Transgender Health

Healthy and transgender? Isn't that some sort of oxymoron? It says in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual that if you're transgender, if you've got Gender Identity Disorder, then you're sick. That's the message some of us got from our families, the people that we work with, and even from our churches. So, with all of that potential for negativity, gender diverse people need to be able to focus on a positive sense of our own wellness. The following topics are meant to give a little background on what it means to be both healthy and transgender, and give some ideas for developing a better sense of genderwellness in our own lives.

 

Barriers to Genderwellness

 

There are a lot of obstacles that we encounter while trying to maintain an overall feeling of wellness and most of them are issues that we share with the rest of the Human Race. There are, however, some issues that seem to weigh more heavily on whose gender expression is somehow out of the mainstream. I'm going to try to discuss these in a manner that is common to all gender diverse people, so some of this stuff may ring quite true to some, while other parts may resonate with others. Hopefully, there will be some information here that you will find useful.

 

Lack of acceptance in our society

 

There's no doubt that much of society has been coming around slowly to an acceptance of people with ''alternative'' sexual orientations. Unfortunately, society's acceptance of ''alternative'' gender identities has not followed the same trajectory. While styles of clothing and jewelry have changed and allow for more freedom in the expression of gender, there remain some ''gender boundaries'' that we transgress at our own peril. Crossing these boundaries brings us reactions that range from mild disdain to those of downright nastiness. Collectively, these negative reactions have come to be defined as transphobia, a term that is roughly analogous to homophobia.

 

Lack of the acceptance of our families

 

Often the decision to live a life that challenges society's gender norms can put a strain on our relationships with others in our families. Since the family is often a major source of support, losing that support can be devastating. It is often hard to understand why it is that something as integral to one's identity as the expression of their gender is able to affect families so severely. While the negative feelings that can arise when one comes out to their family will sometimes never go away completely, it's important to remember that time does have the ability to heal. I know of many family members, (my own included), whose support has grown over time.

 

Lack of acceptance on the job

 

Discrimination on the job is almost a given for most gender diverse individuals. Although there are laws that protect gender identity and its expression in a number of states and municipalities throughout the United States, much of the country does not. And, unfortunately, the mere presence of an anti-discrimination law does not mean an end to discrimination. Workplace discrimination is a fact of life for most transgenders. For many of us, the lack of a trans-friendly work environment is a major stressor in our lives, not to mention the lack of a job altogether.