Somewhere under the rainbow: Exploring the identities and experiences of trans persons

Abstract

The literature on transgender/transsexual-spectrum persons is limited. Most studies are based on the assumption that trans persons are best understood within rigid and binary definitions of gender and sexuality and tend to focus on diagnostics, medical management and risk factors. Researchers and clinicians may also assume that people who challenge cultural norms of gender and sexuality can be grouped together. Such assumptions about the specific experiences of trans persons can be harmfully incorrect. The goals of the present study were to explore the gender and sexual identities of trans persons, to investigate group differences, and to examine factors that predict better psychological and physical well-being. Participants took part in an online study and provided information about their gender and sexual identity, social support, relationship quality, and mental/physical health. Results depicted diverse gender identities and sexual orientations among trans persons and emphasized that while many challenges faced by sexual and gender minorities are similar, trans persons report unique mental and physical health outcomes. Also, greater social support and relationship quality predicted mental, but not physical, health among trans persons. These results highlight the importance of acknowledging the complexity of trans identities and the key role of social and personal support.

YouTube as Educator: A Content Analysis of Issues, Themes, and the Educational Value of Transgender-Created Online Videos

“…As transgender individuals have been found to perpetuate traditional gender roles, this is not entirely surprising. For example, Dargie et al (2014) found that transgender women identified strongly with traditional feminine gender norms, while transgender men did the same with traditional masculine gender norms. Thus, rather than break down the gender binary, some transgender individuals may simply serve to reinforce conventional ideas about what it means to be a man or a woman.…”

“…Research has found that transgender persons have lower levels of social support (Dargie et al, 2014), which may indicate that they must become creative with the ways in which they find support. The Internet seems to be one such way.…”

“…Not only did they find that transgender siblings experienced a larger amount of discrimination, harassment, and violence, as one might expect, but the authors established lower levels of family support for the transgender siblings. Other research has also established lower levels of support for transgender individuals when compared to cisgender sexual minorities (Dargie, Blair, Pukall, & Coyle, 2014). Rural or more isolated transgender individuals may have an increased need for online support and community (Gray, 2009).…”

Sexual Orientation and Transgender Issues in Organizations

“…Trans-identities can also oppose the societal pressure of having to assign oneself to a clearly-delineated, distinct sex or gender at all; one might, instead, perceive oneself as being "somewhere in between" (e.g. as genderqueer, intergendered, multigendered, or gender fluid), or one might deliberately opt to elude gender or sex classification at all (Kuper et al 2012;Dargie et al 2014). …”

Group Therapy Program for Families with Transgender Member: Propelling Gender Differentiation

“…The transgender and gender non-conforming population belongs to "at-risk population" (Bostwick et al, 2010;Dargie et al, 2014;Craig et al, 2014;Singh & Burnes, 2009;Levitt & Ippolito, 2014;Mitchell et al, 2014;Meier et al, 2012;Zucker, Wood, Singh, & Bradley, 2012;Rothblum et al, 2013;Mathy, 2002;Pitts, Couch, Mulcare, Croy, & Mitchell, 2009). Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender-Nonconforming People (herein after referred as SOC) mention also a higher prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in this population (Coleman et al, 2011).…”