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Stony Brook University SSStttooonnnyyy BBBrrrooooookkk UUUnnniiivvveeerrrsssiiitttyyy The official electronic file of this thesis or dissertation is maintained by the University Libraries on behalf of The Graduate School at Stony Brook University. ©©© AAAllllll RRRiiiggghhhtttsss RRReeessseeerrrvvveeeddd bbbyyy AAAuuuttthhhooorrr... Lost and Found: Transgender Elders’ Journey Toward Authenticity A Constructionist Grounded Theory Study A Dissertation Presented by Donna Barbara Riley to The Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare Stony Brook University December 2015 Copyright by Donna Barbara Riley 2015 Stony Brook University The Graduate School Donna Barbara Riley We, the dissertation committee for the above candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, hereby recommend acceptance of this dissertation. Carolyn Peabody, Ph.D. Clinical Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Eastern Long Island Sites Joel Blau, D.S.W Director of the Ph.D. program Richard Morgan, Ph.D. Clinical Associate Professor, Director of the Graduate Program Diane E. Freedman, Ph.D. Clinical Social Worker, the Freedman Center for Clinical Social Work This dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School Charles Taber Dean of the Graduate School ii Abstract of the Dissertation Lost and Found: Transgender Elders’ Journey Toward Authenticity A Constructionist Grounded Theory Study by Donna Barbara Riley Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare Stony Brook University December 2015 While theoretical models of transgender identity development exist, theoretical models of post-transition social identity development are limited, and theoretical models of transgender individuals transitioning in later life are absent. As such, the purpose of this study is to explore the experience of transgender individuals coming out later in life, often after decades of hiding. Their experiences give voice to the trans community to define self-fulfillment as a transgender person post-transition. Additionally, this study explores the obstacles transgender elders navigate in middle and later life. Using a semi-structured interview guide with 42 transgender elders 55 years and older, respondents constructed chronological narratives of their lived experiences. The data was analyzed using Charmaz’ (2004) Constructionist Grounded Theory method. The findings from this study support Breakwell’s (1986) Identity Process Theory (IPT) and explain how the study participants coped with threatened identities (Breakwell, 1983). iii Additionally, the findings explain how Breakwell’s theory of identity integration and Amiot et al.’s (2007) theory of discrete stages of change lead to integrated social identities. The model that emerged in the findings expands the scope of social identity integration. The model I propose, Reflexive Authenticity, expands by adding an additional stage. Therefore, increasing to five stages of social identity development and implement action/interaction strategies with conditions and consequences at each stage. Qualitative analysis of interview narratives revealed two distinct participant categories: Compartmentalized Social Identity and Integrated Social Identity. The essential difference between the two groups was participation in transgender advocacy or activism to support and mobilize the transgender community. This study sheds new light on the post-transition phase and the role that reflexive authenticity plays in transgender individuals’ integrated social identity. The theoretical implications suggest that political activity and commitment to building social and political acceptance of the transgender community are important facilitators of developing an integrated social identity. The transgender elders in this study described early coping mechanisms they used to protect threatened core identities, the obstacles and barriers they faced along the way, and their journeys toward living authentically. These findings have important implications for the development of future research, policies, and interventions that support transgender individuals. iv Dedication Page I would like to dedicate this dissertation to the 42 amazing trans people who shared their stories with me, reflected on their lives, and spoke honestly about their experiences. I would also like to dedicate this dissertation to my mother, Barbara Anne Riley. Although she is gone, her unconditional love and acceptance remains with me. v Table of Contents ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION .......................................................................... III DEDICATION PAGE ........................................................................................................ V TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. VI TABLES ............................................................................................................................. X FIGURES ......................................................................................................................... XI ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................... XII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY .................................................................................................. 1 PLAN OF THIS REPORT ...................................................................................................... 2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH ISSUE ..................................................................................... 2 PREVALENCE OF TRANSGENDER ELDERS ......................................................................... 3 GAP IN THE LITERATURE .................................................................................................. 4 THE PROBLEM .................................................................................................................. 5 TERMINOLOGY DEVELOPED FOR TRANS COMMUNICATIONS ............................................ 6 CHAPTER 2: HISTORY OF THE TRANS CATEGORY ............................................... 12 MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ROOTS ......................................................................... 12 The Transsexual Phenomenon – Medical Model ...................................................... 12 Early Conversion Treatment ..................................................................................... 13 Hirschfield Institute of Science .................................................................................. 13 John Hopkins University Gender Clinic .................................................................... 14 The Authentic Model: Healthy Variability ................................................................ 15 SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................... 16 The LGB (T) Movement: Homonormativity .............................................................. 17 Homophile Movement Excludes Gender Variant ...................................................... 17 Comptons Cafeteria Riot ........................................................................................... 19 Stonewall Riot ............................................................................................................ 20 Feminist Lesbian Separatists and Transgender Identity ........................................... 22 The “Empire” Strikes Back: A Post-transsexual Manifesto ..................................... 23 Feminist Solidarity after Queer Theory .................................................................... 24 Trans-Identity Theory ................................................................................................ 25 CHAPTER 3: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................ 28 TRANSGENDER IDENTITY FORMATION ........................................................................... 28 Devor’s (2004) Witnessing and Mirroring ................................................................ 31 Lev’s (2004) Transgender Emergence Model ........................................................... 33 Critique of Transgender Identity Theory ................................................................... 33 vi MODELS OF STIGMATIZATION ........................................................................................ 34 Perceived Stigma ....................................................................................................... 37 MINORITY STRESS THEORY ............................................................................................ 38 TRANSPHOBIA / TRANSPREJUDICE .................................................................................. 39 Intolerance ................................................................................................................. 40 Summarizing Transgender Prejudice ........................................................................ 41 IDENTITY PROCESS THEORY (IPT) .................................................................................. 41 SOCIAL REPRESENTATION THEORY ................................................................................ 43 IPT AND SOCIAL REPRESENTATION ................................................................................ 44 IDENTITY INTEGRATION THEORY ..................................................................................
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