Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations Counseling & Human Services Summer 2019 Intersectional Identities and Microaggressions: The Experience of Transgender Females Cory Daniel Gerwe Old Dominion University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chs_etds Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Mental and Social Health Commons, and the Personality and Social Contexts Commons Recommended Citation Gerwe, Cory D.. "Intersectional Identities and Microaggressions: The Experience of Transgender Females" (2019). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dissertation, Counseling & Human Services, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/b56d-ev68 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chs_etds/113 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Counseling & Human Services at ODU Digital Commons. 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INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES AND MICROAGGRESSIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF TRANSGENDER FEMALES by Cory Daniel Gerwe B.S May 2009, Old Dominion University M.S.Ed December 2014, Old Dominion University A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY COUNSELOR EDUCATION AND SUPERVISION OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY July 2019 Approved by: Jeffry Moe, Ph.D. (Director) Radha Horton-Parker, Ph.D. (Member) Alan Schwitzer, Ph.D. (Member) Judith Dunkerly-Bean, Ph.D. (Member) ABSTRACT INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES AND MICROAGGRESSIONS: THE EXPERIENCE OF TRANSGENDER FEMALES Cory Gerwe Old Dominion University, 2019 Director: Dr.Jeffry Moe Historically, attention given to privileged LGBT minorities such as white LGBT individuals, renders those who experience multiple minority identities as unacknowledged. There is a scarcity of research exploring the intersectional experiences of transgender individuals and how these experiences impact their mental health and well-being. For that reason, the intent of this study was to learn more about transgender females who hold additional minority statuses, their transition experiences, their circumstances, and the nature of their social environment. Specifically, I investigated trans female experiences of transitioning with a specific focus on the intersection of gender identity, race, socioeconomic status (SES), and age. For this study, the research was conducted using a narrative tradition and an intersectionality theory paradigm. Data were collected through observations, archival data, and eight semi- structured individual interviews. Purposeful stratified sampling was used for the recruitment of self-identified transgender female participants from a local LGBT community center. It is my hope that through this research, counselors can begin to gain a rich understanding of the ways that issues of oppression can be more effectively addressed in the transgender community. iii Copyright, 2019, by Cory Gerwe, All Rights Reserved iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to acknowledge my advisor and dissertation chair, Dr.Jeffry Moe for his guidance of this project, for his mentorship of my professional identity and for his support over the course of my graduate training. You have been an invaluable asset to my dissertation and professional growth since I began this journey. I am also thankful for my dissertation committee, Dr.Radha Horton-Parker, Dr. Alan Schwitzer, and Dr.Judith Dunkerly-Bean for their support and thoughtful feedback throughout this process. I could not have asked for a better committee and I am truly appreciative to have had such outstanding mentors. I would also like to thank the other faculty members in the ODU Department of Counseling and Human Services that have offered me mentorship and support throughout my academic endeavors. In addition, my sincere gratitude and respect goes out to the LGBT Life Center and all eight of the participants of this study. Without their support and participation, this work could not have been possible. My deepest appreciation goes to my parents and family whose belief in my ability to succeed has never wavered. Mom, you have inspired me to be selfless and compassionate toward others. I have learned what it means to be empathic and thoughtful because of the example you provided me throughout my life. Dad, you showed me the value of hard work and perseverance. Your love for education gave me passion for learning and motivation for academic achievement. To them and my entire family, I appreciate your positive thoughts, encouraging words, and listening ears through the trying times. You have been my biggest supporters throughout this journey. I would also like to acknowledge my extended family, my friends for believing in me from day one. I appreciate your understanding of missed dinners, celebrations and outings. Throughout my academic endeavors, you all have been a fundamental base of support. Without your unconditional love and endless support, this dissertation would not be possible. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………ii ACKNOWLDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………………..iv TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………….………….……………...v Chapter I. INTRODUCTION……………........………………….………………………………1 Statement of the Problem…………………………..……………………………...3 Purpose of the Study………………………………..……………………………..5 Terms……………………………………………..……………………………….6 Potential Contribution of the Study………..……………………………………...8 II. LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………………………………10 Gender Identity Development………………………………………………....…10 Social Learning Gender Identity Development Model…………………………..12 Transgender Definitions………………………………………………………….16 Minority Stress Model…………………………………………………………...19 Transgender Discrimination……………………………………………………...20 Intersectionality Literature……………………………………………………….23 Racial Identities……………………………………………………….....26 SES Identities………………………………………………………….....30 Age Identities………………………………………………………….....33 LGB Intersectionality………………………………………………….....36 Transgender Intersectionality…………………………………………….39 Summary of the Literature……………………………………………….43 III. METHODS…………………………………………………………………………..46 Conceptual Framework ………………………………………………………….47 Participants and Sampling………………………………………………………..49 Procedure………………………………………………………………………...51 Interviews………………………………………………………………...52 Archival Data…………………………………………………………….54 Interpretive Criteria of Data Analysis……………………………………55 Strategies for Trustworthiness…………………………………………...56 Auditor Edits……………………………………………………………..59 Auditing the Codes……………………………………………………....60 IV. RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………....64 Jamie’s Narrative………………………………………………………………...65 Age Centered Repression…………………………………………….….66 SES Privilege………………………………………………………….…69 Race Oppression………………………………………………………....71 Transgender Positivity…………………………………………………...76 Angela’s Narrative……………………………………………………………….78 Race Oppression………………………………………………………....79 SES Salience……………………………………………………………..82 Age Centered Repression………………………………………………...85 Transgender Positivity…………………………………………………...86 vi Privilege………………………………………………………………….87 Samantha’s Narrative…………………………………………………………….88 Age Centered Repression………………………………………………...89 Race Oppression…………………………………………………………94 SES Salience……………………………………………………………..96 Transgender Positivity…………………………………………………...98 Christina’s Narrative……………………………………………………………100 SES Salience……………………………………………………………101 Race Oppression……………………………………………….……….103 Age Centered Repression……………………………………………….106 Transgender Positivity………………………………………………….107 Ashley Narrative………………………………………………………………..109 Privilege………………………………………………………………...110 Transgender Positivity………………………………………………….116 Tori’s Narrative…………………………………………………………………117 Age Centered Repression……………………………………………….118 Race Oppression………………………………………………………..120 SES Salience……………………………………………………………121 Transgender Positivity………………………………………………….122 Brittney’s narrative……………………………………………………………..124 SES Salience……………………………………………………………125 Race Oppression………………………………………………………..130 Transgender Positivity………………………………………………….131 Age Centered Repression……………………………………………….133 Morgan’s Narrative……………………………………………………………..134 SES Salience……………………………………………………………136 Age Centered Repression……………………………………………….139 Transgender Positivity………………………………………………….141 Race Oppression………………………………………………………..144 V. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION……………………………………………...147 Purpose of the study…………………………………………………………….150 Interconnectedness of Identities………………………………………………...151 Multiple Minority Identities…………………………………………….152 Intersection of Privileged Identities…………………………………….157 SES Salience……………………………………………………………………160 Race Oppression………………………………………………………………..166 Age Centered Repression……………………………………………………….173 Applications for clinical practice……………………………………………….175 Understanding identity………………………………………………….176 Intersectionality infused theoretical orientations……………………….177 Need for intersectional support…………………………………………178 Limitations……………………………………………………………………...181 Recommendations for future research………………………………………….182 VI. MANUSCRIPT..........................................................................................................184 Statement of the Problem ……………………….……………………………….……..……...184 Purpose of the Study……………………………………………………………………185 vii Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………187 Participants