The+Beginning+of+the+end+-+Transgender+discrimination

Gender identification – Transgender Charles Plowman n8613761 MIchelle Cornford

ARTEFACT This artefact depicts the social troubles transgender individuals may encounter everyday such as the indecision as to whether they should use the male or female toilets. The third identification is a half male toilet symbol and half female which is a well-known symbol of transgender. The photograph has significance in the acceptance it displays for transgender socially and also sets an example for the rest of the world to live and act by. This is a significantly large step towards social acceptance of transgender. More than anything this is evidence that alternate gender identifications, specifically transgender are finally gaining acceptance within their respective communities.

TRANSGENDER The public health issue at hand is related to transgender. A transgender individual can be defined as a person whose gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The reasons transgender is looked down upon in society will be explored along with answers as to why these individuals have such poor health behaviours and outcomes when paralleled to the general population. The methodologies professionals use to attack this issue will also be explained and evaluated.

LITERATURE REVIEW When delving into the adverse health effects faced by transgender individuals it is obvious that there is a seriously negative manifestation that has grown around transgender. The results of this negativity are devastating and need to be addressed immediately. Research shows damning statistics that expose the discrimination, abuse, and negativity that transgender faces every day. It also indicates that this has mental health impacts on these individuals. In 2007 an Australian and New Zealand study was conducted consisting of 253 transgender individuals. Of this 253 19 percent reported that they had physically being abused. This creates fear amongst this minority group which also leads to behaviours which can be considered a health risk, for example not leaving the house, feeling uncomfortable in social settings, use of drugs and or alcohol (Arther, 2013). This behaviour often leads to a diagnosis of depression, of which 36.2% of the transgender population reported having cases in the latest survey. Dr. Wendy Bostwick suggests the disparity found in mental health statistics between transgender and cis-gender individuals is largely related to the societal stigma and resulting prejudice (Bostwick, 2007).

The negative societal stigma surrounding transgender may influence an individual’s decision to undertake gender-affirming surgery. This can lead to health complications medically. Unfortunately transgender individuals may not be able to afford the regular check ups and procedures that follow such a major surgery because the social prejudice flows through the work place and sees that only 15 percent of transgender individuals earn over 60 thousand dollars annually (Cressedia, 2012). These statistics show the devastation of the societal stigma and prejudice that Australia holds against transgender can do to individuals. In the 1960’s transgender was seen as a mental illness by doctors and obviously by the general population. Today theorists do not look at it in this way. Theorists say that gender variance is not a mental illness that can be cured with treatment. But believe that successful counseling alone is often moot without medical variations. Recent views of theorists from the Chicago symposium in 2006 included the view that Aaron Devor described, the importance of transgender studies for problematizing assumptions about bodies and identities and also for the continuing need to rethink sex/gender categories (Devor, 2006). Susan Stryker argued that transgender studies offers a critique of heteronormativity, a reconceptualization of gender based on rethinking who counts as male or female, and the creation of new forms of legibility for trans identities (Stryker, 2006). Judith Meyerowitz suggested that transgender studies calls for an end to the hierarchy that values and legitimates “normative genders” while devaluing and delegitimizing “transgressive genders” (Meyerowitz, 2006). And in a somewhat contrary disposition, Judith Halberstam urged a more cautious approach to both legitimizing and stabilizing the non-normative gendering that trans represents. Her concern was that a monolithic concept of trans would only enable its exoticization and fetishization, thus undermining the ability of trans to //defy// stabilization and intelligibility (Halberstam, 2006) (Arther, 2013) (Ashton, 2007).

The most difficult aspect in trying to fulfill these methodologies is the strength and embedment of the current trends and views upon transgender. Since the 1960s there has been a negative stigma surrounding this topic and to overturn that on a local, national even global scale has and will prove extremely challenging for theorists. Further time should be spent implementing methods in relating to how to actually change the opinion of an individual, town or country. To allow them to understand the theories above and agree with them instead of showing ignorance to a level and never taking the time to address it on a personal level. In understanding and redressing the issue the major target is the general public, as they are the ones causing the damage in the first place. It starts with awareness of the issue then can it be redressed.

CULTURE AND SOCIETY The negative culture and stigma that society associates with transgender is the crux of the issue. The abuse, the lack of employment, the loss of family and peer support and many of primary factors that contribute to the poor health of transgender are all society based and stem from the culture that has been formed over the years. Barb J. Burdge defines gender as a ubiquitous social construct that wields power over every individual in our society. She goes on to theorize that mistreatment of transgender is a societal attempt to enforce conventional gender boundaries. Burdge further asks for social groups to target society's traditional gender dichotomy for change (Burdge, 2007). Fundamentally there are two groups those of gender variance and the cis gender individuals movement currently is toward the acceptance of gender variant individuals. This is due mostly to a major change in the view of transgender – not seeing it as a mental illness. This was the beginning of a new era for transgender, now further down the track acceptance is slowly increasing. The most devastating cultural force is the stiff male, female concept assigned at birth. If this can be deluded and anatomy and gender become two completely different things the negative cultural influence will be limited. The government is at the head of change, the public will not show acceptance when individuals of transgender can only change their gender after gender affirming surgery. It has to been seen as acceptable from the top of the hierarchy, the leaders of the country for those of the public to begin to view it in that manner. Awareness of this topic is of the highest importance, as I don’t believe that many individuals would be aware of the imbalances between transgender and cis-gender, whether that be mentally physically, economically. A further understanding may cause individuals to stop and think before abusing a transgender individual. Especially adolescence as the schoolyard can be brutal and transgender individuals at school may be excessive bullying and exclusion. Any change within a society has to start with societal awareness. This issue does not affect people equally, cis-gender has no repercussions and the imbalances are certainly visible through the statistics presented. With this being said social groups need to target the general population and present them with facts about the topic, but also the leaders of the country. They lead us as a nation and set examples possessing more social power than most. If their views are publicized and legislation is changed accordingly changes will be seen.

ANALYSIS OF ARTEFACT Ultimately the artefact represents the beginning of change amongst society. it shows that people are becoming aware of the danger that the current societal stigma is causing transgender. It is this kind of action that can change the culture if done on a larger scale by people with societal power. For example it could start with every major shopping complex within Australia. This would create awareness and show acceptance at the same time. The government to show support from the leaders could fund it. From this assignment I have certainly being informed of how horribly difficult the life of a transgender individual can be and how much difference can be made if people think twice before abusing or putting down an individual of transgender. In the future I will definitely show an open mind before I know sufficient information regarding that topic.

**Bibliography** Arther, B. (2013). //Lesbian and Gay community services center//. Retrieved october 2013, from http://www.gaycenter.org/gip/transbasics/glossary

Ashton, H. (2007). //Exploring rifts in Transgender, Queer, and Feminist Theories .// Retrieved 2013, from Exploring rifts in Transgender, Queer, and Feminist Theories : http://www.ashgate.com/pdf/SamplePages/Debates_in_Transgender_Queer_and_Feminist_Theory_Intro.pdf

Bostwick, D. W. (2007, June). //Mental Health Issues among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) People//. Retrieved october 2013, from National Alliance On Mental Illness: http://www.nami.org/TextTemplate.cfm?Section=Fact_Sheets1&ContentID=54036

Burdge, B. J. (2007). Bending Gender, Ending Gender: Theoretical Foundations for Social Work Practice with the Transgender Community.

Cressedia, H. (2012). //identity politics//, spring edition 2012. (E. N. Zalta, Editor) Retrieved 2013, from Stanford Encyclopedia Of Philosophy : http://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=identity-politics