\n<p>A condition known as body integrity disorder (BID) represents a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/05\/07\/health\/body-integrity-dysphoria-wellness\/index.html\">rare situation<\/a> in which there is a \u201cmismatch between someone\u2019s mental picture of their body image and their actual physical self.\u201d A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/losangeles\/news\/woman-blinds-herself-on-purpose-with-drain-cleaner\/\">famous example<\/a> is of a woman who poured drain cleaner into her eyes to blind herself as she believed she was meant to be a blind person. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/05\/07\/health\/body-integrity-dysphoria-wellness\/index.html\">CNN article<\/a> reported a support group of 16 men who all wanted to surgically remove their left legs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-58f925ea1f7660bd232ea0a3f32cf70e fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-58f925ea1f7660bd232ea0a3f32cf70e\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/body-dysmorphic-disorder\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20353938\">The Mayo Clinic<\/a> defines another similar condition: \u201cBody dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which you can\u2019t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance \u2014 a flaw that appears minor or can\u2019t be seen by others. But you may feel so embarrassed, ashamed and anxious that you may avoid many social situations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Both conditions, as well as the above example of self-mutilation, require nonsurgical treatments that focus on therapy and medications. Yet, again, a young woman attempting to cut off her own breasts is viewed as evidence that \u201cgender-affirming care,\u201d or elective surgery, is needed more than ever.<\/p>\n<p>The woman who blinded herself also feels a sense of positive self-esteem and relief in her decision. She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/us-news\/woman-blinded-herself-drain-cleaner-30934249\">states<\/a>, \u201cI was so happy, I felt that this was who I was supposed to be.\u201d She also said: \u201cI went blind on purpose, but I don\u2019t feel it was a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Speaking about the case, Dr. Michael First, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York, argued that perhaps indulging the patient is the best path forward for this condition \u2014 however, after elective amputation or disabling of healthy bodily functions, \u201chow do you know once you have done it that they are going to be satisfied?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The woman insisted, \u201cI would say that it\u2019s selfish to refuse treatment to somebody with a disorder. This is not a choice, it\u2019s a need based on a disorder of the brain.\u201d It is reasonable to ask how this is any different from transgender demands for elective amputations and disabling of healthy bodily functions.<\/p>\n<p>It should not be controversial to witness a young woman mutilate herself at home due to anxiety over a pool party and recognize the broader medical and ethical concerns surrounding so<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-doj-warns-states-ags-feds-back-gender-affirming-care-rights-for-transgender-children\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s DOJ Warns States\u2019 AGs: Feds Back \u2019Gender-Affirming Care\u2019 Rights for \u2018Transgender\u2019 Children\u00a0\">-called \u201cgender-affirming care<\/a>.\u201d Yet LGBT advocates, along with many medical professionals, insist it is merely more proof that transgender-identifying people require \u201cmedically necessary care,\u201d funded by the taxpayer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-68c686e6cb5218a5292b7cc3350ad2da fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-68c686e6cb5218a5292b7cc3350ad2da\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In May, a New Zealand paper detailed an 18-year-old girl&#8217;s ER admission for self-breast removal before a pool party due to anxiety. Despite NZ&#8217;s healthcare system covering &#8220;gender-affirming&#8221; treatments, this incident highlights broader concerns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":657,"featured_media":2255525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/7559768564_4fb736af21_4k-scaled-e1717006829501.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2255524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/7559768564_4fb736af21_4k-scaled-e1717006829501.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2255524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2255524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2255524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2255525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2255524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2255524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2255524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}