Embodying Transgender: An Analysis of Trans Women in Online Forums

Pranee Liamputtong, Kyja Noack-Lundberg, Tinashe Dune, Brahmaputra Marjadi, Virginia Schmied, Jane Ussher, Janette Perz, Alexandra Hawkey, Jessica Sekar and Eloise Brook
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Pranee Liamputtong: School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Kyja Noack-Lundberg: Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Tinashe Dune: School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Brahmaputra Marjadi: Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Virginia Schmied: Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Jane Ussher: Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Janette Perz: Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Alexandra Hawkey: Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Jessica Sekar: Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
Eloise Brook: Gender Centre, Annandale, Sydney, NSW 2038, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: This paper discusses the way that trans women embody their transgender identity, focusing on identity questioning, gender dysphoria, clinical gatekeeping and medicalized narratives. Situated within the hermeneutics methodological approach, we adopted the unobtrusive research as our research method, where data was derived from online forums where trans women posted content about their perspectives and experiences of gender and gender transitioning. Thematic analysis method was used for data analysis. Our findings suggest that gender identity is embodied and socially negotiated. Many trans women were initially ambivalent about their transgender identity and some continued to question their desired identity throughout adulthood. When presenting to healthcare professionals many trans women reported being expected to adopt a ‘wrong body’ narrative in order to gain access to treatment and surgery for gender transitioning and affirmation. In doing so, trans women interact with significant others and health care providers, and face many challenges. These challenges must be understood so that trans women can perform self-determination practices as a way to achieve gender autonomy.

Keywords: trans women; transgender identity; online forums; unobtrusive method; gender dysphoria; gatekeeping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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