Search

The article focuses on the issue of legally determining a transsexual's individual sex in the U.S. Often situations in which courts determine an individual's sex arise in cases that involve marriage licensing, changes on birth certificates and in discrimination cases. There are three circumstances in which courts determine the sex of a transsexual person, that is, disputer related to the validity of a marriage that involves transsexuals, arguments relating to the change of birth certificates to reflect a transsexual's asserted sex, and cases of alleged discrimination. Transsexualism has been categorized as a 'gender identity disorder' in its diagnostic resources by the medical and psychiatric community in its diagnostic resources. Courts often emphasize upon biological information while considering the transsexualism-related cases. Tests that have been established by the U.S. courts for the determination of legal sex of transsexuals are inadequate as they do not address the evolving ways in which sex and gender are experienced and expressed.

Ersatz social engagement theory (Green & Brock, 1998, 2003) suggests that individuals may be drawn to mediated interactions because of their ease, lack of risk, and immediate gratification, but that these interactions may be less rewarding over the long term. In Study 1 (N = 42), participants' moods were measured before and after engaging in a conversation with a stranger either online (instant messenger) or face to face. Participants became slightly less tense and less angry regardless of which condition they were in, but significantly happier when they were in the instant messenger (IM) condition. The increased happiness after an TM rather than face-to-face conversation was especially pronounced among women. Study 2 (N = 101) was a survey of students' Internet use and other extra- curricular activities. Students did not appear to be substituting Internet use for other forms of extracurricular engagement. However, IM use was associated with feeling that one used the Internet too much, and reduced life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]