![]() People within the furry community, like many subcultural groups, often define themselves in opposition to other subcultures. Subcultural Themes in the Furry Community This is not to say that furries’ feelings and deeply held identities regarding this matter are not valid or genuine, but rather to suggest that comparisons to gender dysphoria do not fundamentally make sense. There is no analogous comparison to be made with a desire to become another species, nor is there any analogous health care that could be given to individuals who identify as having Species Identity Disorder. Species Identity Disorder should not be considered a legitimate medical diagnosis because gender is a social construct, and there is a great deal of scientific evidence that indicates gender-affirming medical care for trans and gender nonconforming folks can be lifesaving. Nonetheless, this comparison is controversial for many reasons, not the least of which being that Gender Identity Disorder (and, to a slightly lesser extent, the new diagnosis of gender dysphoria) is often a stigmatizing label that has been used to advocate for conversion therapy ( Probyn-Rapsey 2011:297), and thus carries a great deal of baggage. later went on to claim that they were simply making a comparison, rather than advocating for a new kind of diagnosis ( 2011:303). treated these desires much more seriously than most of us probably would at first glance, and even went so far as to suggest connections between “Species Identity Disorder” and Gender Identity Disorder, which has since been renamed “gender dysphoria” and is a diagnosis for people who are transgender, referring to the discord between their physical bodies and their internal sense of gender identity (Gerbasi et al. One of the more perplexing traits the researchers noted in their furry subjects was that of genuinely desiring to become an animal. The researchers also found that furries tend to come into their identities and get involved with the furry community at a relatively young age, usually in their late teens (Gerbasi et al 2008:204). In the extensive study carried out by Gerbasi et al., we see that some common stereotypes about furries are actually relatively accurate - for instance, the furry community is largely male (86% of surveyed furries were male) furries tend to like sci-fi more than the general population canids are popular choices for fursonas - whereas others are entirely inaccurate - for example, not all or even most furries wear fursuits furries do not, on the whole, have traits consistent with personality disorders not all furries are gay. However, the truth is that we cannot really be sure what biological and social causes may lead someone to identify within the furry community. Should you be forced to take me seriously, even though there’s no proof I’m actually a unicorn?” anti-trans activists argue on the Internet, you’ll often come across the following argument: “Well, a man saying they identify as a woman is like me saying I identify as a unicorn. ![]() For instance, if you’ve ever watched pro- vs. ![]() We see manifestations of this pathologization all the time, whether explicit or implicit. Upon reading this simplified definition, it seems obvious why most people would look upon the furry community with amusement or even outright revulsion - under what circumstances would it even be possible for someone to truly identify outside the human race? Many of us might be tempted to immediately pathologize the furry community this is one of the most common insults aimed at furries (Gerbasi et al. Many furries feel a deep spiritual and emotional connection with a particular animal, to the point where they may even identify more with their particular species of animal (their “fursona”) than humanity (Gerbasi et al. in one of the most significant academic works on furries to date, furries exist at the intersection of anthropomorphism (ascribing human qualities to non-humans) and zoomorphism (essentially the opposite of anthropomorphism). Commodification, Diffusion, and Defusionįurries are pictured here at a convention, wearing their fursuits.īefore we can tackle some of our assumptions about the furry community, we must first define who we’re talking about.Mapping the Landscape of Sexual Deviance.Toggle navigation Subcultures and Sociology Grinnell College
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