| Summary: | Thought-provoking documentary on gender identity provides honest portraits of six men who once were women. They are a diverse group: one gave birth to three children; another is a longtime mechanic and body-builder. Each has lived within a body he didn't accept; each has tried to adapt to social expectations he couldn't fulfill; and each has experienced devastating personal pain that could not be obscured by denial. All have embarked upon an enormous and transfiguring struggle to recover their dignity and an identity once denied to them. Michael, Ted, Stephan, Max, Loren, and James share the joy and the pain of their journey from female to male. Through their commentary and the experiences of their partners, friends, and family members emerges a story of self-discovery. There also emerges a series of reflections on the differences between male and female sexuality, on social perceptions of gender, and on the relationship of one's personal history to one's present life. "You Don't Know Dick" challenges all of us to re-examine the foundations of our ideas and feelings about gender, personality, sexuality, and identity. It is not just a film about sex and surgical procedures; it is about knowing who we are and what we must go through to become that person.
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