TRANSGENDER: A CURRICULUM FOR INCLUSION Tina Payne B.A., California State University, Sacramento, 1989 PROJECT Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK at CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO SPRING 2010 TRANSGENDER: A CURRICULUM FOR INCLUSION A Project by Tina Payne Approved by: __________________________________, Committee Chair Susan Talamantes Eggman, PhD, MSW ____________________________ Date ii Student: Tina Payne I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for the Project. __________________________, Graduate Coordinator ________________ Teiahsha Bankhead, Ph.D., LCSW Date Division of Social Work iii Abstract of TRANSGENDER: A CURRICULUM FOR INCLUSION by Tina Payne There is a gap that currently exists in the basic diversity course for the Master of Social Work (MSW) at California State University Sacramento, in that transgender specific content is not equally included. This missing information creates a lack of awareness for all social work students in their education of a vulnerable population. Early inclusion of transgender content into graduate diversity courses is essential for building a foundation for cultural competence. A curriculum was constructed from a deep secondary meta analysis of existing information including, electronic and academic sources, historical data, books, film, and other relevant resources, including the researcher‘s personal involvement in the transgender community. This analysis helped to determine what was most relevant to include in an introductory transgender curriculum for social work students including; terminology, history, political struggles and the specific and cultural needs of transgender people. The curriculum is designed to invite social work students to examine their own biases toward gender variant people, as well as aid in building on their iv repertoire of social work skills and strategies for practice within the context of human diversity. _______________________, Committee Chair Susan Talamantes Eggman, PhD, MSW _______________________ Date v DEDICATION Of all the people in my life who have traveled this journey with me, I especially want to thank my partner, Katie, for her undying love and support. If it weren‘t for her, I would have never taken this step to return to school. When life became so full that I questioned my own sanity, Katie urged me on with the promise that time would pass quickly, but the feeling of accomplishment would last a lifetime. Katie stuck by me even when I was so distracted I hardly noticed she was there. With great thanks I dedicate this project to my partner, my rock, my better half, and one hell of a social worker. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I owe thanks to Dianna, Kimberly, Jilly, Rachel, Marla, Rebecca, Crisa-Rose, Rachelle, Andi, Chantelle, Carolyn, Elena and all of the other River City Gems members who so lovingly accepted me into their group as a transgender ally and shared their lives with me. I learned so much from my transgender friends by asking questions, seeing the world from their eyes, and walking beside them as they educated me about the need for more diversity in education. They inspired me to share what I learned about their world with other social work students in the hopes of challenging social injustice and promoting the importance of human relationships. I also want to thank my thesis advisor, Dr. Susan Eggman, for her continued encouragement and strategic planning maneuvers for getting me through this process. I especially appreciated her sense of calm and the easy manner in which she guided me along my path to completion. I want to recognize all the great social workers who I have had the pleasure to work beside over the past fifteen years. Each and every one has contributed something directly or indirectly to my growth and professionalism. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Dedication ........................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgments...................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 Background of Problem ................................................................................. 2 Statement of Research Problem ..................................................................... 5 Purpose of Study ............................................................................................ 5 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................. 6 Definitions...................................................................................................... 9 Assumptions ................................................................................................... 10 Justifications .................................................................................................. 12 Limitations ..................................................................................................... 14 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ..................................................................... 16 Introduction ……………………………………………………………….. 16 Gender, Sex and Sexuality are Different ....................................................... 19 Gender ...................................................................................................... 19 Gender Identity Disorder, DSM IV and History ...................................... 22 Terms Under the Transgender Umbrella ................................................. 24 Famous and Not So Famous Transgender Pioneers ...................................... 28 From Germany to San Francisco ............................................................. 28 Tales from the Early West ....................................................................... 31 Fashion ........................................................................................................... 35 Those Who Transition and Those Who Entertain .......................................... 37 Transgender on Screen ............................................................................. 38 A Human and Political View ......................................................................... 40 Other Cultures that Embrace Transgender Identity ................................. 40 viii Page Transgender People and their Place Among Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals ........................................................................................... 41 Fear and Violence .................................................................................... 43 Anti-trans, Transphobia and Violence ..................................................... 45 Laws Affecting Transgender People ........................................................ 48 What About Marriage for Transsexuals? ................................................. 49 Implications for Social Work ......................................................................... 51 Awareness First ........................................................................................ 51 Family and Friends of Transgender People ............................................. 55 Medical .................................................................................................... 55 Community, Advocacy and Civil Rights ................................................. 56 Practice Implications ................................................................................ 57 Therapy .................................................................................................... 62 Gaps in Training ............................................................................................ 65 3. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA ............................................................................... 68 Introduction .................................................................................................... 68 Research Problem .......................................................................................... 68 Methods.......................................................................................................... 69 Study Design .................................................................................................. 74 Sampling Procedures ..................................................................................... 76 Data Collection, Instruments Used and Data Analysis .................................. 77 Organization ................................................................................................... 78 Protection of Human Subjects ....................................................................... 79 4. PROJECT.. ........................................................................................................... 80 Transgender: A Curriculum for Inclusion………………………………….. 80 5. CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................153 ix Introduction ....................................................................................................153 Summary ........................................................................................................153 Recommendations ..........................................................................................157