DOCSLIB.ORG

Transgender Identity Development in a Rural Area: a Multiple Case Study Nicholaus Lee Erber Walden University

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Transgender Identity Development in a Rural Area: a Multiple Case Study Nicholaus Lee Erber Walden University Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2015 Transgender Identity Development in a Rural Area: A Multiple Case Study Nicholaus Lee Erber Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, and the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Counselor Education & Supervision This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Nicholaus Erber has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Katherine Coule, Committee Chairperson, Counselor Education and Supervision Faculty Dr. Laura Haddock, Committee Member, Counselor Education and Supervision Faculty Dr. Stacee Reicherzer, University Reviewer, Counselor Education and Supervision Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2015 Abstract Transgender Identity Development in a Rural Area: A Multiple Case Study of Trans-Identified People by Nicholaus Lee Erber MA, Western Michigan University, 2006 BS, Michigan State University, 2001 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision Walden University January 2015 Abstract A transgender person develops an identity over time and must overcome several obstacles such as stigma, transphobia, discrimination, and sexism, which can be even more difficult for transgender people who choose to come out and transition in a rural area. Grounded in queer theory, social constructivism, and rural identity development theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the lived experiences of 4 transgender persons who came out and transitioned in a rural area, and who accessed online communities as a source of information during their identity development. A 4-stage process was used to collect data, including a semistructured interview, artifact analysis, participant observations, and an art project created by the participants. The data were loaded into the NVivo qualitative data analysis software and analyzed using coding, memoing, within-case, and cross-case analysis from the case histories of the participants. The principle findings of the study were that these transgender people living in a rural area used the Internet for both gathering information and connecting to the larger transgender community. Many other significant details provided insight into the lives of these transgender people, such as shopping for clothes, spending time in public, dealing with personal safety, and managing family and friend relationships during their transitions. These findings may inform mental health professionals about the potential identity developmental trajectory of transgender persons living in a rural area; the findings also give a voice to a population that is often hidden in rural areas. Transgender Identity Development in a Rural Area: A Multiple Case Study of Trans-Identified People by Nicholaus Lee Erber MA, Western Michigan University, 2006 BS, Michigan State University, 2001 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision Walden University January 2015 Dedication This study is dedicated to the brave participants who agreed to be put under the academic microscope and reveal very private information about their lives for the greater good. These are brave souls and should be proud of their contribution to this study and the academic body of knowledge. Acknowledgments This study would not have been possible without the constant cheerleading and encouragement of my husband, friend, and soul mate, Christopher Michael Lapierre. Without his persistent reassurances that I would finish, this study would have been lonelier to conduct. I would like to acknowledge the sacrificed time this study, and degree overall, on spending time together, but it was well worth it. Second, I would like to acknowledge my committee, Dr. Katherine Coule, Dr. Laura Haddock, and Dr. Stacee Reicherzer for their expertise and perseverance with my constant revisions and spontaneous decision making. All three of these women are great mentors, and I humbly honor them for walking alongside me in this process. Lastly, but not least, I would like to acknowledge the time given up by my family at holidays and family gatherings, allowing me to read and write during family gatherings, where these things normally do not occur. They are as much a part of this study as anyone else involved. Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................7 Research Questions ........................................................................................................8 Central Questions .................................................................................................... 8 Issue Subquestions .................................................................................................. 9 Topical Subquestions .............................................................................................. 9 Theoretical Foundation ..................................................................................................9 Queer Theory ........................................................................................................ 10 Social Constructivism ........................................................................................... 11 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................12 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................13 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 14 Qualitative Data Analysis ..................................................................................... 16 Sex and Gender Defined ..............................................................................................17 Assumptions .................................................................................................................18 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................21 i Limitations ...................................................................................................................22 Significance ..................................................................................................................24 Summary ......................................................................................................................25 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................27 Introduction ..................................................................................................................27 Literature Search Strategy ............................................................................................28 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................31 Queer Theory ........................................................................................................ 31 Social Constructivism ........................................................................................... 40 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................47 Literature Review Related to Key Concepts ................................................................54 Gender in Society .................................................................................................. 54 Gender Identity Development ............................................................................... 68 Transgender Identity Development Models .......................................................... 73 The Culture of Online Communities ..................................................................... 83 Transgender Literature .........................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Cambridge Papers GENUL: CE MAI URMEAZĂ?
    Seria de studii creştine Areopagus 39 Cambridge Papers GENUL: CE MAI URMEAZĂ? Experienţe personale, agende radicale şi dileme năucitoare Christopher Townsend Timişoara 2019 GENUL: CE MAI URMEAZĂ? Experiențe personale, agende radicale și dileme năucitoare Christopher Townsend Articol publicat în seria Cambridge Papers Decembrie 2016 Traducător: Elena Neagoe Centrul de Educație Creștină și Cultură Contemporană Areopagus Timișoara 2019 Originally published in Cambridge Papers series, by The Jubilee Centre (Cambridge, U.K.) under the title Gender: where next? Personal journeys, radical agendas and perplexing dilemmas Volume 25, Number 4, December 2016. © Christopher Townsend 2016 All rights reserved. Published with permission of The Jubilee Centre, St Andrews House, 59 St Andrews Street, Cambridge CB2 3BZ, UK www.jubilee-centre.org Charity Registration Number 288783. Ediția în limba română, publicată cu permisiune, sub titlul GENUL: CE MAI URMEAZĂ? Experiențe personale, agende radicale și dileme năucitoare de Christopher Townsend, apărută sub egida Centrului Areopagus din Timișoara Calea Martirilor nr. 104 www.areopagus.ro în cooperare cu SALLUX Începând cu anul 2011, activitățile desfășurate de Sallux sunt susținute financiar de către Parlamentul European. Responsabilitatea pentru orice comunicare sau publicație redactată de Sallux, sub orice formă sau prin orice mijloc, revine organizației Sallux. Parlamentul European nu este responsabil pentru modurile în care va fi folosită informația conținută aici. Coordonator proiect: Dr. Alexandru Neagoe Toate drepturile rezervate asupra prezentei ediții în limba română. Prima ediție în limba română. Traducător: Elena Neagoe Editor coordonator: Dr. Alexandru Neagoe Cu excepția unor situații când se specifică altfel, pentru citatele biblice s-a folosit traducerea D. Cornilescu. Orice reproducere sau selecție de texte din această carte este permisă doar cu aprobarea în scris a Centrului Areopagus din Timișoara.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond the Binary: Gender Identity and Mental Health Among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adults
    City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 9-2018 Beyond the Binary: Gender Identity and Mental Health Among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adults Chassitty N. Fiani The Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2815 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] BEYOND THE BINARY: GENDER IDENTITY AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING ADULTS by CHASSITTY N. FIANI A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The City University of New York 2018 © 2018 CHASSITTY N. FIANI All Rights Reserved ii Beyond the Binary: Gender Identity and Mental Health among Transgender and Gender Non- Conforming Adults by Chassitty N. Fiani This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Psychology in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. __________________ __________________________________ Date Kevin L. Nadal Chair of Examining Committee __________________ __________________________________ Date Richard Bodnar Executive Officer Supervisory Committee: Dr. Chitra Raghavan Dr. Brett Stoudt Dr. Michelle Fine Dr. David Rivera THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK iii ABSTRACT Beyond the Binary: Gender Identity and Mental Health among Transgender and Gender Non- Conforming Adults by Chassitty N. Fiani Advisor: Kevin L.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of the Dream-State
    The Rise of the Dream-State Trans Agendas, Gender Confusion, Identity & Desire Jasun Horsley 2017 Part One: Psychic Cuckoo-Land “In this fascinating exploration of the cultural models of manhood, When Men Are Women examines the unique world of the nomadic Gabra people, a camel-herding society in northern Kenya. Gabra men denigrate women and feminine things, yet regard their most prestigious men as women. As they grow older, all Gabra men become d’abella, or ritual experts, who have feminine identities. Wood’s study draws from structuralism, psychoanalytic theory, and anthropology to probe the meaning of opposition and ambivalence in Gabra society. When Men Are Women provides a multifaceted view of gender as a cultural construction independent of sex, but nevertheless fundamentally related to it. By turning men into women, the Gabra confront the dilemmas and ambiguities of social life. Wood demonstrates that the Gabra can provide illuminating insight into our own culture’s understanding of gender and its function in society.” –Publisher’s description The transgender question spans the whole spectrum of human interest, from psychological to biological, social to cultural, religious to technological, political to spiritual. It would be hard to conceive of a hotter topic–or button–than the question of when–or if –a man becomes a woman, and vice versa. Wrapped up inside this question is a still deeper one of what makes a human being a human being, what constitutes personal identity, and how much identity is or can be made subject to our desire, and vice versa. Among the countless lesser questions which the subject raises, here are a sample few, some (though probably not all) of which I will address in the following exploration.
    [Show full text]
  • Análisis (Crítico) Del Discurso Legislativo En Materia De Educación En El Estado Español Desde Una Perspectiva Queer
    Análisis (crítico) del discurso legislativo en materia de educación en el Estado español desde una perspectiva queer José Javier Moreno Sánchez Departamento de Filología española, Lingüística general y Teoría de la Literatura Facultad de Filosofía y Letras Análisis (crítico) de l discurso legislativo en materia de educación en el Estado español desde una perspectiva queer José Javier Moreno Sánchez Tesis presentada para aspirar al grado de DOCTOR POR LA UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE Programa de doctorado en Estudios lingüísticos Dirigida por: Dra. Carmen Marimón Llorca 1 Agradecimientos Doy las gracias a mi directora de tesis, Carmen Marimón, con quien inicié hace más de 30 años un viaje que hoy llega a puerto. A su marido, Juan Antonio Roche, por animarme desde el principio. A mis amigos Tony Ahmet, Flaminia Graziadei, Giulia Gianni y Naïma Benaicha, y también a la profesora Ochy Curiel, que han enriquecido estas páginas con su testimonio. A Paloma Gómez, por su intercesión. A mis queridas amigas y compañeras Alicia Pérez, Isabel Santacruz, Irene Pérez, María Jesús Pérez, Ana García y Gabriela Espiñeira, que han soportado mis monólogos durante años. A Blanca Handrich, por aguantarme. A Fernando Sánchez, por confi ar en mí. A Salvador y Mar, del colegio Joaquín Sorolla de Alicante, por creer en mi proyecto. A Daniela Osterholz, por su apoyo constante en la distancia. A Antonella Viscardi, por su cariño. A Tony Slater, por su lealtad. A mi familia. 2 3 ÍNDICE Preámbulo ……………………………………………………… …. 11 Introducción: De lestri gones, cíclopes y molinos……………… 21 I. El Analísis Crítico del Discurso: de dónde viene, adónde va y por qué me sirvo de él para mis fines…………………………………… 23 I.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Arguments for the Abolition of Gender
    Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont CMC Senior Theses CMC Student Scholarship 2021 Arguments for the Abolition of Gender Antonio Pineda Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses Part of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, and the Feminist Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation Pineda, Antonio, "Arguments for the Abolition of Gender" (2021). CMC Senior Theses. 2764. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/2764 This Open Access Senior Thesis is brought to you by Scholarship@Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in this collection by an authorized administrator. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Claremont McKenna College Arguments for the Abolition of Gender Submitted to Professor Adrienne Martin by Antonio Pineda for Senior Thesis Spring 2021 5/3/21 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I want to start by thanking Professor Adrienne Martin. More than any other class in my life, the philosophy section of PPE fundamentally changed the way I view and interact with the world. One of my deepest fears throughout my life has been rooted in my inability to find something that I am passionate about, but your class sparked my love of philosophy - truly the gift of a lifetime. This thesis would not have been possible without the intellectual guidance of Professor Martin. From helping me formulate the original paper from which this project grew (chapter three), to pointing me in the direction of so many crucial sources that I would not have found otherwise, to supporting my petition for a second semester in order to fully develop my argument, this thesis would not have been possible without you.
    [Show full text]
  • Questioning Binaries: on Overlooking Culture and Postgenderism
    Vol.3 No. 3 April 2019 E-ISSN: 2456-5571 Questioning Binaries: On Overlooking Culture and Postgenderism J.RESHMA ROSELINE Research Scholar, Department of English, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore Dr.M.KASIRAJAN Assistant Professor, Department of English, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore Abstract Humans have always constrained themselves by accidental binary gender assignments. The gender binary has become a part of human conditioning, causing one to see the world through basic binary categories from metaphysics to linguistics. This attitude has led to the marginalization of the LGBTI community as a whole. The concept of postgenderism is a radical movement that questions the very idea of gender roles in culture. However, most people belonging to the transgender community tries to fit in to the constrains of binary. This endeavor aims at examining the modus oprandi adopted by Amy Ellis Nutt in Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family to convey her ideas on the concept of gender and attempts to argue that in her effort to deconstruct gender polarity, she reinforces gender binaries which are rooted in the culture of every society. Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family traces the life of Wyatt who realizes that he is different from the rest and how he transforms the society in accepting the same. Keywords: Post-genderism, marginalisation, LGBTI, gender polarity, gender roles. In May 2011, Kathy Witterick published an article in finally changes his gender and become Nicole in order to fit the Ottawa Citizen stating that she and her husband have into the society. Although she destabilizes the link between planned to raise their new baby gender-neutrally.
    [Show full text]
  • Sex Reassignment Surgery - Wikipedia Visited on 11/28/2017
    Sex reassignment surgery - Wikipedia Visited on 11/28/2017 Not logged in Talk Contributions Create account Log in Article Talk Read Edit View history Sex reassignment surgery From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Main page Contents For specialized articles on surgical procedures, see Sex reassignment surgery (male-to- Featured content female) and Sex reassignment surgery (female-to-male). Current events Sex reassignment surgery or SRS (also known Part of a series on Random article as gender reassignment surgery, gender Donate to Wikipedia Transgender topics Wikipedia store confirmation surgery, genital reconstruction surgery, gender-affirming surgery, or sex Interaction realignment surgery) is the surgical procedure Help (or procedures) by which a transgender person's About Wikipedia physical appearance and function of their existing Community portal sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that Gender identities Recent changes socially associated with their identified gender. It Agender, genderless · Androgyne · Bigender · Contact page Genderqueer, non-binary · Gender bender · is part of a treatment for gender dysphoria in Hijra · Pangender · Queer heterosexuality · Tools transgender people. Related genital surgeries Third gender · Trans man · Trans woman · What links here may also be performed on intersex people, often Transmasculine · Transfeminine · Trigender · Related changes in infancy. A 2013 statement by the United Two-Spirit Upload file Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture condemns Health care and medicine Special pages
    [Show full text]
  • A Defense of Cis-Humanism: Humanism for the Anthropocene
    Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism © 2019 The American Humanist Association volume 27 (2019), article 1, 1-20. ISSN 1522-7340 (print), 2052-8388 (online) A Defense of Cis-Humanism: Humanism for the Anthropocene Andrew Fiala Department of Philosophy, Fresno State University [email protected] This paper considers connections between discussions of transgender and transhumanism. Using concepts developed in discussions of transgender studies, the paper defines cis-humanism as affirming the human condition albeit with awareness of the complexity of the concept of humanity and humanism. Cis-humanism affirms mortality, finitude, and the natural given- ness of life and world—in contrast with the transhuman aspiration to transform and overcome these limitations. The paper connects some of the problems of the Anthropocene to technological hubris and the quest for transcending the human and human nature in a way that is not grounded in the fact of human mortality. keywords: humanism, transhumanism, feminism, transgender, cisgender, Anthropocene, intersectionality, mortality Recent discussions of sex and gender have popularized the term “transgender.” A related term has emerged, “cisgender,” which is meant to indicate a gender identity that is in conformity with traditional gender norms and sexual identity. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the term “cisgender” as an adjective with the following definition: “Designating a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds to his or her sex at birth; of or relating to such persons. Contrasted with transgender.” The emergence of the term cisgender corresponds with emerging awareness of the possibility of changing gender and indeed a revaluation of the very idea of gender.
    [Show full text]
  • O CORPO DA ROUPA a Pessoa Transgênera Entre a Transgressão E a Conformidade Com As Normas De Gênero
    LETÍCIA LANZ (Geraldo Eustáquio de Souza) O CORPO DA ROUPA A pessoa transgênera entre a transgressão e a conformidade com as normas de gênero Projeto de Dissertação apresentado como requisito parcial à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Sociologia, no Curso de Pós- Graduação em Sociologia, Setor de Ciências Humanas, Letras e Artes, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, da Universidade Federal do Paraná. Orientadora: Profª. Drª. Miriam Adelman CURITIBA 2014 UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARANÁ SETOR DE CIÊNCIAS HUMANAS LETRAS E ARTES - SCHLA DEPARTAMENTO DE CIÊNCIAS SOCIAIS – DECISO Coordenador da Pós-graduação em Sociologia Prof. Dr. Alfio Brandenburg Catalogação na publicação Fernanda Emanoéla Nogueira – CRB 9/1607 Biblioteca de Ciências Humanas e Educação – UFPR Lanz, Letícia O corpo da roupa : a pessoa transgênera entre a transgressão e a conformidade com as normas de gênero / Letícia Lanz – Curitiba, 2014. 342 f. Orientadora: Prof.ª Dr.ª Miriam Adelman Dissertação (Mestrado em Sociologia) – Setor de Ciências Humanas da Universidade Federal do Paraná. 1. Identidade de gênero. 2. Transgeneridade. 3. Pessoas transgêneras. 4.Transexuais. 5. Travestis. I.Título. CDD 306.77 Dedicatória À memória do meu pai, Geraldo de Souza, o melhor homem que conheci em toda a minha vida, que sempre me aceitou e me amou de todo o seu coração, apesar do esforço que teve que fazer, desde cedo, para me entender com a cabeça. À População Transgênera do Brasil – travestis, transhomens, transexuais, crossdressers, andrógin@s, transformistas, drag-queens, homens femininos, mulheres masculinas e demais identidades gênero- divergentes – desejando que este trabalho contribua indistintamente para o aumento da inclusão, da tolerância e do respeito a todas as identidades gênero-divergentes, ou seja, que estão fora do binômio homem-mulher e, por isso mesmo, são consideradas transgressivas e tratadas com preconceito, discriminação e estigma pela sociedade.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyborgs, Robots, Artificial Intelligence and the Futures of Gender: a Case Study
    Eur J Futures Res (2014) 2:43 DOI 10.1007/s40309-014-0043-8 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Is the post-human a post-woman? Cyborgs, robots, artificial intelligence and the futures of gender: a case study Francesca Ferrando Received: 18 March 2014 /Accepted: 14 July 2014 /Published online: 31 August 2014 # The Author(s) 2014. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract This study aims to shed light on the debate about Introduction the futures of gender, by taking into account its significance in the current development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyborg This article addresses the relation between gender, technology, technologies and robotics. Its reflections are sustained by embodiment and possible futures. More specifically, it empirical data obtained between November 2010 and January focusses on two questions: how are the epistemological ap- 2011, when the author engaged in a study related to Gender proaches adopted in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, cy- and Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Cybernetics, borg technologies and robotics, going to impact the futures of University of Reading (England) under the supervision of gender? And vice versa, how and to what extent do gender and Professor Kevin Warwick, known as the first human cyborg the intersectional differences characterizing the human species for his experiments “Cyborg I” (1998) and “Cyborg II” inform such developments? “Artificial Intelligence is free of (2002). In this context, the author formulated a questionnaire the boundaries of gender difference”. This opinion, articulated which was answered by more than one hundred students and by a student of the University of Reading (England), is a researchers of the Department.
    [Show full text]
  • Borderline Gender Ed
    BORDELINE GENDER GENDER BORDELINE Borderline Gender ed. by Tiziano Tosolini Borderline Gender Issues connected with human sexuality and its multifaceted ap- pearances and expressions now seem to be commanding ever greater attention, both in the media and among the public at large. At fi rst glance, this would appear to be determined Tosolini Tiziano by the novelty of the topic. Yet, the research gathered in this book tells a diff erent story. In fact, the experiences of borderline genders have always been present in the fi ve cultural contexts of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Th e Philippines and Taiwan, the countries in- cluded in our study. Th e title chosen for this collection of essays is not meant to suggest any diminutive or, worse, derogative connotation or interpretation; rather, it tries to refl ect the discovery we made during our research that diff erent societies and cultures, down through their history, found ways to accept and accommodate situations and people perceived as exceptional by the usual societal conventions. —From the Introduction Asian Study Centre Study Asian tudy S C n en ia t s r e A Xaverian Missionaries – Japan borderline gender Asian Study Centre Series FABRIZIO TOSOLINI. Esperienza Missionaria in Paolo. 2002. S. Targa, F. Tosolini, T. Tosolini. To What Needs are Our Cultures Responding? 2003. S. Targa, F. Tosolini, T. Tosolini. Culture and Alterity. 2004. S. Targa, F. Tosolini, T. Tosolini. Experiences of Conversion. 2005. Fabrizio Tosolini. Th e Letter to the Romans and St. Paul’s Grace and Apostleship:Towards a New Interpretation. Edited with Fu Jen Catholic University Press, Taipei, Taiwan.
    [Show full text]
  • Trans* Health Disparities, Health Care Utilization, and the Gender Dichotomy
    Trans* Health Disparities, Health Care Utilization, and the Gender Dichotomy By Elina Nektalova Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Medicine, Health, and Society December 2014 Nashville, TN Approved: JuLeigh Petty, PhD Jonathan Metzl, PhD Table of Contents Chapter Page I. Introduction………………………………………………………….…. 1 II. Background……………………………………………......................... 5 Gender Discourse Terminology………………………………………….. 5 History of the Trans* Movement through a Feminist Lens……………… 7 Critique of Binary Gender Normativity: An Obstacle to Flexibility and Variety in Gender Identity and Discourse .........................10 Affordable Care Act……………………………………............................ 12 III. Methods………………………………………………...........................14 IV. Results…………………………………………………………………. 18 Results from Interviews………………………………………………….. 28 Laura…………………………………………………………………… 29 Coming Out………………………………………………………….. 29 Transitioning…………………………………………………………. 30 Matt…………………………………………………………………….. 31 Transitioning…………………………………………………………..31 Mental Health…………………………………………………………33 Ken and Bryan…………………………………………………………..34 Mental Health…………………………………………………………34 Transitioning…………………………………………………………. 35 Gaby and Betty………………………………………………………… 36 Cancer…………………………………………………...…………….36 V. Discussion……………………………………………………………......40 VI. Conclusion………………………………………………………………43 VII. References……………………………………………………………..45 ii Chapter I – Introduction "Biology loves variation.
    [Show full text]