I think the boxing up of the multitude of practices into one pile, and then labelling it as wrong, is narrowminded and foolish. Piercing and cutting and transexual gender surgery are not the same thing, do not have the same motivations. If the world was that simple it would be a much easier, but much less intersting place to live.

I agree with the second last comment that the article suggests all self-harming is by young girls who were sexual abused. I recognise this may not have been the intention of the paragraph, but it isn't a good start to an article that just gets more and more narrowminded.

Also. What about young boys who self harm? Do they do it to fit in with the 'tribe' as well?

I find it disgusting that Sheila feels the need to lump transgender females in with homosexual men. We are not the same thing!

There are transgender women who transition to become a lesbian. If they had some innate fear of being seen as homosexual, I don't see why they would transition and then remain attracted to females, being exactly the thing that Sheila is purporting them to be running from!

And disregarding all of that, even if our society were entirely accepting of homosexual males, that would still not solve *my* problem with a large unwanted growth that frustrates me every day of my life.

My mother had one of her pinky toes amputated, because it was eternally getting broken, and was only causing greater medical issues. Now, let me ask, how much different is that from my desire for an amputation of my genitalia in order to relieve not just psychological distress, but also medical distress? How healthy do you think it is for someone to hold their genitalia so close to their body that it remains at body temperature? I'm sure as hell not going to have a good chance at having kids, even if I remain as a male for the rest of my life.

God, and people have blamed *me* for being mysandronic! Yes, I'm upset at the way males treat women, and I'd like to see more feminism in the world, and a more equal place for women in society, and despise men who prey on other women, but I still recognize that men are not responsible for every social ill that one perceives.

Sheila just shows me an incredibly naivity in this entire article, absolutely misrepresenting everything contrary to true evidence, but rather appealing to the near Victorian ideals of sex, and gender.

As an open-minded individual I was shocked and saddened by Professor Jeffrey’s' comments. Her article is dangerously misinformed and shows a clear lack of reasoned argument.

Jeffrey's claims that body modification equates to self-harm; an example of the psychological damage inflicted by modern society. Yet body modification has been intrinsically linked to spiritual and cultural expression within hunter-gatherer communities for thousands of years. An example is the Islamic use of henna to celebrate religious festivals. In trivialising an individual's motives to undergo modification procedures, Jeffrey's succeeds only in alienating this section of society.

True self-harm is a serious psychiatric condition requiring careful treatment and counsel. It is dangerous and wrong to suggest that individuals who practice body modification are in some way psychologically disturbed, and indeed demonstrates the same lack of tolerance Jeffrey's associates with modern societal attitudes.

Even on the basis of these few misconceptions it is clear that the article is flawed and inconsistent. It is a tragedy that the author is in a position to educate and influence others and I hope that in time she will recognise the foolishness of her assertions.

As a transgendered individual of 47 years and thirty years of reading voluminiously on the subject, I can truthfully say this article is nothing more than rehashing the old, outdated arguments by second wave feminist/transphobe Janice Raymond in her rant-filled diatribe "The Transsexual Empire".

Ms. Jefferies, I've hated my male body ever since I was aware of my female self back when I was nine years old! It was a good thing I read up on transsexualism, because I would've amputated my male bits (as the British and you Australians say) a loooong time ago!

The only "mutilation" that goes on is that of the transsexual person when they are forced to endure the pain and misery of their gender dysphoria by a society which fails to fathom gender diversity.

It's terribly hypocritical when second wave feminists claim they shouldn't be restricted by their gender, yet advocates restricting gender when they deny the fact that males are born to female bodies and vice versa, not to mention intersexed people.

HI, I am a 34 year old Male. I have been a cutter for most of my life. I do agree that it is not a good outlet for my problems, however it is the only way I can feel that I am really here and not in my own world of hate and pain. Yes Pain... Of course It hurts to cut ones own self... but its a lot better then the pain I feel every day 24/7 in my own head.
Sometimes (at lease for me) If I am in that bad place in my head... cutting gives me control over my past and in turns helps heal my past.
As far as Removal of a part of the body go's .... Honestly, I too have a desire to cut off a leg... though in thought... My head would be better... as it is the problem!.
I am only writing today cause I have been comtenplating the leg removal for some time and I now have the power of the internet to see if I am alone in my thinking.
so I did a google search and this is the first thing I've seen .

Has anyone ever felt like me?
Am I alone in my thinking?
Is there a way to change my thinking and not feel my past,as if it is the future?
please reply, Sincerly
John Doe