Man castrates himself to fulfill dream of womanhood

Li Xiongjin has had the dream of becoming a woman for as long as he can remember. Seven years ago he started taking female hormones. Three years ago, unable to afford the expensive gender re-alignment surgery, he attempted to castrate himself with anesthetics and surgical tools that he bought after researching online. 

However, the failed castration caused him to almost die due to excessive bleeding. The story of his plight recently went viral after he was featured on a Chinese reality show.

The 30-year-old Li Xiongjin, from Hunan Province, regards Jin Xing, a famous dancer and one of the most successful trans-women in China, as his idol.

Li said he respects and admires Jin, who underwent gender realignment surgery back in 1996 despite massive social pressure at the time. Li says he wants to follow the brave example of Jin Xing, which led him to appear on a reality TV show to find a way to complete the necessary operations.

Li says he hated his masculine appearance with the onset of puberty and has consistently shaven his leg hair and grown his hair long for what he considers to be a more feminine appearance.

The Chinese government implemented new guidelines in respect to gender reassignment surgery in 2009. Those wishing to undergo surgery must first apply to the police to change their gender on their official registration documents, live openly as the gender for a number of years, be over twenty, cannot have a criminal record and must have informed their immediate family.

Only a month ago, Li told his parents of his lifelong dream of becoming a woman and they agreed to support his decision. Li’s mother is sympathetic to her son’s dreams and blames herself for never paying enough attention to Li’s desires and feels distressed that her boy has suffered alone.

A plastic surgery hospital volunteered to help Li after watching the reality show, with the first step involving micro plastic injections. There is still a long way before he is able to have a full trans-sexual operation, but it’s closer than ever.

The news has sparked various opinions on Weibo towards Li’s action.

“Each dream should be respected but self-castration is not recommended for becoming a woman.”@jinjiandong said.

“I think she is miserable, and hope she could achieve her dream”, remarked @baligongshe.

“Castration doesn’t mean he would become a girl, but only makes him to be an eunuch. So why bother?”@womaile commented.