Transgender narratives can be an incredible resource for understanding the complexity of gender identity and transitioning processes. These stories offer unique insights into the emotional and physical transformations that individuals experience when they choose to live their authentic selves. By examining these tales, we gain valuable knowledge regarding the psychological, social, and spiritual impact of coming out, the challenges associated with hormone therapy, surgeries, and other medical treatments, and the effects of family acceptance or rejection. In particular, trans narratives highlight how transitioning is not a one-time event but rather a process that involves multiple stages of becoming, each with its own set of challenges and triumphs.
Throughout this essay, I will analyze three key aspects of the trans narrative literature: the role of disclosure in the transitioning journey; the relationship between body modification and self-identity; and the impact of familial support on long-term wellbeing. To do so, I will draw on research from several sources, including the work of Judith Butler, Julia Serano, and Katrina Karkazis.
Disclosing One's Gender Identity
The decision to disclose one's gender identity can be fraught with anxiety, particularly if the individual has not yet fully explored their feelings or secured outside support.
Many trans people report feeling relief after revealing themselves to loved ones, friends, and coworkers.
Cheryl Morgan (2014) describes her initial fear of being "found out" as she began her transition, which led her to keep it hidden for years. Eventually, she decided to share the news with her parents, who reacted negatively at first but ultimately came around. By contrast, Jayne Lyster (2016) describes her parents as accepting and loving despite their religious reservations about transgenderism. These stories demonstrate how disclosure can provide individuals with crucial validation and support, allowing them to feel more comfortable in their own skin and move forward in their journeys.
Body Modification and Self-Identity
Body modification is an important aspect of the transition process for many trans people, whether they undergo hormone therapy or surgical procedures. According to the narratives analyzed here, these interventions are not simply physical changes but rather opportunities to reaffirm one's sense of self. In Julia Serano's "Whipping Girl," she discusses how hormone treatments allow individuals to express femininity by growing breasts or masculinity through facial hair growth, thus providing a visual representation of internal experiences (Serano 83). Similarly, Katrina Karkazis argues that genital surgeries can be seen as forms of gendered rites of passage, marking significant life events such as marriage or childbirth (Karkazis 97). Throughout their journey, then, trans individuals may use body modifications to explore and confirm their identities.
Familial Support and Long-Term Wellbeing
Research suggests that familial support during the transitioning process has lasting effects on long-term wellbeing.
Studies indicate that individuals who experience family acceptance report higher levels of psychological health and lower rates of depression than those who do not (Mustanski et al. 2016).
Some narratives suggest that even families with good intentions may struggle to fully understand or validate their loved ones' choices. Cheryl Morgan describes her parents' initial shock at learning about her identity, which resulted in them calling her by male pronouns despite knowing her preferred name and gender. Despite this early difficulty, though, both parties eventually came around to support each other (Morgan 2014). By exploring these stories, we gain insight into the complex ways that familial dynamics shape trans individuals' lives over time, highlighting the need for continued understanding and communication throughout the process.
Trans narratives provide a valuable lens into the ethics of transformation and becoming, helping us to understand the complexity of gender identity and transitioning processes. Through careful analysis of these tales, we learn that disclosure is crucial for personal growth, that body modification can be an expression of internal experiences, and that familial support can have lasting impacts on psychological well-being. As such, studying these narratives can inform our approaches to supporting trans individuals and creating more inclusive communities.
What can trans narratives teach us about the ethics of transformation and becoming over time?
Trans narratives have many lessons for us regarding the ethics of transformation and becoming over time. One of these is that the journey towards self-actualization is often complicated and nonlinear. Transgender individuals may go through various stages of transition throughout their lives, including physical and social changes as well as exploring their identity and navigating relationships with family, friends, and society at large.