Within a world attempting to live by the values of equality and social justice, the importance of assessing the mental health and well-being of minority communities cannot be understated. Academicians and researchers in India have only recently begun to pay attention to sexual and gender minorities beyond the scope of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. Additionally, transgender persons in India often experience parental rejection in a society that emphasizes family of origin, especially parents, above almost all interpersonal relationships; despite having a space in the cultural fabric of the country. This chapter seeks to understand experiences that affect the well-being of transgender individuals in India with respect to three major aspects of their life- parental relationships, the healthcare sector, and the queer-trans community. The researcher took a qualitative approach and carried out in-depth personal interviews with a small sample of transgender individuals associated with a Community-Based Organization (CBO) in Vadodara, Gujarat. The transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis and the findings related to existing literature. The thematic analysis yielded the themes- filial duty, responsibility for harmony and acceptance, understanding parents, and expectations from parents under the global theme of relationship with parents. Under the global theme of experiences within the health sector, the themes that emerged were identity disclosure, education and advocacy, effect on health seeking, and affirmative professionalism. The global theme ‘interaction with the community’ comprised of the following themes- identification, challenging prejudices, and social support. Transgender individuals often have complicated experiences in these spheres that simultaneously contribute to minority stress as well as resilience, affecting their well-being. The findings of the qualitative study in conjunction with previous literature provide insight into how experiences in these important aspects of transgender individuals’ lives contribute to resilience and well-being.

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Parents, Healthcare, and Community: Experiences of Transgender Individuals and Resilience

  • Shreya Hiryur,
  • Urmi Nanda Biswas

摘要

Within a world attempting to live by the values of equality and social justice, the importance of assessing the mental health and well-being of minority communities cannot be understated. Academicians and researchers in India have only recently begun to pay attention to sexual and gender minorities beyond the scope of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. Additionally, transgender persons in India often experience parental rejection in a society that emphasizes family of origin, especially parents, above almost all interpersonal relationships; despite having a space in the cultural fabric of the country. This chapter seeks to understand experiences that affect the well-being of transgender individuals in India with respect to three major aspects of their life- parental relationships, the healthcare sector, and the queer-trans community. The researcher took a qualitative approach and carried out in-depth personal interviews with a small sample of transgender individuals associated with a Community-Based Organization (CBO) in Vadodara, Gujarat. The transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis and the findings related to existing literature. The thematic analysis yielded the themes- filial duty, responsibility for harmony and acceptance, understanding parents, and expectations from parents under the global theme of relationship with parents. Under the global theme of experiences within the health sector, the themes that emerged were identity disclosure, education and advocacy, effect on health seeking, and affirmative professionalism. The global theme ‘interaction with the community’ comprised of the following themes- identification, challenging prejudices, and social support. Transgender individuals often have complicated experiences in these spheres that simultaneously contribute to minority stress as well as resilience, affecting their well-being. The findings of the qualitative study in conjunction with previous literature provide insight into how experiences in these important aspects of transgender individuals’ lives contribute to resilience and well-being.