Liminal Spaces and the Transgender Experience

Transgender individuals are people whose gender identity and/or gender expression does not converge with gender norms associated with assigned sex at birth. A sub-category of people who identify as genderqueer are exploring gender expression along a continuum beyond the confines of traditional binar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Theory in action 2015-04, Vol.8 (2), p.69-96
Main Authors: Dentice, Dianne, Dietert, Michelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Classification
Females
Friendship
Gender
Gender identity
Kinship networks
Males
Negotiation
Non-binary gender
Rituals
Self concept
Sex
Sex Role Identity
Sexual orientation
Sexuality
Social Networks
Stereotypes
Transgender persons
Transsexuality
Turner, Victor
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Summary:Transgender individuals are people whose gender identity and/or gender expression does not converge with gender norms associated with assigned sex at birth. A sub-category of people who identify as genderqueer are exploring gender expression along a continuum beyond the confines of traditional binary definitions of either male or female. We suggest that individuals who undergo some form of physical transformation may experience a temporary liminal state as they transition from one gender identity to the other. Others who fall under the transgender umbrella but are not transsexual may not fully transition but rather remain somewhere in-between the binary categories of female or male. This phenomenon illustrates the transient and complex nature of gender identity formation. Our study explores the many ways that transgender individuals and people who identify with the transgender community are managing their journey and negotiating their identities. Interviews with 21 people in various stages of transformation/transition demonstrate that coming to grips with one's true gender identity is reinforced by ritual experiences along with the support of friends, family, and other social networks.
ISSN:1937-0237
1937-0229
1937-0237
DOI:10.3798/tia.1937-0237.15010