Gender Bender: Difference between revisions

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Contrast with [[Transsexual]] and [[Hermaphrodite]], which are real-life phenomena (though on rare occasions, a Gender Bender character might ''turn into'' a hermaphrodite instead of, strictly speaking, the "opposite sex"; also, [[Gender Bender]] stories can intersect with transsexual characters, by having someone transition unexpectedly by magic, or have the experience of being gender-changed bring a transsexual character out of denial. Not to mention all the possibilities of using [[Gender Bender]] stories as metaphors for transsexuality...). Also contrast with [[Easy Sex Change]], which deals with idealized but ''somewhat'' realistic takes on the [[Transsexual]] experience. Not related to [[Was Once a Man]].

Note that the definition of "gender" being used here (and in most [[TV Tropes]] trope names) refers to a character's ''physical sex'', not [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Gender_identity~~ gender identity].

Note that the definition of "gender" being used here (and in most [[TV Tropes]] trope names) refers to a character's ''physical sex'', not [[wikipedia:Gender identity|gender identity]].

Finally, in accordance with the aforementioned Laws, as well as [[Author Appeal|certain]] [[Most Writers Are Male|demographic]] [[Fan Service|reasons]], male-to-female changes are ''far'' more likely than female-to-male ones, and the rare female-to-male ones are usually less susceptible to the Three Laws of Gender Bending. [[Truth in Television]] to some degree, as the ratio of real life Transwomen to Transmen is roughly 3:1, but the ratio in fiction is still a much higher number.

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** Arguably, Gally herself qualifies for a while. Her second body from the original series was originally male until Dr. Ido reconfigured it for her.

** Sechs's decision may be seen as a [[Continuity Nod]], because in the original series, {{spoiler|after Hugo dies}} [http://manga.animea.net/battle-angel-alita-chapter-13-page-33.html Gally shows a desire to give up her female body in order to abandon her past emotions and become nothing but a "gun".]

* In the manga ''[[Aragami Hime]]'', the female protagonist Kazuki is the reincarnation of Akoumaru, who is a male in her past life. The reason behind this is because Akoumaru wanted to become the aragami hime, which led to the main plot of the story. Though this became a huge blessing for the male protagonist Shirou in the [~~http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BabiesEverAfter~~ ending]. The same goes for Kazuki's brother, Masaki, who was a female as well as Akoumaru's lover in his past life.

* In the manga ''[[Aragami Hime]]'', the female protagonist Kazuki is the reincarnation of Akoumaru, who is a male in her past life. The reason behind this is because Akoumaru wanted to become the aragami hime, which led to the main plot of the story. Though this became a huge blessing for the male protagonist Shirou in the [[Babies Ever After|ending]]. The same goes for Kazuki's brother, Masaki, who was a female as well as Akoumaru's lover in his past life.

* In the ''[[Steel Angel Kurumi]]'' manga Kurumi's accidental use of [[Applied Phlebotinum]] temporarily turns Nakahito into a girl.

* Yona Rouma, the protagonist of ''[[Sekainohate De Aimashou]]'', gets turned into a woman when Emillio slips him a potion while unconscious. Rouma gets turned into a female in order to be Emillio's wife, much to Rouma's dismay.

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== Film ==

* The 1940 Hal Roach feature ''[[Turnabout]]'' concerns a bickering husband and wife, each of whom wishes they could have the "easy" life of the other gender. Their wish is subsequently granted by an enchanted Indian sculpture sitting on their mantelpiece. By the end of the film things are seemingly back to normal... until the Indian god confesses that he screwed up and informs the husband that [[Mister Seahorse|he's now pregnant]]. The film was an adaptation of Thorne Smith's 1931 novel, which was later adapted as a short-lived TV series in 1978.

* ''[[Zerophilia]]'', a live-action ''Futaba-kun Change-style'' genderbender, directed by Martin Curland. The story concernes a young man named Luke who obtains the rare Z chromosome after a sexual encounter with a mysterious woman which turns him into a zerophiliac, a person whose sex changes with the act of sex (either by your lonesome or with another person). For more information just go [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/~~Zerophilia here].

* ''[[Zerophilia]]'', a live-action ''Futaba-kun Change-style'' genderbender, directed by Martin Curland. The story concernes a young man named Luke who obtains the rare Z chromosome after a sexual encounter with a mysterious woman which turns him into a zerophiliac, a person whose sex changes with the act of sex (either by your lonesome or with another person). For more information just go [[wikipedia:Zerophilia|here]].

** Sex with another zerophile induces [[Shapeshifter Mode Lock|mode locking]].

* Several movies have used the same basic plot, wherein a womanizing playboy dies and [[Karmic Resurrection|is reincarnated ''as'' a woman]]:

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* ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' has used this trope a couple times, at least in the context of the titular character's ''potential'' regeneration as a woman:

** In "The Curse of Fatal Death," an [[Affectionate Parody]] created for the 1999 [[Comic Relief]] appeal night, the Doctor cycles through all of his remaining regenerations in quick succession, with the final one being Joanna Lumley. The Doctor's female companion (who was engaged to him) is understandably [[Dropped a Bridget On Him|rather disturbed]]; his arch-nemesis, [[Jumping the Gender Barrier|the Master, somewhat less so]]. The former enemies walk off arm in arm.

** The episode ''[~~http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php~~/Recap/~~DoctorWhoS32E4TheDoctorsWife~~ The Doctor's Wife]'' from the ''actual'' series revealed that it's indeed possible for a Time Lord to regenerate as the opposite sex (assuming the Doctor wasn't joking):

** The episode ''[[Doctor Who (TV)/Recap/S32 E4 The Doctors Wife|The Doctor's Wife]]'' from the ''actual'' series revealed that it's indeed possible for a Time Lord to regenerate as the opposite sex (assuming the Doctor wasn't joking):

{{quote| '''Doctor:''' See that snake? The mark of the Corsair. Fantastic bloke. He had that snake as a tattoo in every regeneration. Didn't feel like himself unless he had the tattoo...or ''her''self a couple of times. Oh hoo, she was a ''bad'' girl! }}

*** [[Neil Gaiman]] (who wrote the episode) also mentions the Corsair having a couple of female regenerations in ''The Brilliant Book 2012''.

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== [[Real Life]] ==

* [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/~~5-alpha-~~reductase_deficiency~~ 5-alpha-reductase deficiency] (5-ARD), known crudely as "Guevedoche" ("Balls at twelve") in the Dominican Republic and simply "Kwolu-aatmwol" ("female thing transforming into a male thing") in Papua New Guinea, in which a genetic male is born with what appears to be female genitalia under casual scrutiny, only to "turn" male when they hit puberty. This is a rare but inheritable genetic disorder, seldom seen outside the above-mentioned places. Allegedly, because it is comparatively common in small, highly insular communities, most of those affected adjust with surprising ease.

* [[wikipedia:5-alpha-reductase deficiency|5-alpha-reductase deficiency]] (5-ARD), known crudely as "Guevedoche" ("Balls at twelve") in the Dominican Republic and simply "Kwolu-aatmwol" ("female thing transforming into a male thing") in Papua New Guinea, in which a genetic male is born with what appears to be female genitalia under casual scrutiny, only to "turn" male when they hit puberty. This is a rare but inheritable genetic disorder, seldom seen outside the above-mentioned places. Allegedly, because it is comparatively common in small, highly insular communities, most of those affected adjust with surprising ease.

* Meet [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/~~Wolbachia Wolbachia], a bacteria that primarily affects arthropods (insects, arachnids, and other bugs). It can, very rarely, turn infected males into completely fertile females. (More commonly, it turns them into infertile pseudo-females, and even more commonly it just kills them).

* Meet [[wikipedia:Wolbachia|Wolbachia]], a bacteria that primarily affects arthropods (insects, arachnids, and other bugs). It can, very rarely, turn infected males into completely fertile females. (More commonly, it turns them into infertile pseudo-females, and even more commonly it just kills them).

* [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Sequential_hermaphroditism~~ Some fish] start out as male then change gender to female if the female dies. Others do the opposite.

* [[wikipedia:Sequential hermaphroditism|Some fish]] start out as male then change gender to female if the female dies. Others do the opposite.

* There have been [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1267691/Gianni-gender-bending-rooster-starts-lay-eggs.html cases] of [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1080049/Pictured-The-sex-swap-chicken-called-Georgina-turned-cockerel-named-George.html chickens changing sex].

* There are also documented cases of peahens changing into peacocks.