The term "masculine" has traditionally been associated with strength, dominance, power, aggression, independence, leadership, and success while "feminine" has been associated with passivity, submissiveness, gentleness, weakness, dependence, obedience, and emotional vulnerability. These gender roles are deeply ingrained in society's norms, and they have a significant impact on how transgender and nonbinary people experience their psychosexual development. In this article, we will explore how cultural narratives of masculinity and femininity shape the psychosexual development of these individuals.
Transgender individuals typically identify with a gender that is different from their assigned sex at birth, which means that they may not conform to traditional gender norms. This can result in confusion, anxiety, and feelings of isolation as they try to navigate societal expectations.
A person who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male may struggle to understand why he feels more comfortable engaging in stereotypically masculine activities such as sports or construction work than stereotypically feminine ones like cooking or cleaning. Similarly, a person who was assigned male at birth but identifies as female may feel uncomfortable with their body and appearance due to the social pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty.
Nonbinary individuals do not fit neatly into either gender category, and they may reject or redefine existing gender roles altogether. They may identify as neither male nor female, both genders, or something else entirely. This can be liberating for some people but also cause them to question their identity and experience difficulties with self-acceptance. Nonbinary individuals often face discrimination, prejudice, and violence from cisgender (i.e., binary) individuals who cannot accept their unique expression of gender.
Cultural narratives of masculinity and femininity are deeply entrenched in our society, and they affect every aspect of life, including intimacy and relationships. Transgender and nonbinary individuals may struggle to find romantic partners who are willing to accept their identity and embrace their unique needs.
They may face difficulty navigating sexual encounters, especially if their partners are not knowledgeable about trans and nonbinary issues. The impact on mental health is significant; transgender and nonbinary individuals report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than cisgender individuals.
Cultural narratives of masculinity and femininity shape psychosexual development in transgender and nonbinary individuals by creating social expectations that these groups must contend with. While these expectations may be changing slowly, there is still much work to be done to create a more inclusive and accepting world for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.