Historical and social forces in the Iridescent Life Course: key life events and experiences of transgender older adults

Abstract

The lives of transgender older adults are rarely examined, and little is known about the critical life events and experiences of this population. Informed by the Iridescent Life Course, this study investigates how intersectionality, fluidity, context and power impact the life events and experiences of trans older adults by generation and gender. Utilising 2014 data from the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study: Aging with Pride (National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging funded), a national sample of LGBTQ+ individuals 50 years and older, living in the United States of America, were analysed to examine life events of 205 transgender older adults, including identity development, work, bias, kin relationships, social and community engagement, health and wellbeing. Ordinary least-squares regressions and logistics regressions are used to compare the life events between the generations then test the interaction effect of gender. Pride Generation more openly disclose their identities and are more likely to be employed and married compared to the Silenced Generation, who have more military service, higher rates of retirement, fewer same-sex marriages and more different-sex marriages. Invisible Generation, the oldest group, are more likely retired, have more children and are more likely engaged in the community compared to the Silenced Generation, who experienced more discrimination. Applying the Iridescent Life Course is instrumental in understanding older trans adults' lives through intersecting identities of both generation and gender. These insights have the potential to create a greater appreciation of how historical events shape differing generations of transgender people, creating an opportunity to link generations together.

Neurocognitive health in LGBTQIA+ older adults: current state of research and recommendations

“…This strategy has enabled investigations of large samples with good statistical power. But SOGI variables are included in only a few large populationbased studies (e.g., Health and Retirement Study, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, National Health Interview Survey) that have been repeatedly exploited (Flatt et al, 2018;Seelman, 2019;Brown and Patterson, 2020;Nelson and Andel, 2020;Hsieh et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2021;Hammond, 2021, 2023;Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2022;Brown et al, 2023;Hopper et al, 2023;. Possible overlaps between samples across these studies with consequences on biased estimations of SOGIrelated effects on cognitive outcome measures cannot be ruled out.…”

“…A high degree of methodological heterogeneity characterizes the definition of SGM groups. While most studies used selfidentified sexual orientation (Seelman, 2019;Brown and Patterson, 2020;Nelson and Andel, 2020;Flatt et al, 2021;Hsieh et al, 2021;Saunders et al, 2021;Hammond, 2021, 2023;Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2022;Brown et al, 2023;Hopper et al, 2023;Yang et al, 2024), some focused on either sexual attraction (Manca and Venneri, .…”

Generational and Social Forces in the Life Events and Experiences of Lesbian and Gay Midlife and Older Adults Across the Iridescent Life Course

“…Within four decades, there will be more than five million sexual and gender minority adults aged 50 and older in the United States (Fredriksen-Goldsen & Kim, 2017). Shifts in the historical, political, and social environment have had a unique impact on the generational experiences and development of today’s lesbian and gay older adults; see also our similar work on generational and social forces with bisexual women and men and gender diverse older adults (Fredriksen Goldsen et al, 2022) and transgender older adults (Fredriksen Goldsen et al, in press). Given the complex social, cultural, and political influences for each generation, lesbians and gay men likely experienced historical and generational events differently than heterosexuals.…”