Throughout history, society has imposed rigid gender roles and stereotypes on people based on their biological sex. These norms have shaped how different genders behave, dress, act, interact, and live.
Some people are born into bodies that do not align with their true gender identity. They identify as a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth. Transgender individuals experience difficulties in expressing themselves authentically due to societal expectations surrounding gender. This essay explores how societal expectations around gender affect the lived experiences of transgender people.
Gender Norms
Society imposes specific norms for men and women. Men are expected to be strong, independent, assertive, unemotional, and dominant while women are expected to be weak, dependent, emotional, nurturing, and submissive. The media also plays a role in perpetuating these ideas through advertisements, movies, television shows, magazines, music videos, and social media.
Masculine behavior is often depicted as strength, power, and aggression, while femininity is associated with weakness, passivity, and vulnerability.
These gender norms create challenges for transgender individuals who struggle to fit into the prescribed boxes. Transgender people may face discrimination, harassment, violence, and rejection when trying to access services or participate in activities reserved only for people of certain genders.
It can be challenging for transgender individuals to find clothing, hairstyles, and makeup that match their true gender expression without breaking cultural norms.
Misgendering
Misgendering occurs when someone refers to a person by the wrong pronouns or uses language inconsistent with their gender identity. It causes discomfort, embarrassment, and humiliation to transgender people because they have to correct others continually.
If a transgender man who identifies as he/him/his gets misgendered as she/her/hers, it could lead to awkward situations where they have to repeatedly explain themselves. Misgendering may cause psychological distress like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Gender Affirmation Surgery
Gender affirmation surgery involves changing the sex characteristics to align with an individual's true gender identity. This includes procedures such as hysterectomy (removal of female reproductive organs), mastectomy (removal of breast tissue), and phalloplasty (construction of a penis).
Not all transgender people desire these surgeries due to social stigma, financial limitations, or religious beliefs. The lack of support for transitioning can make them feel isolated, misunderstood, and unsupported.
Transitioning and Discrimination
Transitioning is the process of physically and socially becoming the gender one identifies with. Some transgender people start their physical transition through hormone therapy while others undergo surgical procedures. In either case, society expects transgender individuals to conform to cisnormative expectations of how men and women should look. Therefore, they face discrimination when accessing public spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, sports, and employment. They also experience challenges in obtaining legal documents such as driver's licenses, passports, and birth certificates that reflect their correct gender identity.
Some states require proof of surgery before issuing updated identification documents.
Mental Health Issues
Societal norms create obstacles for transgender individuals trying to express themselves authentically. These factors contribute to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide among transgender youth. Research shows that 48% of transgender people attempt suicide compared to only 4.6% of non-transgender individuals. This statistic indicates the urgent need for addressing transphobia and creating safer environments for this community.
Societal expectations around gender affect the lived experiences of transgender individuals. Transgender people must navigate rigid stereotypes, misgendering, lack of support, and discrimination throughout their lives. Society needs to rethink its perceptions of gender roles to reduce stigma against this marginalized group. This will lead to a more inclusive and diverse world where everyone can live authentically without fear or shame.
How do societal expectations around gender affect the lived experiences of transgender individuals?
Transgender people have been fighting for their rights since time immemorial; however, the society has not yet fully accepted them as they are. The problem with the societal expectations is that it creates pressure on the individual who wants to be true to themselves but cannot because of cultural restrictions. This could lead to depression, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and even suicidal tendencies if the individual does not get support from family and friends.