Do non-Human transgender animals exist?

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/new-zealand-transgender-bellbird-_n_1967151.html

What do you guys think? Is transgenderism also present in other animals?

[7,052,770]

I don't know why they wouldn't...

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Uh no wtf

[Blue3]

Yeah. Haven't you watched Jurassic Park? Some amphibians can change sexes.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I doubt it. Gender is a social construct, isn't it? Do animals identify as a "gender"?

[TNF]

Highly doubtful, given that animals do not have 'genders' in the sense that human beings do.

[Sol]

Highly doubtful, given that animals do not have 'genders' in the sense that human beings do.

How so?

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

I doubt it. Gender is a social construct, isn't it? Do animals identify as a "gender"?

Not really, no - that's why transgender humans exist. Unless we develop the capability to have conversations with animals we won't be able to tell what their conceptions of gender are.

[Blue3]

Also, there are humans born who aren't 100% male or 100% female, biologically speaking. It's rare but it does happen. Why should other animals be different?

[TNF]

Highly doubtful, given that animals do not have 'genders' in the sense that human beings do.

How so?

In that gender in human society is a purely social construct which animals don't really have (at least to my knowledge). I might be wrong though, I'll admit I'm still not extremely knowledgeable on gender expression/transgenderism, which is something I regret and really need to read more about.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I don't think animals worry much about what gender they are.  They may have behaviors and relationships normally associated more with the other sex of their species, but I'd think a transgender identity requires highly abstract and probably even linguistic categories.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Highly doubtful, given that animals do not have 'genders' in the sense that human beings do.

How so?

In that gender in human society is a purely social construct which animals don't really have (at least to my knowledge). I might be wrong though, I'll admit I'm still not extremely knowledgeable on gender expression/transgenderism, which is something I regret and really need to read more about.

I have not done anywhere near enough reading on gender, though to my knowledge the theory on gender being solely a social construct is more or less limited to gender studies schools of academia.

[Simfan34]

Animals lack consciousness, how could they possibly have a conception of normative gender identities to transgress in the first place?

[DemPGH]

No, at least not in a human sense and not at this point. However, there have been hermaphrodites that have been found. 

Transsexuality as we understand it is a fairly distinct, human psychological condition.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Highly doubtful, given that animals do not have 'genders' in the sense that human beings do.

How so?

In that gender in human society is a purely social construct which animals don't really have (at least to my knowledge). I might be wrong though, I'll admit I'm still not extremely knowledgeable on gender expression/transgenderism, which is something I regret and really need to read more about.

I have not done anywhere near enough reading on gender, though to my knowledge the theory on gender being solely a social construct is more or less limited to gender studies schools of academia.

     I've never really understood that claim. Considering that men and women have different levels of behavior-affecting hormones, it seems likely that there are differences that exist at the root cause of socialization. As an example, the different levels of testosterone between the sexes create a predisposition for more aggressive behavior among men. Is it any surprise then that the male gender identity is wrapped up in more aggressive behavior?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Thinking about this some more, I suspect some animals do have a concept of male and female.  They are social creatures, and complex male and female roles are often part of animal social patterns.  It's hard to say where instinct ends and learning begins, or if they can be disentangled at all, but the idea that an animal might model themselves after or otherwise follow a pattern different from their physiological sex isn't out of the question . . . so perhaps that would qualify. 

[Sol]

Thinking about this some more, I suspect some animals do have a concept of male and female.  They are social creatures, and complex male and female roles are often part of animal social patterns.  It's hard to say where instinct ends and learning begins, or if they can be disentangled at all, but the idea that an animal might model themselves after or otherwise follow a pattern different from their physiological sex isn't out of the question . . . so perhaps that would qualify. 

Yeah, exactly. I'd also argue that all you just said applies to humans- the difference being that humans are capable of expressing ourselves in a manner to be understood.