My Autohistoria-Teoría (trans)formational experience: An autoethnographical case study of a transgender BIPOC teacher’s experience with racial healing

Abstract

Background

Visibility of the transgender community has increased, particularly in the media. Trans teachers face a challenge, as their professional roles are both public and private. In an effort to seek personal and professional support, trans teachers have turned to social media outlets. Additionally, current research does not always encompass intersectional experiences of trans BIPOC teachers.

Aim

This paper presents an autohistoria-teoría, or autoethnographical case study account of the author’s experience coming out in the workplace as a trans teacher in Texas.

Methods

Guided by Slavin et al. multicultural model of the stress process coupled with intersectionality, this paper attempts to describe how a trans teacher of color navigates the workplace. The data for this study are a collection of all of the author’s social media posts from 2005 to 2015.

Results

Findings reveal that allies provided some support, and that this trans teacher used deflection as a coping strategy in posts.

Conclusion

The results suggest that administrative and peer support can impact transgender workers’ mental well-being. In this paper, autohistoria-teoría is used as a powerful way for a trans BIPOC teacher’s narrative to be told, which contributed to cultural healing.

Keywords:

• Autoethnography
• BIPOC
• gender diversity
• leadership
• social support
• teacher well-being
• transgender teacher

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge early feedback and readings by friends and colleagues, Dr. Kim B. Wright, Lobat Asadi, and Dr. Sherry Marx. Your feedback at different stages of this paper was invaluable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Declaration of interest statement

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Notes

1 “Passing” refers to the ability to be perceived as the gender a trans person is transitioning to. This is controversial for many reasons, namely, that it leaves out those who identify outside of the binary. For a good discussion on this topic, see Ritchie (2018).