This part was probably more time-consuming than the rest, because it was a page that was in constant rework - just in my head.
I've decided I'm definitely using interchange-like station symbols at each stage, but in the same way I decided to add a red + for hospital, I would use a key letter to differentiate between them. Hospital was originally a 'H' in my head, but there's not really another letter to use for hormones...
I have also decided that the offered support through GIS that's always accessible - Named Professional Support, Psychological Therapies, and Gender Outreach Worker Support - needs to be on it's own line at the very start, without feeling like you have to have ticked off a few treatments before you can access is ie if I placed them further along on a line. But to make it clear this support is always available, and not just at the start, I have decided the yellow main line will be the Support line.
I originally imagined this as a non-binary line. I'm hoping that it is made clear that you don't have to stick to one line at once, the idea is that you can be straddling both the (Trans) Masculine and (Trans) Feminine lines at the same time, creating YOUR story of androgyny, as is the fluidity of gender. Aside from laser hair removal, that you have to 'enter' from the (Trans) Feminine line, you can access different treatments and surgeries and work with the doctors to find what feels like you!
I've purposely named the surgery lines as 'Masculinizing' and 'Feminizing' to represent that it is masculinising/feminizing your pre-existing body, but the fact is that you can do that to different extents! To one person, masculinizing top-surgery might be using liposuction to reduce their chest size so they can comfortably bind on days they want to masculinize their appearance further, but also still wear a push-up bra and feminize their appearance further - does that make sense? The idea that you can masculinize/feminize a pre-existing masculine/feminine appearance to create androgyny in many different ways.
With more time, I'm hoping to discuss the lines as shown with a wide variety of gender-identifying people to see how this is received and whether this concept is well-received and understood, or whether individuals feel like they aren't represented - the linked blog post here specifically talks about my own thoughts on masculinity and how my own gender identity can float a little sometimes, and that I'm not approaching this map from a firmly male mindset.
I've used the terms 'Sperm' and 'Egg' (listed here as ova, but if I hadn't heard this term beforehand, then there'll be others that haven't too, and I want the lines to feel as clear as possible) for the fertility lines, as those are the terms for what are being stored. I needed them to be two different terms to show that you would travel in different directions for the fertility options as the procedures differ.
The terms 'Soprano' and 'Bass' are from the concept of how you are trying to either raise or lower the pitch of your voice - again, to different extents, to align with your personal gender identity. I was unsure as to whether this would be clear, but I think the majority of people understand that these terms are to do with music (especially bass) and can relate music to voice and pitch, especially when you read the stops on that line that talk about recording your voice.
The 'Hair' line is pretty obvious one, and considering the 'H' had been used for Hormone Station, meaning I had to use 'L' as in Laser for Laser Hair Removal Station, I could at least use 'Hair' for the line name and have it feel clear.
The 'Unfunded' line is for those treatments/surgeries that the NHS does not provide funding for to cover the cost. So, further laser hair removal treatments (after the eighth session) would fall into this, as well as breast implants and facial feminisation surgeries.
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