How Cisgender People Define “Transgender” Is Associated with Attitudes Toward Transgender People

Abstract

Prior work suggests that some cisgender people do not consider gender identity when thinking about what being transgender means, and that exposure to a definition of transgender can reduce negative attitudes toward transgender people. In two studies, we sought to integrate these lines of research by examining whether anti-transgender attitudes are associated with how cisgender people define the term transgender. In Study 1, 293 participants (132 female and 157 male; four participants did not report their sex/gender) recruited via Mechanical Turk were randomly assigned to one of two conditions. Participants in one condition first read a definition of "transgender" that referred to gender identity and then reported their attitudes toward transgender people. Participants in the other condition did not read the definition and instead simply reported their attitudes toward transgender people. Contrary to predictions, exposure (vs. lack thereof) to the definition did not affect attitudes. However, participants who identified gender identity as a central component of the definition of transgender on a manipulation check endorsed more positive attitudes. In Study 2, 295 cisgender participants (165 women and 130 men; recruited via Mechanical Turk) wrote down their own definitions of transgender. Participants who spontaneously included (vs. did not include) gender identity in their definitions reported distinctively positive attitudes. Observed effects held over and above individual differences in cognitive style, gender identification, contact with transgender people, and participant gender.How cisgender people think about gender identity may thus index their attitudes toward transgender people.

Exploring the knowledge and attitudes of college‐educated Hispanics toward the transgender community in Puerto Rico

“…Recent studies conducted on the island have focused on evaluating the transgender experience with HIV, sexually transmitted infections, high-risk injection practices, stress levels, violence, and healthcare competencies. 10,19 To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the perspective of Hispanics toward the transgender community in PR.…”

“…The principal purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge and attitudes of a sample of Hispanics in Puerto Rico toward transgenderism and transgender individuals with the hope of revealing educational gaps that could lead to stigma and prejudice. Recent studies conducted on the island have focused on evaluating the transgender experience with HIV, sexually transmitted infections, high‐risk injection practices, stress levels, violence, and healthcare competencies 10,19 . To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the perspective of Hispanics toward the transgender community in PR.…”

“…Such issue could be of concern given that individuals who define transgender as a gender identity have been associated with greater positive attitudes toward the transgender community. 19,21 In addition, higher levels of prejudice have been documented among those who define transgender as confused. 21 Unawareness of the distinction between gender identity and gender expression could interfere with the conception and attitudes toward transgender people in PR.…”

“…However, only 58 (14.4%) of respondents were aware of the distinction between gender identity and gender expression. Such issue could be of concern given that individuals who define transgender as a gender identity have been associated with greater positive attitudes toward the transgender community 19,21 . In addition, higher levels of prejudice have been documented among those who define transgender as confused 21 .…”

Analyzing the News Coverage of the Marginalized Group of Transgender People in Pakistani Media

“…Scholarly works in this area emphasize the importance of defining and comprehending the term "transgender," as there may be differences in attitudes toward transgender people between those who are familiar with the term and those who are not. Researchers such as Reiman et al (2023) found that participants who identified gender identity as a central component of the definition of transgender endorsed more positive attitudes, while those who do not know about the term 'transgender' and the issue of identity may report their attitudes toward transgender people [stereotypically]. Thus, the relationship between attitudes toward transgender people and definitions of transgender people is an essential element that determines the public perceptions about transgender people.…”