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Abstract
Most societies are heavily organised around a dichotomous model of gender, and individuals are heavily policed on their conformity (or otherwise) to gender norms. This scrutinisation of gender has a profound impact on the identities and lived experiences of trans people, especially for those whose gender identity (or presentation) does not appear to match social expectations for that gender; or where someone's physical body in some way does not match the body conventionally associated with that gender. This might result in trans people avoiding certain situations to reduce the risk of being exposed. Based on a sample of 889 UK-based participants who self-defined as trans, the current paper explores situational avoidance with particular reference to gender identity and stage of transition. A key finding of this study concerned statistically significant associations between group (gender identity and stage of transition) and avoidance (or not) of certain situations, namely clothing shops, gyms, and public toilets. The implications of these findings for supporting trans people through transition – in particular, the real life experience – are also discussed.
Acknowledgements
The research on which this paper was based was primarily funded by the Scottish Transgender Alliance. Sonja would also like to thank her colleague Dr John Reidy for his guidance on the draft analysis section of this paper.
Notes
1. Some intersex people may also identify as trans.
2. People who are not trans and do not have any trans history. That is, people whose gender identity and expression has always been typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Sonja J. Ellis
Dr Sonja J Ellis is an established researcher in the area of gender and sexuality; in particular, the sub-discipline of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) psychology. She has published widely in academic journals on issues around prejudice and discrimination as it applies to lesbian and gay men, and is a co-author of the textbook Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Psychology: An Introduction (2010, Cambridge University Press), as well as having chapters in other books.
Jay McNeil
Jay McNeil is a trainee clinical psychologist (Lancaster University), and an independent researcher (Traverse Research). He has interests in Health Psychology, and Trans Mental Health and Health Inequalities. He also co-leads TransBareAll, an organisation working to improve the health and well-being of transgender people through direct work within the trans communities, and through working strategically via research and training.
Louis Bailey
Dr Louis Bailey is a research fellow in Health Inequalities (Hull York Medical School, University of Hull) and a medical sociologist specialising in trans health in relation to life course, ageing and end of life. His research explores the cumulative impact of health and social inequalities on marginalised and minority populations as well as the interaction of gender identity, disembodiment and (social) death. He is the co-founder of the Trans Resource and Empowerment Centre (TREC) in Manchester, UK, and has written on best practice around trans health for health and social care practitioners.