Varieties of Transgender/Transsexual Lives and Their Relationship with Transphobia

Abstract

The conceptualization of gender variant populations within studies have consisted of imposed labels and a diversity of individual identities that preclude any attempt at examining the variations found among gender variant populations, while at the same time creating artificial distinctions between groups that may not actually exist. Data were collected from 90 transgender/transsexual people using confidential, self-administered questionnaires. Factors like age of transition, being out to others, and participant's race and class were associated with experiences of transphobic life events. Discrimination can have profound impact on transgender/transsexual people's lives, but different factors can influence one's experience of transphobia. Further studies are needed to examine how transphobia manifests, and how gender characteristics impact people's lives.

Unequal Treatment of Transgender Individuals in Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Programs

“…The fact that the race/ethnicity dummy variable loses its significance in Block 2 suggests that psychosocial risk factors like suicidality, sex work history, and family loss may in some way encompass risks for discrimination above and beyond what is captured by the simple dichotomous race variable. The finding of differential risks for unequal treatment by race is in line with research by Lombardi (2009) and Bradford et al (2013), who have previously indicated a connection between race/ethnicity and risks for discrimination for transgender people. Just as interesting was the finding that race/ethnicity and disability status…”

“…Data from the present study suggest that, in both domestic violence and rape crisis services, transgender people's risks for unequal treatment frequently connect to other identities or risk factors that they hold, which is in line with research about discrimination affecting transgender people in other settings (Bradford et al, 2013;Lombardi, 2009). In general, those with other marginalized identities tend to experience increased risk for unequal treatment related to their transgender or gender non-conforming identity.…”

“…This finding suggests that people who are visibly gender non-conforming may encounter discriminatory reactions that contribute to unequal treatment. Previous research (Lombardi, 2009) has indicated that being "out" as transgender to friends has a relationship to discrimination, but few studies have specifically looked at the connection between how frequently others perceive one to be transgender and unequal treatment. It is unclear why others' perceptions of one's gender predicted transgender-related discrimination in domestic violence shelters, but not rape crisis centers.…”

“…Although few of these studies look specifically at experiences in domestic violence shelters or rape crisis centers, findings can offer insight into the risks for unequal treatment of transgender clients within these settings. For example, Lombardi (2009) African Americans reported statistically significantly more transphobic events in the past year than White participants, and those who had a high school education or less reported more discrimination in the past year as well as lifetime discrimination compared to those with more than a high school education (Lombardi, 2009). …”

“…Studies have tended to use regional convenience samples or anecdotal accounts with limited generalizability. While there are a few examples of quantitative studies that look at individual characteristics predicting a greater likelihood of discrimination (Bradford et al, 2013;Lombardi, 2009), there do not appear to be any that specifically examine this issue within domestic violence programs and rape crisis shelters. The present study intends to address these gaps by utilizing a national sample of transgender and gender non-conforming people to examine whether there is a heightened risk for transgender-related discrimination in domestic violence and rape crisis services based upon other sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial risks that an individual holds.…”