Anna's Place

Gender Tests

Gender Tests are quackery, and should have no part in understanding the minds, drives or needs of trans people. This page is included only for historical reference as a way of documenting part of the process of my own transition, and I do not recommend that you do not take gender tests at all seriously.

On 4th August 2001 - and after a month of reading about the subject of Gender Dysphoria and the experiences of those who had experienced it - I took online gender tests to attempt to confirm whether I was indeed transsexual.

The first (the then well known Moir-Jessel Brain Sex test) was fairly short and, as I discovered, easily biased if you were minded to do so. My initial result of 65 (well within the female range, which was a shock for a start!) shot up to 90 when I retook the test several weeks later and answered the questions a little more honestly.

The second one I took - the now infamous "COGIATI" test - was much longer and (at the time) seemed less easily swayed. The results it gave seemed to confirm what I feared - that I was indeed likely to be trans:


The COMBINED GENDER IDENTITY AND TRANSSEXUALITY INVENTORY( COGIATI )

RESULTS

 

    Your COGIATI result value is: 270 Which means that you fall within the following category:
     

    COGIATI classification FOUR, PROBABLE TRANSSEXUAL


    What this means is that the Combined Gender Identity And Transsexuality Inventory has classified your internal gender identity to be essentially feminine, but with some masculine or androgynous traits. It is very possible that you are a candidate for a diagnosis of transsexualism. You show a strong degree of gender dysphoria. At the very least, further investigation should be undertaken. Your COGIATI score places you among the majority of those diagnosed as transsexuals, the 'late onset' tanssexual.
     

    SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTION:

    Your situation is potentially serious and indicative of a probable inborn gender conflict. It is definitely recommended that you pursue further action.

     The suggestions for your circumstance are several.

    1. It is recommended that you seek help from a sympathetic counselor or professional about your gender issues. It is very possible that over time they will become increasingly difficult to cope with. Early determination of what you really need and want is vital. You need to determine if you truly are transsexual. Keep in mind, thought, that many alternatives exist other than complete sexual transformation. Partial transformation and many other way of existing are available. While you are very possibly a transsexual, COGIATI has determined that this is not absolutely certain. While time is an issue, being certain is more important. Proceed with investigation of your possible transsexuality or transgenderism, but with caution. 

    2. Some actions may help you to define your needs more clearly. Experimenting with living full time as a woman, taking hormones for a short time under supervision, or taking testosterone suppressers to observe how you feel are all viable options. Keep in mind that while it is very likely that you might be a transsexual, it is not certain. Do not take severe or permanent actions without long thought and the help of counselors and professionals. 

    3. Your gender issues are real, and should not be ignored. Neither should you rush into acting on them, however powerful they may feel. You do not fit the full criterion for the rarest classification, classic transsexuality, and so should be cautious, and open to possibilities. You may yet end up undergoing transition, and the path of the transsexual may well be your salvation. Be very careful, but do not ignore your issues. 

    4. If you have not already, consider joining any of the thousands of groups devoted to gender expression of various kinds. There is literally a world of friends to discover who share your interests. There are also publications, vacations, and activities that would expand your gender expression.
     
     
     

    Thank you for using the Combined Gender Identity And Transsexuality Inventory.

 

  

It is hard to describe in mere words how scared I felt after reading this. I knew in my heart that this was about right, but with it came the realisation came the knowledge that my family would be devastated if I sought treatment.

I managed to cope with the knowledge alone for several weeks, and then the real pain started. By near the end of 2001 I knew I had no choice but to transition and started making plans for my treatment.

Out of interest I took the test again on 17th September with very similar results (270 the first time, 285 the second) which led me to believe at the time that the test seemed to be consistent, given comparable circumstances and honest answers. The COGIATI classifies results as follows:

To a modern eye this seems arcane and indeed it is - with hindsight the test as a whole relies on nonscientific and stereotypical gender roles and a willful ignorance of one's true self. Violate any of its assumptions and the results will vary wildly. That said, I do respect what the author (herself a trans woman) was trying to do at the time.

So even though with hindsight I can see that such tests are at best arbitrary and easily "gamed" -and at worst sheer outdated quackery which at best ignores non-binary identities I (with my with hindsight quite binary identity) found them useful at the time, but I'd caution you not to treat them at all seriously today.