Redressing the balance: Lived experiences of the harms of visually mediated transgender identity

Abstract

Trans* identities have a history of being constructed, regulated and erased. Often a trans* individual’s social status is judged by others on the basis of their perception of that individual’s achievement of normative standards of gender. We are living through a time characterized by the prioritization of visual identity alongside intense scrutiny of trans* identities in relation to their authenticity and right to recognition. Research should support a reorientation of scrutiny towards these issues and acknowledge their relevance to lived experiences of the hegemonic discourse related to conceptualizations of gender as binary that engulf trans* individuals' lives. This paper is informed by empirical research undertaken at the University of Plymouth and in particular reflections on trans* individuals’ lived experiences of social harms. It contributes to victimology by presenting a discussion of cultural (re)presentations of the self and processes of othering in relation to trans* individuals. The adoption of participatory visual-narrative methods as a route through which to challenge these harmful discourses is proposed. Such methods can refocus our gaze away from trans* individuals as problematizing the world for others, and on to the lived experiences of the structures and processes that foster stigmatization and marginalization.

A transgender girl’s experience: sexual exploitation and systems involvement

“…Gender-nonconforming individuals involved in the sex trade often face unique forms of physical, social and structural harm that result from the expression of their gender identities (McBride, 2019). Transgender women involved in the sex trade often share common experiences of harm and criminalization through “transphobic violence, clients’ discovery of participants gender identity, and negative police responses to experiences of violence” (Lyons et al , 2017, p. 182).…”