Trans Young People and Embodiment

Too often trans young people’s lives are framed by a damage-centered account, one that emphasizes distress at the expense of joy. This chapter explores how the two may be brought together through a focus on embodiment, mindful both not to dismiss the distress that some young people may experience in regard to their gendered embodiment, while also creating a space for a focus on the celebration of gender expression. Through a paired focus on both gender dysphoria and gender euphoria, this chapter argues that while the former can often reinforce cisgenderist and transnormative tropes about trans young people’s lives, gender euphoria by contrast helps to celebrate what it means to be trans, highlighting the unique joys that come from being trans.