Funds

Why do women in transition seem to ask for donations to fund their transition? Yeah, obvious question since the cost of a transition depends on a number of factors but has several automatic costs, such as hair removal, therapy, doctors, drugs, clothes, etc. and the always surgeries.

The type and number of surgeries varys with the individual. Some, especially younger women, don't need cosmetic facial surgery, but most do to some extent. Some, but not most, elect to have breast augmentation surgery. And almost all, especially where it's necessary for documents but mostly personal choice, have gender affirmation surgery.

The last is often called sex or gender reassignment or confirmation surgery, but I like the feeling of gender affirmation surgery because it does what every transitioning woman wants to have for the rest of their life, the feeling and experience of their own vagina.

Anyway, back to the point. In even the most straight forward transition where the woman easily physically transition to integrate into the world as a woman, often calling passing, the cost can easily be in the $25-30,000 range, most of which will be the vaginoplasty.

If they're not so lucky and need or want additional surgeries, the cost quickly rises to $40-50,000 or more depending on the extent of the surgeries. It's only less if they have health insurance which covers part of the cost of their transtion.

But even then, breast augmentation and facial surgery is not covered by insurance and all the rest have co-pays, especially the surgery which doesn't include travel, accommodations, followup visits, etc. In short, it's not cheap.

And that often leads to some setting of accounts to donate to the transition costs. How many women who are transitioning can afford to help without taking money from their own transition? Outside of friends family, co-workers, etal, who's going to donate for a total stranger?

I'm sure many people donate to some of the women and it clearly always helps, which is why transitions should be covered by insurance. It's a known medical condition with an established treatment plan and protocol for a complete success.

I just wonder about why women out themselves to ask for donations and what they expect in terms of the amount. It's a choice if you don't have a ready source for the costs of your transition, like family which some do with supportive parents or access to a retirement, home equity or similar funds if you're older.

In any case, money seems to be the biggest impediment to transitions, and mostly for the last surgery. We need to find a better solution in the US, which are available in other countries where the costs are  covered including some surgeries, eg. Canada, Great Britain, etc.