Gender affirmation and social exclusion amongst trans women of color in Australia

Abstract

Introduction

Transgender (trans) women of color navigate the intersected identity frames of gender, race, social class and sexuality, whilst facing multiple layers of stigma, discrimination and violence during and following gender affirmation. However, little is known about the ways in which trans women of color negotiate gender affirmation, in the context of the risk of social exclusion and violence.

Aim

This article discusses the experience and construction of gender transitioning and gender affirmation for trans women of color living in Australia, associated with the risk of social exclusion or violence.

Method

In-depth interviews and photovoice were conducted with 31 trans women of color, analyzed through theoretical thematic analysis informed by intersectionality theory.

Results

The following themes were identifed: 1) ‘Gender affirmation: A bittersweet experience’, with three subthemes: ‘Self-empowerment is tempered by family rejection’, ‘Migration facilitates gender affirmation’ and ‘Gender affirmation and social support’; 2) ‘Being a trans woman of color’, subthemes: ‘Bodily agency and passing’, ‘Femininity as pleasure and cultural self-expression’, and ‘Resisting archetypal White hetero-femininity’; 3) ‘Hormones, surgical intervention and navigating the health system’.

Conclusion

Gender transitioning and gender affirmation involved the intersection of gender, cultural, social class and sexual identities, accomplished through personal agency and with the support of significant others. To ensure that policy and support services meet the needs of trans women of color, it is critical that the voices of such multiply-marginalized women are at the center of leadership, program and policy development.

Keywords:

• Transgender
• trans
• women of color
• gender transitioning
• gender affirmation
• passing
• sexual violence
• intersectionality
• qualitative

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS). The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and cannot be attributed to ANROWS. We would like to thank Kyja Noack-Lundberg, Samantha Ryan, Jack Thepsourinthone and Rosie Charter who contributed as research assistants to the research.