1698 - EXPERIENCES OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Session: D06S026 - Gender and Sexual Identity 1
AUTHORS:
Saraç Didem (Middle East Technical University ~ Ankara ~ Turkey) , Manka Meriç (Middle East Technical University ~ Ankara ~ Turkey)
Abstract text:
Transgender is a general term for individuals whose gender identity and expression does not align with the conventional norms linked to the sex they were assigned at birth. Across societies, transgender people frequently experience prejudice, discrimination, and gender-based violence that function as a mechanism of "punishment" for transgressing the binary gender norm. This gender fundamentalism works by denying, stigmatizing, and marginalizing any form of gender nonconformity. As a result, transgender people tend to encounter various forms of social oppression that creates significant challenges throughout their lives. According to the Social Exclusion Knowledge Network's social exclusion model, they face exclusion across four main dimensions—economic, political, social, and cultural—occurring at multiple levels ranging from the individual and household to the community, national, and global scale. Thus, addressing these challenges is essential for promoting gender equality, protecting their well-being, and reducing inequalities experienced by these individuals. In the current study, in order to comprehend transgender individuals' lived experiences and the difficulties that they encounter in depth, qualitative research, which provides a comprehensive and interior perspective, will be carried out. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with 5 to 10 Turkish individuals who define themselves as transgender, and interpretative phenomenological analysis will be utilized in analyzing the data. By striving to grasp transgender individuals' experiences thoroughly and from a closer perspective by means of qualitative research, it is asserted that understanding the hardship they face and challenges they have to go through on a daily basis will be better understood. In this way, possible ways of assisting them and improving their quality of life will also become clearer. Accordingly, the aim of the present study will be to introduce ideas that might help in enhancing both mental and physical well-being of transgender individuals.