Letter: When lesbian meant monster

Sunday 21 March 1993 00:02 GMT

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LYNN BARBER speculates in her review that 'feminism and psychoanalysis might have helped her articulate her confusions'. As one who was born 21 years later than Dame Daphne, and has experienced the same 'gender dysphoria' (as it is inelegantly termed) I doubt it.

The phenomenon of feeling that one is 'in the wrong body' is still a mystery and in my experience psychotherapists are as baffled as anyone else.

I am nearly 65. The revelation that I was 'really' a boy hit me with epiphanic intensity when I was about six. Nothing in my life has ever changed that conviction.

Diana Chapman

London NW5

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