Stop writing transhumanist characters and start writing transgender characters!

Have you ever seen in your campaign, that a villain in a cult that wants to transcend humanity, or seeing a cyborg changing their am for a robotic laser? I wouldn't say that transhumanist NPCs are the most common one, but moreoften it's common in media to just write a transhumanist character. You'll see mad scientists experimenting with subjects or himself, hating his own mortal flesh. You'll see in cyberpunk settings that people chrome themselves here and there. It's undeniable that transhumanist themes are often viewed as something cool, or philosophical, or even just the standard of a worldbuilding. it's like if you're making a villain, it's in one of the random tables of "hmm what should my BBEG's evil motivation?" This is adopted to every author out there, but when it comes to transgender NPCs (hell even villains), it's often rare. Why is it when you write a character replacing it's flesh arm with a metallic prosthesis or transferring soul to a better vessel is normalized, but changing your gender in a fantasy/scifi setting is seen as intimidating?

You might ask, "Rose, what the hell is the correlation between transhumanist and transgender? Just because those have the words 'trans' doesn't mean they're connected?" Which is true, but I'm here to tell you that there's more in common (on in opposite, but direct opposition is a similarity itself!).

Just a preface: This is not a guide on how to write a transgender NPCs. Why? There's already alot out there. This guide is specifically helping people that can write transhumanist characters but not transgender characters. I'll walk you through nice and easy.

Let's break down transhumanism and transgenderism and see it's components!!!!!

Defining Transhumanism~

What is transhumanism? Breaking the word down, trans and humanism, essentially means going beyond humanity. There's several ways to achieve this, either physically, mentally, or spiritually. Why go beyond humanity? Couple of reasons, but mostly, surpassing limitations. Our current vessel is limited. Maybe our flesh doesn't allow us to fly. Or shoot lasers. Or Charge ourselves under the sun. Mentally speaking, we sometimes view that our emotions are holding us back. Wouldn't it be better if we can be efficient and effective as those machines? Their processors are able to process data infinitely much better than we do. Maybe our electronics allows us to connect to other devices pretty easily. Lastly, we humans are always in search for enlightment. Where is the order of truth? How can I be contend with my soul? Perhaps, if I went beyond my flesh and bones, I can be who my soul desires. Essentially, your body isn't the final destination, it's a vessel can that be upgraded, discarded, or optimized to serve the mind.

Defining Transgenderism (Transgender Identity)

There's nothing special, really. The reality that the person's gender identity doesn't align with the sex they were assigned at birth. How do you fix this problem? Usually by personal interventions, like socially transitioning (within pronouns or clothing) and/or medical transition (HRT, surgeries). What drives this identity is usually the need for bodily autonomy, authenticity, and aligning the physical self so it accurately reflects the internal self.

...You see anything related so far...?

Okay, What's similar then...?

Let's connect em dots!

Both concepts try to fundamentally reject the idea that you are permanently bound by your "starting conditions" or biological destiny. Your body isn't what you wanted. You try to live with it but you can't. Something needs to change. Your body needs to change. You have to do something about it.

The psychological parallel between a transhumanist seeking ascension (rejecting a limiting body) and gender dysphoria (rejecting a misaligned body) is pretty much similar. Sure, some methods might be a tad extreme, but they both want the same thing. The dissonance experienced by not having the correct body and your soul yearns to be in the body that you wished, that's pretty similar. Sure, you can try to just live with the discomfort for the rest of your life, and you can try to "cure" yourself mentally, but it'll always catch up to you. You have to mold your body.

Lastly, both concepts involves the protagonist taking active control over their form and identity to become their truest self. Change your arm! Have top surgery! Do everything you need so that others can perceive how you want to be, physically. No one else can change your fate unless you take control of it. No one else can change your body unless you will yourself to. Changing your body is scary at first. Are you able to pay the price, overcoming your fear to reach your final destination, or maybe the price is even heavier? Maybe you have to sell your soul to the devil? Or your whole body gets deleted and you need to inhabit a nearby armour in order for your to be alive?

Let's see some examples where these concepts interwine with each other.

Arcane: Viktor's "Glorious Evolution". Viktor's original intention is to alter his flesh to fix his failing body, mirroring the life-saving physical interventions of medical transition. He could've lived as a disabled person for the rest of his life. But he took that risk. And in that process, he transforms onto something more. Way more. His personality changed, his perspective changed. His attempt at transcending not only cures himself, but others around him. And finally, he becomes the final stage of evolution.

Ghost in the Shell / Cyberpunk: Edgerunners: They both presents us using full-body prostheses to completely redefine the self; swapping physical forms as easily as swapping clothes. Ghost in the shell is a bit more nuance with it's queerness. Although both belong to a different genre of cyberpunk, they both still ask the question: When you replace yourself with a robotic part, are you still human? When you replace more and more, are you still am? If you reassemble that flesh onto a body similar to yours, is that person you?

The best example? The Matrix. A foundational trans allegory where breaking free from the "system" involves shedding an assigned physical reality in favor of a true mental projection (Residual Self Image). I don't need to explain more in this one, it truly is one of the best movies

Where's the guide, then?

Alright alright. Now that we know what's similar and not, let's move on some of the tips and tricks!

1. Frame it as a "Character Upgrade": Treat the transition not as a tragedy, but as the process of a character unlocking their true build and potential. A AMAB fighter maybe physically be strong but mentally weak, but after she transitions, she loves herself and able to exert more strength more than ever.
2. Apply Equal Narrative Weight: Give a character seeking gender-affirming care the same agency and drive as a cyberpunk street samurai seeking a high-tier cybernetic arm. Why can't we treat a PC/NPC seeking surgery the same as intense of a quest just like it's cyberpunk counterpart?
3. Focus on Euphoria: Describe the joy and confidence of the character's transition, similar to the thrill of a wizard unlocking immortality or a cyborg testing their new strength. It doesn't have to be displayed on a central dialogue, you can display the happiness on the day-to-day interactions.
4. Integrate via Worldbuilding: If a setting’s alchemists can brew potions of swiftness, they can brew HRT. If artificers can build mechanical hearts, they can easily alter physical aesthetics. There are a LOT of opportunities, be it fantasy or sci fi. Be creative on how people can achieve their transhumanist/genderism.

What NOT to do...

• Do not make it their only trait: You wouldn't write a transhumanist character whose only personality is "has a metal arm"; do not make a trans character's identity their only plotline.
• Do not hyper-fixate on the "trauma of the flesh": Avoid misery-porn; focus on the joy of the solution rather than just the pain of the starting point.
• Do not "other" them: Avoid normalizing heavily modified cyborgs or magically altered mutants in your TTRPG party while treating the trans character as an unnatural anomaly.
• Do not map it to the "villainous perfection" trope: Unlike the transhumanist cultist villain, a transgender character's transition is about personal alignment and survival, not achieving a twisted superiority over others.