Transgender identity and life experiences

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to better understand how, and in what ways, the transgender community supports its members, and how societal gender norms effect social interactions. Focus of inquiry: The focus of this research is to find out how the transgender community and larger cisgender (non-transgender) community effect how a transgender identity is formed. Methods: A mixed-method approach was used for this research to gather quantitative demographic data and qualitative questions to allow for the participants to express their own viewpoints. An online survey with qualitative and quantitative questions was administered and a focus group was held. From the results of the focus group and survey a new theory was formed. Settler Colonial Transgender Oppression theory is a theory that the oppression by transpeople imposed on each other, creating a hierarchy that mirrors the larger cisgender heterosexual Eurocentric society. There is limited information known about the gender formation and life experiences of transgender-identified people relating to their gender expression and gender identity. Although there is research being done about transpeople, much of it focuses on the medical aspect of transitioning. For many transgender people, medical transition is not an option. The mounting costs of multiple surgeries, difficulty finding competent doctors to perform these surgeries, and health issues that interfere with surgery or complicate hormone use, can create barriers to medical transition. However there are a large number of transpeople that have no desire to medically transition. Others feel that they are not transitioning at all but are simply becoming authentic outwardly with their internal identity. There is an element of safety in'passing' as the gender that they see themselves as, but for some, they will never be physically gender conforming. This leaves some as targets to outsiders of the transgender group (cisgender people). Yet there are many transpeople that strive to fit in to the dominant society, and successfully do so. This can potentially create a hierarchy of those that are'fully transitioned' and those that can't pass as a cis person, or identify as a binary gender.