Interpersonal and Systemic Microaggressions Toward Transgender People: Implications for Counseling

Abstract

This study utilized a qualitative method with transgender female and male participants (N = 9) to identify types of microaggressions, or subtle forms of discrimination, that transgender people experience. Twelve categories of microaggressions were identified: (a) use of transphobic and/or incorrectly gendered terminology, (b) assumption of universal transgender experience, (c) exoticization, (d) discomfort/disapproval of transgender experience, (e) endorsement of gender normative and binary culture or behaviors, (f) denial of existence of transphobia, (g) assumption of sexual pathology/abnormality, (h) physical threat or harassment, (i) denial of individual transphobia, (j) denial of bodily privacy, (k) familial microaggressions, and (l) systemic and environmental microaggressions. Implications for counseling are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• gender identity
• LGBT
• microaggressions
• transgender

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors would like to thank the women and men who participated in this study and shared their stories with us. The authors would also like to thank Erwin Ramos MD, and the contributions of the rest of our research team at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This study was funded by the Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York Grant.