How Transgender Adolescents Experience Expressing Their Gender Identity Around New People: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Hannah Wilson,Aiysha Malik,Sam Thompson

doi:10.1177/07435584211043879

Abstract

The literature suggests gender expression to be a key experience of transgender young people that may impact upon the development of their gender identity and psychological well-being. The present study aimed to explore participants’ experiences of expressing their gender identity around others, with a focus on interactions with new people (with whom they do not have an existing relationship). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight young people aged 16 to 17 who identified as male and were assigned female at birth. Three superordinate themes were identified: (a) using gender expression to shape identity; (b) experiencing and making sense of others’ responses; (c) a changing relationship with gender expression. The process of gender expression enabled participants to explore, develop, and strengthen social and self-identity, and had both positive and negative impacts upon their well-being. Initially gender expression seemed to be an effortful process in which participants felt pressured to conform to social expectations to be viewed as male, yet over time they navigated a way to express themselves in a manner that felt more comfortable and authentic. Findings highlight the need to facilitate young people to express and be affirmed in their gender identity, and to provide adequate support with the social experiences surrounding it.

Highlights

Transgender young people are individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth
The findings suggest that gender expression was a key part of the development of participants’ gender identity
The findings suggest that gender expression and social affirmation of gender identity are key to the development and well-being of transgender adolescents

Summary

Introduction

Transgender young people are individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The number of adolescents seeking support with gender dysphoria (distress resulting from the incongruence between assigned and experienced gender) has significantly grown (Gender Identity Development Service [GIDS], 2021a). It is key that both specialist and general health services understand how best to care for this growing population, who face increased risk of experiencing psychological distress (Connolly et al, 2016) due to exposure to stigma and victimization (Reisner et al, 2015). Expressing gender identity is a central part of the daily lives of transgender young people, and it is hoped that further exploration of this shared experience will contribute to increased understanding of how it influences their well-being and sense of self

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Conclusion