Article:I want to be a boy

'I want to be a boy'

By: Alisha Coelho Date: 2009-06-08 Place:Mumbai

14-year-old reality show participant believes sex change will help her be a star singer; feels like a boy in a girl's body Diksha Sharma (14) believes her gender is stopping her from realising her dreams that of becoming a singer. The girl from Haryana was recently in Mumbai to audition for a reality show, but didn't get selected. She says she feels like an "outsider" in her girls' school and wants to get a sex change as soon as she turns 18. Diksha was among the 55 children from nine cities who contested in the final round of auditions in Mumbai last month Diksha Sharma has dreams in her eyes. The 14-year-old girl from Sirsa, Haryana, wants to become a famous singer and is willing to go to any extent to realise her dream. According to Diksha, who tried her luck on a reality TV show recently, there's just one obstacle her gender. But she's found a solution to that problem as well. Diksha has decided to undergo a sex change operation immediately after she turns 18. She says this will not only help her become a top singer, but will also quell her frustration of being a boy trapped in the body of a girl. Talking to MiD DAY from her hometown, Diksha said she wanted to be a boy since she was in Std VI. Diksha, whose clothes, mannerisms and demeanour are like that of a boy, said, "I don't care about what clothes I wear and make up does not excite me. I like to play cricket and ride a bike. In my school, meant only for girls, I feel like an outsider. I have two elder sisters and my parents raised me like a boy because they weren't going to have more kids. I feel frustrated because I think I would have definitely made the finals of Zee TV's SaReGaMaPa Little Champs if I were a boy." Such is life Diksha was among the 55 children from nine cities who contested in the final round of auditions in Mumbai last month. She was not among the 12 kids selected for the competition. "It was the first time I had such a big platform to showcase my talent and make it big. I'm sure I would have won the competition had I been a boy. But such is life," said Diksha. Ajay Bhalwankar, ZEE TV's programming head, said, "During the auditions in Delhi, Diksha insisted that she be included in the group of boys and we obliged. However, she didn't go past the final auditions in Mumbai. We wish her luck and appreciate her parents for supporting her through this." Parental support Though Diksha's parents aren't thrilled about her decision, they've decided to stand by their daughter. "We tried to explain to Diksha that she should be happy with what God has given her. But we've also told her that she can do as she pleases when she turns 18. We are not worried about any backlash from society, we will support her in her decision," said her father Krishnan Sharma, who works in a dispensary and suffers from respiratory problems. Her mother runs a beauty parlour from home. Having convinced her parents, Dikhsha does not want to waste any more time. "I am desperately looking for a doctor who will help me with the operation," said Diksha. Counselling, a must According to psychologist Seema Hingoranny, "Diksha needs counselling. Most teenagers experience identity crisis that can either be temporary or shape the adults they become. For example, some people who express a desire for a sex change may be suffering from a gender sexual identity disorder that may be the result of some childhood trauma or hatred towards a particular sex." Dr Vijay Sharma, president of the Indian Association of Cosmetic Surgery, said, "Technically, a sex change operation does nothing, but offer aesthetic value. (Cont'd)

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jun/080609-Diksha-Shah-sex-change-Mumbai-audition-reality-show.htm

wow that's a lot for a kid to go through but i am so glad her parents are supporting her and yes she definitely needs the counseling just so she's really sure of what she's doing.

I think rather than get a sex change and condoning to what society is making her put up with, I think she should fight against it. Fight for what she believes in and against what she thinks is wrong.

Anyway, she probably didn't get in because of her respiratory problems, not because she's not a boy.

Rebelling against societal norms, by falling prey to conformity - fantastic.

I have two elder sisters and my parents raised me like a boy because they weren't going to have more kids.

argh...these kind of parents disturb me...I've seen a family like this in real life too.😕 And I generally don't agree with people who go against nature anyways.

Originally posted by: *Woh Ajnabee*

Rebelling against societal norms, by falling prey to conformity - fantastic.

I'm as non conforming as non conforming as can be, you'd be non conforming too if you were just like me.

I am glad that the parents are supportive, whatever she is going through is hard on her. However, she should receive counseling before going through such a major life altering decision.

I can understand M2F transitions, but F2M - I just don't get it. Why go through all that when you can simply accessorize.

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

I'm as non conforming as non conforming as can be, you'd be non conforming too if you were just like me.

I am glad that the parents are supportive, whatever she is going through is hard on her. However, she should receive counseling before going through such a major life altering decision.

I can understand M2F transitions, but F2M - I just don't get it. Why go through all that when you can simply accessorize.

Oh yes - and I love your nonconformity.

But Sarina, how in the world are her parents supportive? I think in this case her parents are her biggest enemies. They raise her like a boy because of what? A personal desire to have a son? And now by compelling her to go to such great lengths to become that "son" that they wanted they are being "supportive"? I don't believe that. I think they are just hypocritical selfish fools.

And amen to accessorizing.

Another confused little soul...

Originally posted by: *Woh Ajnabee*

Oh yes - and I love your nonconformity.

But Sarina, how in the world are her parents supportive? I think in this case her parents are her biggest enemies. They raise her like a boy because of what? A personal desire to have a son? And now by compelling her to go to such great lengths to become that "son" that they wanted they are being "supportive"? I don't believe that. I think they are just hypocritical selfish fools.

And amen to accessorizing.

If parents do that solely because they want a son, that is selfish of them. However, whatever Diksha is going through is very difficult. As a girl, I can vouch that we all wish we had the freedom and fun that boys have; but, never do we actually think of going under the knife to change who we are. There has to be something extreme somewhere down the line that makes a child feel such extreme emotions. A lot of people ridicule these conflicted emotions or suppress it making it worse. And even if out of selfishness the parents give some support to her ideas, it is still support which for a volatile teen is the most important thing in the world.

As they say she must receive counseling and wait till she is eighteen. Thats a long time away. Who knows a good counselor may help her fight away any emotional demons that are there.

Until then Diksha don't be a boy. Boys are hairy, smelly, sweaty and icky. 😆

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

If parents do that solely because they want a son, that is selfish of them. However, whatever Diksha is going through is very difficult. As a girl, I can vouch that we all wish we had the freedom and fun that boys have; but, never do we actually think of going under the knife to change who we are. There has to be something extreme somewhere down the line that makes a child feel such extreme emotions. A lot of people ridicule these conflicted emotions or suppress it making it worse. And even if out of selfishness the parents give some support to her ideas, it is still support which for a volatile teen is the most important thing in the world.

As they say she must receive counseling and wait till she is eighteen. Thats a long time away. Who knows a good counselor may help her fight away any emotional demons that are there.

Until then Diksha don't be a boy. Boys are hairy, smelly, sweaty and icky. 😆

We all have fantasies as teens - emotions run high at this point in life. And hormonal imbalance causes such foolish thinking to occur. Although being eighteen does not automatically grant a path to maturity, I hope that someone somewhere will knock some sense into this girl's head.

You don't have to be into make-up to be a girl - if that was the case, the 'F' that I've been writing on every form so far in life has been an outright lie. You can be a girl and still ride a bicycle and play cricket.

Her parents have caused such confusion in her head by dressing her up as a boy, and messing with her identity. I guess it is all the role of nature vs nurture again - I sincerely believe that the two play an equal role, and such cases only go to prove that.

Oh yes - you have a wonderful point - hairy, smelly, sweaty, icky: all the more reason to stay away from that gender.