Gender is an essential part of human socialization and is constructed through various cultural factors such as family, community, society, religion, media, etc., which results in creating gender stereotypes, norms, and expectations. Femininity, as one of the constructs of gender, has been associated with traditional roles and behaviors expected from women like being submissive, caring, nurturing, soft, gentle, emotional, sensitive, and delicate, among others. Women are also expected to adhere to feminine physical attributes like long hair, makeup, dresses, heels, skirts, high voices, etc.
Transgender women, who were assigned male at birth but identify themselves as female, face challenges negotiating these rigid societal expectations imposed upon them, resulting in ambiguous identity formation.
Transgender women have had to navigate their way through a patriarchal world where they are considered outcasts due to their identities and behavioral differences. They struggle to fit into mainstream culture as men because of their masculine traits and as women because of their nonconformity to dominant ideas of what it means to be a woman. This causes them to experience stigmatization and discrimination, leading to poor mental health outcomes and marginalization. Transgender women who wish to live authentically in terms of their self-identification may feel compelled to change or modify their bodies and mannerisms, often undergoing hormonal treatments, surgeries, voice therapy, clothing changes, and other procedures to become more 'feminine.'
Despite efforts by transgender women to conform to feminine stereotypes, society's narrow view of gender can result in further alienation and rejection. The desire for acceptance leads many transgender women to alter their appearance and behaviors in line with cultural standards. Nevertheless, this can lead to internal conflict between the individual's true sense of self and social constructs. It is not uncommon for transgender women to experience dissonance and confusion regarding how to express their gender identities within a binary system that only recognizes two genders.
Some transgender women challenge these norms by refusing to adhere to traditional gender roles and instead embrace their authentic selves.
Transgender women's experiences reveal that gender is not a fixed biological entity but a social construct that is constantly shaped by societal expectations and ideologies. Their struggles highlight the fluidity of identity and demonstrate that gender expression cannot be restricted to one particular way of being. Rather than seeing transgender women as deviants who violate society's rules, we should recognize that they are individuals living life on their own terms without compromising themselves. By doing so, we open up new possibilities for understanding gender and its relationship with other aspects of human identity, such as sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, and class.
How do transgender women negotiate femininity in contexts that impose rigid gender expectations, and what does this reveal about the social construction of gender and identity?
Transgender women often experience difficulties in negotiating femininity in contexts where gender expectations are strict and inflexible due to their nonconformity with these norms. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, and rejection from peers, family members, and other members of society who may view them as deviant or abnormal for not adhering to conventional gender roles.