My Changing Body

CONTENTS

HOW YOUR BODY IS CHANGING

P. 40 BEFORE READING

P. 4

WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD OUTSIDE?

P. 66 YOU’RE GOING THROUGH PUBERTY. NOW WHAT?

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

P. 10

P. 74

? ?

?

INITIAL INGREDIENTS

P. 18

11 THINGS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER

P. 88 GLOSSARY

P. 92

CONTENTS

HOW YOUR BODY IS CHANGING

P. 40 BEFORE READING

P. 4

WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD OUTSIDE?

P. 66 YOU’RE GOING THROUGH PUBERTY. NOW WHAT?

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

P. 10

P. 74

? ?

?

INITIAL INGREDIENTS

P. 18

11 THINGS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER

P. 88 GLOSSARY

P. 92

àFRIENDSHIPS During puberty, the friend group that you confide in and discuss things with may become the focal point of your life. You might feel like they understand you since they’re going through the same things as you and they can understand what you’re feeling and make you feel like you’re part of the group.

WE’RE HERE FOR EACH

OTH E

R!

Or, you might be a more solitary person or not feel the need to identify with a single group. Always remember that you’re going through a transition in which first and foremost you’re discovering who you are.

In other words: things can change over time.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

THERE’S ALWAYS A SOLUTION!

...if your way of wanting (or not wanting) to be part of a group is significantly impacting your daily life, stopping you from doing something, or forcing you to do something, you should go talk to someone at the psychologist’s or counselor’s office, if your school has one (or even talk to the teacher you feel most comfortable with), or ask an adult you trust to get in contact with someone who is trained and qualified in the field of psychology.

16

17

àFRIENDSHIPS During puberty, the friend group that you confide in and discuss things with may become the focal point of your life. You might feel like they understand you since they’re going through the same things as you and they can understand what you’re feeling and make you feel like you’re part of the group.

WE’RE HERE FOR EACH

OTH E

R!

Or, you might be a more solitary person or not feel the need to identify with a single group. Always remember that you’re going through a transition in which first and foremost you’re discovering who you are.

In other words: things can change over time.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

THERE’S ALWAYS A SOLUTION!

...if your way of wanting (or not wanting) to be part of a group is significantly impacting your daily life, stopping you from doing something, or forcing you to do something, you should go talk to someone at the psychologist’s or counselor’s office, if your school has one (or even talk to the teacher you feel most comfortable with), or ask an adult you trust to get in contact with someone who is trained and qualified in the field of psychology.

16

17

HOW OFTEN DO YOU LOOK AT YOUR FACE IN THE MIRROR? WHY NOT GIVE THE SAME KIND OF ATTENTION TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY? àLOOK AND LEARN Getting to know the anatomy of your genitals and making it a daily habit to look at them will help you to monitor any changes and to notice if something doesn’t seem right.

NOT ALL VULVAE AND PENISES ARE ALIKE. THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND COLORS AND THAT’S PERFECTLY OK!

This may be a bit easier for XY people because the penis and scrotum are visible, while XX people might want to use a mirror, which will make it possible to look at their genitals in a more complete way. Actually, to really see the entire vulva, it will be necessary to move the inner labia to the sides to find the vaginal opening. But really, a mirror will be useful to people with XY bodies too, making it possible to get a good look at the penis and scrotum from a different perspective.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT WORRIES YOU OR IF YOU JUST HAVE QUESTIONS, TALK TO AN ADULT YOU TRUST.

26

HOW OFTEN DO YOU LOOK AT YOUR FACE IN THE MIRROR? WHY NOT GIVE THE SAME KIND OF ATTENTION TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY? àLOOK AND LEARN Getting to know the anatomy of your genitals and making it a daily habit to look at them will help you to monitor any changes and to notice if something doesn’t seem right.

NOT ALL VULVAE AND PENISES ARE ALIKE. THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND COLORS AND THAT’S PERFECTLY OK!

This may be a bit easier for XY people because the penis and scrotum are visible, while XX people might want to use a mirror, which will make it possible to look at their genitals in a more complete way. Actually, to really see the entire vulva, it will be necessary to move the inner labia to the sides to find the vaginal opening. But really, a mirror will be useful to people with XY bodies too, making it possible to get a good look at the penis and scrotum from a different perspective.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT WORRIES YOU OR IF YOU JUST HAVE QUESTIONS, TALK TO AN ADULT YOU TRUST.

26

àGINGERBREAD PERSON

GENDER IDENTITY

THIS GINGERBREAD MAN WANTS TO EXPLAIN THAT YOU AS A PERSON ARE A WHOLE MADE OF MANY PARTS AND ASPECTS (PHYSICAL AND OTHERWISE) THAT COME TOGETHER. NO ONE OF THEM ALONE REPRESENTS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. THESE ASPECTS ARE:

SEXUAL ORIENTATION (OR ROMANTIC ORIENTATION)

BIOLOGICAL SEX

meaning the sex that you were assigned at birth according to your external and internal genitals, your organs, your hormones, and your chromosomes.

GENDER IDENTITY

meaning the gender you feel you are, the one you identify with.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION (OR ROMANTIC ORIENTATION) meaning who or what you are attracted to.

GENDER EXPRESSION

BIOLOGICAL SEX

NOT EVERYONE IDENTIFIES WITH THE WAY THEIR BODY LOOKS. IT’S POSSIBLE THAT YOUR BODY WAS DEFINED AS MALE OR FEMALE, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE THIS REPRESENTS YOU.

meaning how you express your belonging to a gender.

34

GENDER EXPRESSION

35

àGINGERBREAD PERSON

GENDER IDENTITY

THIS GINGERBREAD MAN WANTS TO EXPLAIN THAT YOU AS A PERSON ARE A WHOLE MADE OF MANY PARTS AND ASPECTS (PHYSICAL AND OTHERWISE) THAT COME TOGETHER. NO ONE OF THEM ALONE REPRESENTS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. THESE ASPECTS ARE:

SEXUAL ORIENTATION (OR ROMANTIC ORIENTATION)

BIOLOGICAL SEX

meaning the sex that you were assigned at birth according to your external and internal genitals, your organs, your hormones, and your chromosomes.

GENDER IDENTITY

meaning the gender you feel you are, the one you identify with.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION (OR ROMANTIC ORIENTATION) meaning who or what you are attracted to.

GENDER EXPRESSION

BIOLOGICAL SEX

NOT EVERYONE IDENTIFIES WITH THE WAY THEIR BODY LOOKS. IT’S POSSIBLE THAT YOUR BODY WAS DEFINED AS MALE OR FEMALE, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE THIS REPRESENTS YOU.

meaning how you express your belonging to a gender.

34

GENDER EXPRESSION

35

àEVEN VOICES CHANGE During puberty, cartilage grows and changes. These hard yet stretchy tissues cover the ends of the bones in our joints so that they can move, and they give shape to some body parts, like ears (touch the upper part of your ear—that’s cartilage!) or the larynx, which is the area of the trachea that protects the vocal cords.

During puberty, everyone’s voice changes, getting lower in tone. This happens because the larynx gets thicker (in XY bodies this increase is greater and a protuberance on the throat develops, called the Adam’s apple) and because the vocal cords get longer and more robust. Like musical instruments, longer cords produce lower, deeper tones, which is why our voices change. In XY bodies, the change is faster as it, too, is caused by testosterone, which is circulating in higher amounts, and young XY people can also experience unexpected variations of higher or lower tones because the musculature is still getting used to managing the new dimensions.

THESE HIGHS AND LOWS SHOULD STABILIZE WITHIN A YEAR OR SO. IN XX BODIES, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ELONGATION AND THICKENING OF THE VOCAL CORDS HAPPENS GRADUALLY AND YOU PROBABLY WON’T EVEN NOTICE THE CHANGE OF TONE THAT’S TAKING PLACE. 50

51

àEVEN VOICES CHANGE During puberty, cartilage grows and changes. These hard yet stretchy tissues cover the ends of the bones in our joints so that they can move, and they give shape to some body parts, like ears (touch the upper part of your ear—that’s cartilage!) or the larynx, which is the area of the trachea that protects the vocal cords.

During puberty, everyone’s voice changes, getting lower in tone. This happens because the larynx gets thicker (in XY bodies this increase is greater and a protuberance on the throat develops, called the Adam’s apple) and because the vocal cords get longer and more robust. Like musical instruments, longer cords produce lower, deeper tones, which is why our voices change. In XY bodies, the change is faster as it, too, is caused by testosterone, which is circulating in higher amounts, and young XY people can also experience unexpected variations of higher or lower tones because the musculature is still getting used to managing the new dimensions.

THESE HIGHS AND LOWS SHOULD STABILIZE WITHIN A YEAR OR SO. IN XX BODIES, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ELONGATION AND THICKENING OF THE VOCAL CORDS HAPPENS GRADUALLY AND YOU PROBABLY WON’T EVEN NOTICE THE CHANGE OF TONE THAT’S TAKING PLACE. 50

51

àWHAT ELSE WILL HAPPEN? At this time, you’ll also notice that you’re hungrier than ever and you might link any weight gain to that. Your bones are growing and they weigh more, as do your muscles.

People with XX bodies might notice an increase in body fat on their hips, thighs, and breasts. All of these aspects are connected to your growth spurt and they let you know that everything is moving properly along (and that’s it!).

On XY bodies, you might notice the shoulders and torso getting broader, an increase in muscle mass, and the appearance of hair on the chest and face.

On XX bodies, thanks to estrogens (female hormones), you might notice breasts, a widening of the hip bones, and an increase in body fat, especially on the hips, buttocks, and thighs.

àTAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY

Precisely because your body is going through numerous changes due to hormones and precisely because you’re growing up and becoming independent, you need to start taking care of your body, and that also means proper hygiene for your private parts.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF, THE LESS SCARY THIS WHOLE TRANSFORMATION WILL FEEL.

If you have a penis and it isn’t circumcised, be sure to pull back the foreskin and wash away the smegma (the whitish substance that helps the foreskin glide over the glans) from the head of your penis. Be sure to wash your scrotum and pubic hair.

If you have a vulva, wash between the folds of the lips, the pubic hair, and your clitoris.

Remember to wash your vulva well during menstruation.

WASHING WELL DOESN’T MEAN OVER WASHING: IT’S BEST TO LIMIT YOUR USE OF SOAP TO JUST ONE OR TWO TIMES A DAY. MAKE SURE THE SOAP YOU USE IS DELICATE.

54

55

àWHAT ELSE WILL HAPPEN? At this time, you’ll also notice that you’re hungrier than ever and you might link any weight gain to that. Your bones are growing and they weigh more, as do your muscles.

People with XX bodies might notice an increase in body fat on their hips, thighs, and breasts. All of these aspects are connected to your growth spurt and they let you know that everything is moving properly along (and that’s it!).

On XY bodies, you might notice the shoulders and torso getting broader, an increase in muscle mass, and the appearance of hair on the chest and face.

On XX bodies, thanks to estrogens (female hormones), you might notice breasts, a widening of the hip bones, and an increase in body fat, especially on the hips, buttocks, and thighs.

àTAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY

Precisely because your body is going through numerous changes due to hormones and precisely because you’re growing up and becoming independent, you need to start taking care of your body, and that also means proper hygiene for your private parts.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF, THE LESS SCARY THIS WHOLE TRANSFORMATION WILL FEEL.

If you have a penis and it isn’t circumcised, be sure to pull back the foreskin and wash away the smegma (the whitish substance that helps the foreskin glide over the glans) from the head of your penis. Be sure to wash your scrotum and pubic hair.

If you have a vulva, wash between the folds of the lips, the pubic hair, and your clitoris.

Remember to wash your vulva well during menstruation.

WASHING WELL DOESN’T MEAN OVER WASHING: IT’S BEST TO LIMIT YOUR USE OF SOAP TO JUST ONE OR TWO TIMES A DAY. MAKE SURE THE SOAP YOU USE IS DELICATE.

54

55

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE Here’s a chart to summarize the stages of your cycle and also to use as a calendar to calculate the days until the next one begins.

LUTEAL PHASE

25

26

27 28

1

2

3

4 5

24

OVULATORY PHASE

6

23

7

22

8

21

9

20

10

19

18

17

16 15 14

13

12

11

FOLLICULAR PHASE

60

BLEEDING

THE LATTER CHANGES OCCUR IN ANTICIPATION OF THE START OF FERTILE LIFE, WHICH INVOLVES THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EGGS, IN LIGHT OF A POSSIBLE PREGNANCY AND THUS CHILDBIRTH AND BREASTFEEDING. EVEN IF THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER, WHEN, AND HOW YOU MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT WANT TO BECOME A PARENT, THE BODY GETS READY FOR THAT POSSIBILITY. 61

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE Here’s a chart to summarize the stages of your cycle and also to use as a calendar to calculate the days until the next one begins.

LUTEAL PHASE

25

26

27 28

1

2

3

4 5

24

OVULATORY PHASE

6

23

7

22

8

21

9

20

10

19

18

17

16 15 14

13

12

11

FOLLICULAR PHASE

60

BLEEDING

THE LATTER CHANGES OCCUR IN ANTICIPATION OF THE START OF FERTILE LIFE, WHICH INVOLVES THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EGGS, IN LIGHT OF A POSSIBLE PREGNANCY AND THUS CHILDBIRTH AND BREASTFEEDING. EVEN IF THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER, WHEN, AND HOW YOU MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT WANT TO BECOME A PARENT, THE BODY GETS READY FOR THAT POSSIBILITY. 61

MUMBLE MUMBLE

click click

WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD OUTSIDE? You may have seen advertisements, in a magazine or on a social network/social media platform, that depict a body type that seems very different from yours... More glamorous, in better shape, more beautiful, almost "perfect."

This might make you feel sad and uncomfortable with your body, as if it weren’t enough (or as if you just weren’t enough).

IN MODERN SOCIETY, THE PREVAILING BEAUTY STANDARD DICTATES THAT LEAN, TALL, MUSCULAR, OR SHAPELY BODIES ARE “IDEAL.” BUT THE TERM “STANDARD” ITSELF INDICATES COMPLIANCE WITH A GIVEN SET OF RULES OR CONDITIONS. YOUR BODY, ON THE OTHER HAND, DOESN’T HAVE TO FOLLOW ANY RULES TO BE PLEASING, BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, ADEQUATE, OR ACCEPTED. IT’S SIMPLY YOURS.

66

67

MUMBLE MUMBLE

click click

WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD OUTSIDE? You may have seen advertisements, in a magazine or on a social network/social media platform, that depict a body type that seems very different from yours... More glamorous, in better shape, more beautiful, almost "perfect."

This might make you feel sad and uncomfortable with your body, as if it weren’t enough (or as if you just weren’t enough).

IN MODERN SOCIETY, THE PREVAILING BEAUTY STANDARD DICTATES THAT LEAN, TALL, MUSCULAR, OR SHAPELY BODIES ARE “IDEAL.” BUT THE TERM “STANDARD” ITSELF INDICATES COMPLIANCE WITH A GIVEN SET OF RULES OR CONDITIONS. YOUR BODY, ON THE OTHER HAND, DOESN’T HAVE TO FOLLOW ANY RULES TO BE PLEASING, BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, ADEQUATE, OR ACCEPTED. IT’S SIMPLY YOURS.

66

67

DID YOU KNOW THAT... ...each social media platform requires a minimum age for logging on and you must have parental consent, that is, a parent or guardian must be informed, and you must share what you experience and see online, should IF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE you be 13 years old or younger.

YOU MET ONLINE MADE YOU We know that this isn’t always UNEASY AND WORRIED, the case, but let’s take a moment TALK IT OVER WITH to reflect on this minimum age.

A TRUSTED ADULT We could compare the Web to an ocean in which knowing how to swim isn’t enough to get your bearings and figure out which direction you are going, or to know which creatures are closer than you think, so going there alone and without any safety equipment can make it a dangerous or at least a very difficult experience.

OF COURSE, THE WEB IS AN INTRIGUING WORLD, WITHIN WHICH YOU CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION, ENTERTAINMENT, HOBBIES, AND DISTRACTIONS YOU WANT. BUT, LIKE THE OCEAN, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE IT AND USE IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. THAT’S WHY SHARING YOUR “NAVIGATION” ROUTES WITH ADULTS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

72

UNTIL YOU BECOME AN ADULT YOURSELF, IT SHOULD BE NORMAL TO SHARE YOUR ONLINE ACTIVITIES WITH THE ADULTS AROUND YOU. THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY NEED TO CONSTANTLY MONITOR YOU OR SPY ON YOU, BUT THAT, TOGETHER, YOU CAN DISCUSS HOW YOU USE ELECTRONIC DEVICES, GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, OR LOOK AT THE CONTENT YOU CONSUME OR THAT MAY BE PRESENTED TO YOU TOGETHER, AND EVEN TO START A DISCUSSION ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES.

73

DID YOU KNOW THAT... ...each social media platform requires a minimum age for logging on and you must have parental consent, that is, a parent or guardian must be informed, and you must share what you experience and see online, should IF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE you be 13 years old or younger.

YOU MET ONLINE MADE YOU We know that this isn’t always UNEASY AND WORRIED, the case, but let’s take a moment TALK IT OVER WITH to reflect on this minimum age.

A TRUSTED ADULT We could compare the Web to an ocean in which knowing how to swim isn’t enough to get your bearings and figure out which direction you are going, or to know which creatures are closer than you think, so going there alone and without any safety equipment can make it a dangerous or at least a very difficult experience.

OF COURSE, THE WEB IS AN INTRIGUING WORLD, WITHIN WHICH YOU CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION, ENTERTAINMENT, HOBBIES, AND DISTRACTIONS YOU WANT. BUT, LIKE THE OCEAN, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE IT AND USE IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. THAT’S WHY SHARING YOUR “NAVIGATION” ROUTES WITH ADULTS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

72

UNTIL YOU BECOME AN ADULT YOURSELF, IT SHOULD BE NORMAL TO SHARE YOUR ONLINE ACTIVITIES WITH THE ADULTS AROUND YOU. THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY NEED TO CONSTANTLY MONITOR YOU OR SPY ON YOU, BUT THAT, TOGETHER, YOU CAN DISCUSS HOW YOU USE ELECTRONIC DEVICES, GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, OR LOOK AT THE CONTENT YOU CONSUME OR THAT MAY BE PRESENTED TO YOU TOGETHER, AND EVEN TO START A DISCUSSION ABOUT IMPORTANT ISSUES.

73

àNEW FEELINGS AND NEW SENSATIONS During puberty, relationships between peers become increasingly important. Friendships become a place of exchange, feedback, and support, and your feelings within these bonds will be really intense.

You might be surprised at the intense feelings that arise when you think about the person you like.

SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS COULD HAPPEN! THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS: YOU MIGHT LIKE SEVERAL PEOPLE, YOU MIGHT LIKE SOMEONE TODAY BUT NOT TOMORROW, THE OTHER PERSON MIGHT NOT FEEL THE SAME WAY...

Don’t be afraid: observe, trust yourself, and always keep in mind the value of consent within relationships with others.

NO MEANS NO! !

S E Y S N A E M S E Y 80

S NO! N A E M S S E I GU 81

àNEW FEELINGS AND NEW SENSATIONS During puberty, relationships between peers become increasingly important. Friendships become a place of exchange, feedback, and support, and your feelings within these bonds will be really intense.

You might be surprised at the intense feelings that arise when you think about the person you like.

SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS COULD HAPPEN! THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS: YOU MIGHT LIKE SEVERAL PEOPLE, YOU MIGHT LIKE SOMEONE TODAY BUT NOT TOMORROW, THE OTHER PERSON MIGHT NOT FEEL THE SAME WAY...

Don’t be afraid: observe, trust yourself, and always keep in mind the value of consent within relationships with others.

NO MEANS NO! !

S E Y S N A E M S E Y 80

S NO! N A E M S S E I GU 81