Pageboy: A Memoir

Gender dysphoria is the feeling that one’s gender identity does not match up with one’s assigned gender. In Page’s case, he was assigned female at birth, but he felt like a boy from an early age. People who experience gender dysphoria might feel very uncomfortable with gender expectations, including the clothing they are expected to wear and the way people address them. They may also experience dysphoria concerning their own physical characteristics. Many people who experience gender dysphoria identify as transgender or nonbinary, and they may alter the way they present themselves to better align with their gender identity. Not everyone experiences gender dysphoria in the same way, and not every trans person experiences dysphoria. Dysphoria is very personal and can be difficult to talk about. Page describes his feelings of gender dysphoria extensively and cites them as a major motivating factor in his decision to come out as trans.

Top surgery is a type of gender-affirming surgery. For trans men, it usually involves removing breast tissue and creating a flat chest. Elliot Page describes his experience getting top surgery in 2020. He also describes the recovery process from the surgery, which can be grueling. In Canada, where Page is from, gender-affirming care is typically free through the country’s medical system. Page says that he paid $12,000 for his surgery because he opted to use a private clinic.

A transgender (trans) person is someone whose gender identity does not align with the gender assigned to them at birth. Many trans people choose to transition socially and medically, which may involve taking hormones, getting gender-affirming surgeries, and changing one’s name and pronouns. Some trans people decline medical intervention in their transition. Trans people have highly diverse experiences; Page’s story is just one example.