There are no real tests that one could take that might indicate whether one is transsexual or not. There are some tests out there, though that purport to be able to tell if you're male of female. However, a big caveat: none of these tests are definitive in determining one's gender identity. That is such a complex and intrinsic concept that it is difficult to code a test that would be reliable in most cases.

Andrea James has a good write-up on the fallacies of relying on gender tests here. She mirrors my own thoughts exactly.

At the same time, some people want to have a sense of their gender identity validated, which some of these tests can do. It's just that you should really take them with a big grain of salt afterwards, and decide for yourself what is so and what is not.

Bern Sex Role Inventory

The Bem Sex Role Inventory was developed in 1971 by Dr. Sandra Lipsitz Bem. It characterizes your personality as masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated. The BSRI is based on gender stereotypes, so what it's actually measuring is how well you fit into your traditional sex role. Thus, your score may say as much about how our cultural expectations have changed over the last 35 years as it does about your personality.

COGIATI

The Combined Gender Identity And Transsexuality Index is a test intended for the MTF Pre-op, Pre-Transition individual. It is a highly subjective test, asking questions that are frequently stereotypical. It is an unreliable test, and can be easily gamed. Still, it may be helpful for some people at the beginning to ask them questions about themselves. This test is definitely no substitute for an expert's opinion.

Sparknotes Gender Test

This one is really just for entertainment. They take a big sample of ever-growing responses to the questions in the test, which are truly random questions, and use that to determine statistically whether you answer consistently with the people who've self-identified as male or female. This is, of course, fraught with peril as a means of determining one's gender identity. Treat this one as a game only.

Categories: Therapy