“Your Picture Looks the Same as My Picture”: An Examination of Passing in Transgender Communities

Transgender people remain one of the groups most susceptible to discrimination in the U.S. Previous studies have examined the discrimination and stress transgender people face, but few studies have examined trans identities using existing sociological theories of marginalized groups and identity for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gender issues 2020-03, Vol.37 (1), p.44-60
Main Authors: Anderson, Alecia D., Irwin, Jay A., Brown, Angela M., Grala, Chris L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Discrimination
Gender Studies
Identity formation
Marginality
Original Article
Social Sciences
Sociological theory
Sociology
Transgender persons
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Summary:Transgender people remain one of the groups most susceptible to discrimination in the U.S. Previous studies have examined the discrimination and stress transgender people face, but few studies have examined trans identities using existing sociological theories of marginalized groups and identity formation. Using the theories of Dubois and Cooley, this study explores identity formation in conjunction with the phenomenon of passing among transgender people residing in Nebraska. Results suggest that while trans people do pass as a mechanism for subverting discrimination, there are other factors that influence an individual’s choice and strategy to pass or not. The current investigation lends a sociological perspective on the social aspect of gender presentation and gender visibility for trans individuals in a largely conservative Midwestern state.
ISSN:1098-092X
1936-4717
DOI:10.1007/s12147-019-09239-x