Trans Gender Identities and Language

117 Pages·2017·0.69 MB·English

Antioch University
AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive
Student & Alumni Scholarship, including
Dissertations & Theses
Dissertations & Theses
2017
Trans Gender Identities and Language: Interviews
with Recent College Graduates
Kelsey Moran
Antioch University, New England
Follow this and additional works at:http://aura.antioch.edu/etds
Part of theClinical Psychology Commons
Recommended Citation
Moran, Kelsey, "Trans Gender Identities and Language: Interviews with Recent College Graduates" (2017).Dissertations & Theses.
367.
http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/367
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses at AURA - Antioch
University Repository and Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses by an authorized administrator of AURA - Antioch
University Repository and Archive. For more information, please [email protected], [email protected].
Running head: TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE

Trans Gender Identities and Language: Interviews with Recent College Graduates

by

Kelsey Moran

The College of Saint Rose, B.S., 2012
Antioch University New England, M.S., 2015

DISSERTATION

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Psychology in the Department of Clinical Psychology at
Antioch University New England 2017

Keene, New Hampshire
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE ii

DDISeSpEaRrtTmAeTnItO oNf C ClOinMicMal IPTsTyEchEo PloAgGyE

The undersigned have examined the dissertation entitled:
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUANGE:

INTERVIEWS WITH RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES

presented on June 22, 2017

Kelseyb yM oran
Candidate for the degree of Doctor of Psychology
and hereby certify that it is accepted*.

Dissertation Committee Chairperson:
Gargi Roysircar, Ed.D.

Dissertation Committee members:
Barbara Belcher-Timme, Psy.D.
Wendy Vincent, Psy.D.
Accepted by the

DepartmenGt eoof rCglien iTcrael mPsbylcahyo,l Poghy.D C.h airperson

June 22, 2017

on
*
Signatures are on file with the Registrar’s Office at Antioch University New England
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE iii

Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank the people who agreed to share their
stories with me. It cannot be overstated how much I appreciate your authenticity, openness, and
bravery. It was a pleasure and an honor to be trusted with your perspectives and experiences. I
am so grateful for your time and your help.
The completion of my dissertation would not have been possible without the endless
support of those around me. My sincerest thanks to my dissertation Chair and advisor, Gargi
Roysircar, Ed.D., who has guided and anchored me throughout my time at Antioch, particularly
during the dissertation process. Thank you to the other two members of my dissertation
committee, Barbara Belcher-Timme, Psy.D., and Wendy Vincent, Psy.D., who have provided me
with invaluable feedback and support. Thank you to the Psy.D. department at Antioch University
New England, especially Liz Allyn, Catherine Peterson, and Nancy Richard, for your kindness
and enthusiasm throughout graduate school. Thank you also to my supervisors and colleagues,
past and present, for sharing your advice and experiences with me in order to make this feel
achievable.
Thank you to my family for encouraging me, loving me, and being so patient with me
during innumerable stressed out phone calls. Thank you to my friends and loved ones for fiercely
and relentlessly cheering me on throughout this process. And finally, thank you to my incredible
cohort for experiencing every moment of these past five years with me. I am unbelievably lucky
to have so many fantastic and caring people in my life.
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE iv

Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 3
The Current Study ....................................................................................................................... 4
Trans Identities................................................................................................................................ 5
Individual Experiences with Gender Identity ............................................................................. 5
Civil Rights Concerns ................................................................................................................. 5
History of Inequality ....................................................................................................................... 6
Explanation of Gender Identity ................................................................................................... 7
Language of Gender Identity ...................................................................................................... 7
Social Discrimination of Trans People ....................................................................................... 8
Increased Risk of Suicide ............................................................................................................ 9
Protective Factors........................................................................................................................ 9
Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals of Mental Disorders (DSM) ............................................. 10
Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................................... 11
Research Questions ................................................................................................................... 12
Significance of the Study .......................................................................................................... 13
Implications of Discrimination for Clinical Psychology .......................................................... 14
APA Ethical Principles ............................................................................................................. 15
Biases ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 17
Definition of Terms....................................................................................................................... 17
Chapter 2: Method ........................................................................................................................ 19
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE v

Participants ................................................................................................................................ 19
Procedures ................................................................................................................................. 19
Research Design........................................................................................................................ 21
Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 25
Chapter 3: Results ......................................................................................................................... 27
Thematic Clusters and Themes ..................................................................................................... 27
Cluster 1: Positive Experiences ................................................................................................ 27
Cluster 2: Language .................................................................................................................. 29
Cluster 3: Gender Development................................................................................................ 31
Cluster 4: Coming Out .............................................................................................................. 32
Cluster 5: Discrimination .......................................................................................................... 34
Cluster 6: Emotional Reactions ................................................................................................ 36
Cluster 7: Representation and Visibility ................................................................................... 38
Table 1: Thematic Clusters and Themes ............................................................................... 40
Interview Notes Summary ........................................................................................................ 40
Language ............................................................................................................................... 41
Table 2: Gendered Language ................................................................................................ 42
Self-Reflection Notes Summary ............................................................................................... 42
Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 43
Chapter 4: Discussion ................................................................................................................... 44
Research Questions Answered .................................................................................................. 45
Participant Suggestions for Language ...................................................................................... 52
Limitations of the Study............................................................................................................ 54
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE vi

Directions for Future Research ................................................................................................. 55
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 57
References ..................................................................................................................................... 59
Appendix A ................................................................................................................................... 61
Appendix B ................................................................................................................................... 62
Appendix C ................................................................................................................................... 64
Appendix D ................................................................................................................................... 65
Appendix E ................................................................................................................................... 67
Appendix F.................................................................................................................................... 89
Appendix G ................................................................................................................................... 99
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE vii

List of Tables

Table 1: Thematic Clusters and Themes…………………………………………………………40
Table 2: Gendered Language……………………………………………………………………42
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE 1

Abstract
There has been an increasingly pervasive need to gain a deeper and more individualized
psychological understanding of how people experience their gender identities, as well as how
they navigate the complicated and nuanced language of gender. Words carry meaning and it is
vital to gain an insightful understanding of the impact of words, whether supportive or
discriminatory, on trans people. The present qualitative study utilized phenomenological
methods to hold interviews with three trans individuals, who had recently graduated from
college, about their unique experiences with gender. Thematic analysis was used to examine
common themes that arose throughout the interviews. Seven thematic clusters emerged: Positive
Experiences, Language, Gender Development, Coming Out, Discrimination, Emotional
Reactions, and Representation and Visibility. Twenty-one themes were organized under the
seven clusters. Some of these themes include (a) fear (“that was a big step for me, and I was so
scared”), (b) transphobia (“I’ve gotten ‘it’[pronoun] a few times”), (c) familiarity with language
(“I appreciate it when people either are pretty up on [gendered language], or are really receptive
to learning more about it”), and (d) necessity of support (“just knowing that there are other
people like you [who are trans] out there is awesome and empowering”). Exploration of the
emerging themes emphasized the individuality of trans individuals and their personal
experiences with and opinions of gender. Suggestions for navigating the complicated language of
gender, as identified by the participants, are provided in hopes of increasing awareness and
safety for the trans community. Limitations of the study included the researcher’s identity and
her related biases, the small sample size, and concerns regarding one’s personal safety that may
have influenced people to participate or to not participate in the study. Directions for future
research include gaining additional understanding of a wide breadth of trans individuals’
TRANS GENDER IDENTITIES AND LANGUAGE 2

intersectional identities (sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationality, class, ability, religion/spirituality,
etc.), the experiences of trans individuals, generational differences in gender identities, and
positive experiences related to trans identities.
Keywords: trans, language, cisgender, gender identity, gender expression,
biological sex, sexuality

This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and
Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu