Amongst labeling and self-ascription: Doing transgender in identity work and interaction

Stoller introduced the Core Identity, which understands gender as given at birth and not variable over time. His essentialist view is challenged by concepts that conceive gender as also fixed, but instead of stable since birth... [ view full abstract ]

Stoller introduced the Core Identity, which understands gender as given at birth and not variable over time. His essentialist view is challenged by concepts that conceive gender as also fixed, but instead of stable since birth as achieved through socialization. The Doing Gender theory shifts such notions from gender as a fixed status to gender as an everyday recurring achievement. The conceptualization of gender as dynamic and even fluid dimension has crucial implications for transgender persons. As transgender identities are often questioned (e.g. in events of discrimination), but also reinforced (e.g. through medical interventions) during the transition process, it is of essential importance to understand, which strategies transgender persons use in daily interaction to perform their own gender

This study applies an inductive qualitative content analysis (Mayring) on 30 in depth interviews with transgender participant. [ view full abstract ]

This study applies an inductive qualitative content analysis (Mayring) on 30 in depth interviews with transgender participant.

The qualitative content analysis provides a data driven coding system, which will be interpreted. [ view full abstract ]

The qualitative content analysis provides a data driven coding system, which will be interpreted.

The coding system is organized into two main categories: (a) the social, which is classified as actual events occurring outside of the person, and (b) the personal, defined as events happening in the participant’s mind. The... [ view full abstract ]

The coding system is organized into two main categories: (a) the social, which is classified as actual events occurring outside of the person, and (b) the personal, defined as events happening in the participant’s mind. The social (a) is subdivided in events in which the participants are seen as cis or non-cis by the interacting partners and in events that facilitate or not facilitate to the current status of gender. The personal (b) contains three codes: (1) perception as a reaction to a social event, (2) gender concept as the various opinions on gender stated by the participants and (3) identity work as processes that maintain one’s gender identity. Strategies found to maintain, display and construct one’s gender identity are verbal construction, personal appearance, setting and props and association with others. As transgender identities are exposed to a high level of stigmatization, identity work is strongly influenced by social events. Those are facilitating or non-facilitating to the current status of the participant’s gender and contain stigmatization as well as support.

The findings provide a first understanding of the various types of strategies used by the participants to achieve their own gender. Such processes of identity work in transgender persons are strongly influenced by... [ view full abstract ]

The findings provide a first understanding of the various types of strategies used by the participants to achieve their own gender. Such processes of identity work in transgender persons are strongly influenced by stigmatization and, thus, closely related to social events. The identity work introduced in this study is conceptualized as an achievement of the own gender in social interaction between labeling processes and self-ascription. To be and to be seen as transgender is rather the result of a complex social negotiation than an essential individual statement. The findings suggest a Doing Transgender that focuses on simultaneously displaying concordance and discordance between sex, sex categories and gender. The strategies found in this study expand on the Doing Gender theory by providing a more precise picture of Doing Transgender, that gives a deeper insight of transgender identities in social interactions. The findings are discussed with identity work in symbolic interactionism and doing gender theory. Both theories are integrated and applied on the transgender sample suggesting a differentiation of the personal and social (gender) identity that refers independently to the sex, sex category and gender depending on the situation.