Theory, History, and Realities of Transgender Individuals

This chapter presents a variety of queer theories utilized to explain the complexities of gender, unfix gender from traditional binarization (“male” versus “female”), and examine the problems associated with internalization of rigid gender norms. This is done in order to situate the struggles of the research partners in our study on a theoretical platform. The chapter clarifies the differences between sex, gender, and sexual orientation, and explores the gender identity spectrum. It presents an explanation of the challenging relationship between the psychology profession and the transgender community, including the problematic diagnosis and treatment of trans children. Struggles and barriers of trans individuals are discussed, including harassment, bullying, homelessness, and increased rates of mental illness and incarceration. The chapter concludes with the positive and negative ramifications of the recent upsurge of trans individuals on film and television.