Papers in Progress
Below we list the papers that are in the process of being written or are under review. We provide the abstracts of these papers for informational purposes only. All of this information is subject to revision. Please contact the first author for a copy of the full draft and permission to quote.
Paper List:
1. Results of the Positive Aspects of a Transgender Identity Survey
2. The Positive Aspects of a Bisexual Identity
Email April 5, 2010: Results of the Positive Aspects of a Transgender Identity Survey
We would like to thank all of the participants in the spring 2009 survey on the positive aspects of a transgender identity. 61 individuals replied to the survey and shared with us their thoughts on how having a transgender identity (or having “transgender” as a part of their identity) was a positive part of and had enhanced their lives. We have analyzed the thoughts that were shared with us and are now ready to share the results with those who requested the information.
Further information about this study and about our studies on the positive aspects of a gay male, lesbian and bisexual identity are available online at www.PrismResearch.org
The Positive Aspects of a Transgender Identity
Ellen D.B. Riggle, PhD
Sharon S. Rostosky, PhD
Lawanda E. McCants, BA
David Pascale-Hague, BA
University of Kentucky
[Please contact the first author for a copy of the full paper for final citation.]
Abstract
The need to provide culturally competent training for counseling transgender identified individuals (as well as other sexual minorities) is circumscribed in part by a relative scarcity of research. Research to date has primarily focused on health risks, psychopathologies and negative life experiences with little attention to the positive aspects of identification as transgender. An online survey collected data on self-reports of the positive aspects of a transgender identity (n=61). Qualitative thematic analysis revealed 8 positive identity themes: congruency of self; enhanced interpersonal relationships; personal growth and resiliency; increased empathy; a unique perspective on both sexes; being beyond the sex binary; increased activism; and connection to the GLB and T communities. These findings are compared to research on the positive aspects of gay, lesbian and bisexual identities. The implications for strength-based therapeutic approaches are also discussed.
Introduction
There are many transgender identified persons with a positive self-identity who experience well-being and flourish. There are also many transgender identified persons who face challenges in developing a positive self-identity. Affirmative psychological services may help those persons facing challenges to address and enhance their psychosocial well-being. Yet, few psychologists have been trained to provide affirmative services to sexual minorities, especially transgender identified individuals (Carroll & Gilroy, 2002; Korell & Lorah, 2007; c.f., Murphy, Rawlings, & Howe, 2002). The lack of training opportunities may be due in part to the lack of a research base needed to create empirically-supported service delivery. The current research addressed one aspect of this lack of basic research concerning the positive aspects of a transgender identity with an exploratory analysis of the self-reported lived experiences of transgender identified persons. The results of the analysis of the collected data contributes to the efforts of psychological service providers to support the well-being and positive identity of transgender identified clients.
Participants in the Survey
The average age of the participants was 40 years (range 18-74). Participants self-identified as 80% Caucasian/white and 20% Latina, African-American, Native American, and other racial identities. Participants were from 16 U.S. states (83.5%), Canada (11.5%) and the United Kingdom (5%). 31% reported being single or dating; 15% reported being in a committed relationship with a "same-sex partner" and 15% reported being in a committed relationship with an "opposite-sex partner;" 18% were married to an "opposite sex partner," and 7% were in a legal relationship with a "same-sex partner;' 6.6% were separated, widowed or divorced. 39% reported having children.
When asked to choose a label for their primary gender identity, 26% chose FTM, 16% Female/Woman, 15% "transgender," 13% MTF, 12% Male/Man, 8% "transsexual," and 8% "other." When asked to chose a label that came closest to describing their sexual orientation or identity, 23% chose Bisexual, 21% Queer, 16% No Label or Other, 15% Straight/Heterosexual, 10% Gay, 10% Lesbian, and 5% Questioning.
Participants were asked "What words or phrases do you typically use to describe your sexual or gender identity?" Many variations of transgender were offered (e.g., transman and transwoman, MTF and FTM), along with transsexual and "tranny." Several participants simply identified as "man" or "male" or "woman" or "female." A few participants identified as "queer" or "cross-dresser" and other assorted labels included "t-girl," "lesbiman," "genderqueer," and "heterosexual woman with a transsexual history." These self-labels are consistent with the wide variation of transgender self-experience and self-expression.
Brief Report of Results (a full report of the results is available in the final version of the article under review)
Congruency
Almost half of the participants in the survey cited the congruency between their inner feelings and outer appearances or expression as a positive aspect of claiming a transgender identity. For some, this congruency resulted from self-identification as transgender, thus giving a label to and starting to normalize their feelings. For others, the congruency came from transitioning from one sex to the other. The congruency sometimes included being able to express their inner feelings through their manner of style or attire.
Personal Growth and Resiliency
Over a third of the sample of participants reported that a positive aspect of transgender identification was the resulting personal growth and resilience. Many linked being "more self-confident," "stronger," and "more self-aware" with their transgender identity. For one participant, a transgender identity was linked to "gaining good introspective abilities, getting to know oneself well, learning how to stand up for oneself."
Empathy
More than one in four respondents indicated that a transgender identity allowed them to experience increased empathy with others. Empathy emerged as a general sensitivity to the feelings of others as well as to injustices suffered by members of other minority groups. For some the empathy was general, e.g. "It gives me empathy with others in a way I didn't have before," or "being more accepting of others." For some it was empathy with both sexes. A participant wrote about understanding the "cultural pressures males and females operate under and use against each other."
Interpersonal Relationships
One is six participants cited positive interpersonal relationships experienced when family and friends accept the transgender-identified person's gender expression as a positive aspect of a transgender identity. These participants reported familial and friend support as being important to them in the development of a positive transgender identity. In turn, this support led to closer interpersonal relationships. One respondent eloquently stated: "The act of self-disclosure, when done with sensitivity toward the person you are sharing with, is a liberating experience, and while potentially scary because you risk rejection, it is probably the single most important thing you can do towards mental, emotional, [and] physical health."
Unique perspective/insight
The most common theme, mentioned by half of the participants in the sample, was having a "unique perspective" or insight into both sexes/genders. This unique perspective was either the result of experiencing life being perceived as both male and female or from transitioning and experiencing living as both sexes (including the hormonal changes). For several participants, having experience as both sexes allowed them to identify male privilege and also understand the feelings of women as being oppressed. An FTM participant stated that he (53) "being not 'one or the other' but being 'both and' is a place of privilege that allows me insights into the complexities of gender identities and gender relationships that many people do not experience. Being transgender presents a challenge to accepted thinking and stereotypes and encourages us all to examine our own prejudices and blinkered views."
Beyond the binary
Over one-third of the sample's participants saw seeing ‘beyond the gender/sex binary’ as a positive aspect of transgender identity. This included the opportunity to challenge gender norms and stereotypes of a male or female identity. Some participants described gender as "fluid;" others found the female/male binary to be limiting on their self-expression, or as one participant wrote, "to be bound as a 'woman' or 'man' is stifling." As one participant responded, "I don't need to worry about whether my behavior suits my gender because there are no set rules for 'transgender' the way there are for 'man' and 'woman'."
Activism
Just under a quarter of participants saw their activism as a positive aspect of transgender identity. Activism took the form of being a role model and educating others, as well as general social justice work. Activism provided an outlet to make the trans-gender community "visible." Some participants educated others about transgender identity in the classroom or at church to dispel stereotypes. One participant stated, "It is important to me to be an advocate and educate audiences about misconceptions and stereotypes. It is even better when I am able to educate them through my own experience as a transgendered individual and my identity as a gay man." Living openly as transgender was seen as being "an inspiration to others, from trans-identified people to non-trans identified people. In fact, more non-trans people than me for having the courage to express and say who I am … for teaching and sharing with them."
GLBTQ community
Being a part of a transgender community or the larger GLBTQ community was a positive aspect contributed by 13% of participants. Supportive relationships within the transgender and GLBTQ communities were reported by the respondents as a way to increase self-acceptance and understanding. A participant stated, "It's nice to have a supportive community of those who know what it is you are going through." A 33 year old "genderqueer" stated, "One positive aspect is my relationship to the trans and queer community. I feel like my gender and sexuality have a home in a unique culture. Having trans and queer space means I always have a place where I can get and lend support, and can have access to activities and events geared toward the community. Whereas in the mainstream culture my identity would be marginalized, in trans and queer spaces, it is celebrated and normalized."
Discussion
The findings from this study illustrate a number of interrelated positive aspects of a transgender identity. While limitations of the sample invite caution in generalizing the findings, the emerging themes are suggestive of possible positive aspects to be included in training for mental health professionals providing services to transgender identified individuals and their families, and to be explored further in future research. The extent to which these aspects contribute to optimal human functioning in transgender identified individuals is an empirical question that also awaits further research.
The Positive Aspects of a Bisexual Identity
Sharon Scales Rostosky
Ellen D.B. Riggle
David Pascale-Hague
LaWanda McCants
University of Kentucky
Full version of this paper is in press, Psychology & Sexuality. Plesae contact the first author for the final paper to cite.
Abstract
Bisexual clients (Page, 2007) and LGB affirmative therapists (Godfrey et al., 2006) agree that facilitating a positive identity is one of the most important therapeutic tasks. However, the task of achieving a positive identity may be particularly challenging for bisexual individuals (Rust, 2002). To assist in this effort, the authors conducted an on-line survey that asked bisexual identified individuals to respond to an open-ended question about the positive aspects of a bisexual identity. Findings from 157 adult participants (age 18-69; 67% female; 77.7% Caucasian) revealed 11 positive identity aspects: freedom from social labels, honesty and authenticity, having a unique perspective, increased levels of insight and awareness, freedom to love without regard for sex/gender, freedom to explore relationships, freedom of sexual expression, acceptance of diversity, belonging to a community, understanding privilege and oppression, and becoming an advocate/activist. Each of these positive aspects is illustrated with quotes from participants. The authors offer suggestions for incorporating these findings in bisexual affirmative counseling and therapy.
Email to Study Participants: October 30, 2009
Greetings! We are writing to share with you the results of our study entitled, “The Positive Aspects of a Bisexual Identity.” A total of 157 bisexual-identified individuals between the ages of 18 and 69 provided responses to our survey. These respondents were from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. About 67% were women / 33% men; and, about ¾ of the sample identified as white/Caucasian, while ¼ of the sample identified as black/African-American, of Asian descent or Asian-American, Hispanic/Latino/Latina, or as a person of indigenous descent in the Americas.
We combined all of the responses we received and then systematically analyzed them for common themes. As a result, we discovered the following 11 positive aspects of a bisexual identity that we grouped into three levels:
Positive Aspects of the Self: Four positive aspects were related to how individuals felt about themselves and their experiences. (1) Some participants described their freedom from socially constructed labels and roles, and (2) their freedom to live authentic lives as positive aspects of their bisexual identity. (3) Some participants cited their bisexual identity as providing them with a unique perspective on life, enabling them to see the world from multiple perspectives. (4) Finally, many participants perceived that their efforts to forge a bisexual identity had resulted in a level of insight and self-awareness that they would not otherwise have attained.
Positive Aspects of Relationships: At the level of interpersonal relationships, participants described four inter-related positive aspects of a bisexual identity. These aspects included (1) the freedom to choose partners without regard for biological sex or gender, and (2) to welcome and embrace diverse sexual and relational opportunities. (3) A number of participants specifically noted that they, in comparison to their monosexual friends, enjoyed more freedom to explore and express their sexuality. Because of their diverse experiences, (4) many participants perceived that they had cultivated a more keen appreciation, acceptance, and understanding of others (including increased empathy with others).
Positive Aspects in Relation to the Community/Society: Participants also shared three aspects of the impact of their bisexual identity on their sense of community and their relationship to larger social institutions. (1) Many participants expressed appreciation for the positive sense of connection they had to the bisexual community. (2) Many more participants, however, noted that experiences of feeling like "outsiders" to the heterosexual and gay/lesbian communities provided them with a deeper understanding of both privilege and oppression. (3) Finally, some participants valued the unique role that they filled in their communities as educators, role models, and activists.
We want to thank all of the participants for helping us with this study. We plan to include these results (and the results of our companion studies on gay, lesbian, and transgender identities) in forthcoming articles and in a book aimed at helping GLBT and queer-identified people discover and build on the positive aspects and strengths of their identities.
Meanwhile, we welcome your reactions to these themes. In what ways do these themes fit (or not fit) your experience of the positive aspects of your identity? Please email Sherry at s.rostosky@uky.edu. We’d love to hear your thoughts, reactions, and stories!
For more information on this study and others, please visit us at www.PrismResearch.org.
Sherry Rostosky, Ph.D.
Ellen Riggle, Ph.D.