Social transitioning in young people assigned male at birth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the social transitioning experiences of young people assigned male at birth
IRAS ID
292000
Contact name
Eva Ma
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary
This study aims to conduct qualitative interviews exploring the social transitioning experiences of 8 young people from the Leeds Gender Identity Service (GIDS) or LGBTQ+ community groups who are aged 16-18 and were assigned male at birth. This will then be analysed via interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).
It can be difficult living as a gender diverse individual in mainstream society, with reports of lower quality of life and greater levels of mental health/social difficulties. Transitioning to a gender role more in line with one’s gender identity is a momentous process, and is often associated with positive outcomes. However, it can also make gender diverse individuals more visible in their communities, possibly increasing the already high rates of social/mental health difficulties in their lives. As such, gender diverse people are constantly making strategic decisions on how to present their gender, taking into account a range of factors related to the situation, their personal needs and values, as well as the potential negative reactions from others.
Research has tended to focus on the physical transition or initial ‘coming out’ experience. This study therefore aims to address this gap in the literature by exploring the processes involved in social transitioning (e.g. changes in appearances/clothing style). This is important as the social transition is a key ongoing part of the transitioning process. It is hoped that the results will help inform the care of young people assigned male at birth who are socially transitioning in specialist gender services and beyond. Those assigned male at birth were chosen as the literature indicates that some aspects of their transitions may be different (e.g. a more gradual transitioning process). Young people were chosen as they are not typically able to access most physical interventions until aged 16+. Social transitioning may therefore be the only form of transitioning available to them.
Summary of Results
Three main experiences associated with the social transition were found. The ‘me vs the world’ theme captures the participants’ marginalised experiences living in a cis-heteronormative society, which involved a strong sense of restriction and lack of acceptance from others. The ‘self-empowerment and taking control’ theme encapsulates the participants’ attempts to rise above the difficult experiences. This was achieved through a conscious choice to blend or be out, being politically active, reframing the transphobia they experienced and breaking free from the gender norms they had initially felt so restricted by. The ‘building a new identity – who is the new me?’ theme reflects the process of exploration and experimentation the participants went through in their social transitions. Transitions were generally seen as an exciting new beginning, and were related to fluid gender expressions. Self-loathing and self-criticism were also noted, which led to an interaction between the social and physical/medical transition.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
21/WS/0097
Date of REC Opinion
8 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion