“As a Trans Person You Don’t Live. You Merely Try to Survive and Apologize Every Day for Who You Are” – Discrimination Experiences Among Trans Individuals in Greece”

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study sheds light on an issue very little research has been conducted on so far, the discrimination trans people in Greece are subjected to every day. The findings presented in this paper are part of a larger study focusing on trans persons’ life experiences in contemporary Greece. Eleven participants identified various discrimination areas, employment, education, family, romantic relationships and daily life; participants also pointed out specific measures that would contribute to the improvement of their life. Findings are discussed in relation to measures toward eliminating discrimination against trans persons such as the improvement of gender recognition legislation, an increase in general education regarding gender identity issues and the need for transgender-focused research.

KEYWORDS:

• Transgender
• discrimination
• gender identity
• Greece
• lived experiences
• qualitative study
• transphobia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The term stealth is used to refer to trans persons who pass as their desired gender at all times, so people around them are unaware that they were not always presenting as the current gender. A trans individual has to be extremely passable in order to live in stealth. People may also choose to be stealth in some parts of their lives (e.g. the workplace) and not others.

2. In the Greek language plural is used when addressing someone in a formal context.

3. People whose gender identity matches their assigned gender at birth. It is the opposite term to transgender.

4. A trans man is someone who was assigned female but whose gender identity is male.

5. A trans woman is someone who was assigned male but whose gender identity is female.

6. An agender person identifies as neither male or female.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.