Black Transgender Women’s Barriers to Gender Affirmation in Healthcare

Abstract

Black transgender women (BTW) face an intersection of transphobia and racism that affects their ability to receive gender affirmation healthcare. Healthcare is both racist and transphobic, putting aside Black women’s feelings and requirements; the same is true for transgender people, in addition to needing to instruct doctors in their care. BTW face stigmas on multiple levels, lowering health outcomes, as gender affirmations are barred. This review of literature aims to compile and analyze issues faced by BTW in achieving gender affirmations in healthcare. BTW face stigma and barriers from their race and gender identity, affecting their mental health, ability to receive healthcare, and ability to receive gender affirmational healthcare. These barriers come from untrained doctors, transphobic insurance policies, distorted views of transgender people, and systemic racism. There are barriers in both seeking and receiving healthcare, which need to be eliminated for the betterment and achievement of gender affirmation in healthcare.