Experience of transgender transition

Abstract

An attempt has been made to study the experiences of transgender people in the conditions of their living in a critical life situation (transgender transition). The study included conducting and analyzing a semi-structured interview, as well as collecting and analyzing quantitative data using an author’s questionnaire compiled on the basis of content analysis of interview texts. 10 transgender people (average age 21.2 years) took part in the interview, 285 transgender a Author for correspondence. Вестник СПбГУ. Психология. 2023. Т. 13. Вып. 2 227 people (average age 21.21 years) took part in the survey. The analysis of the phenomenology of experiences and subsequent verification by mathematical methods (hierarchical clustering and the Mann — Whitney U criterion for independent samples) made it possible to identify and describe two types of experiences of transgender people: “open to self-search” (81 people) and “avoidant” (204 people). “Open to self-search” transgender people more often gave high marks to positive states and emotions about transgender transition, noted the experience of community with transgender people. In the process of transgender transition, new meanings were produced: cognition, acceptance and self-development; life planning and the importance of building future goals; professional development. Family, partner and friendly support were assessed by them as positive or favorable social factors. “Avoidant” transgender people more often noted negative states and emotions about transgender transition, and avoidance of communication with people. They note the experiences associated with doubts and assessment of the correctness of the transgender transition, with excitement about the reactions of people around them to transgender status, with a feeling of loneliness among cisgender people. The negative attitude of the family, loved ones and others, as well as discrimination in public places were considered as interfering with the transgender transition and life in general. This study serves as an attempt to phenomenologically describe the experiences of transgender people accompanying a transgender transition, as well as to identify differences in them.