Transphobia connotes a state of fear, mistrust, disbelief, and hatred of individuals towards transgender or transsexual people (Iantaffi & Bockting, 2011). The phenomenon is marked by discrimination, abuse, bullying, and violence, irritation and misunderstanding, and derogatory language and name calling amongst others. From the previous research, transphobia appears to have a healthy relationship with sociological, health, and wellness issues. Acker (2017) affirmed that transphobia had got negative implications on the self-esteem of the victims and social connectivity of individuals. Also, the parties to alienation are prone to health-harming actions such as drug abuse, smoking, and immorality amongst others (Dispenza et al. 2012). Moreover, transphobia results in direct health issues including depression. As a result, the point of transgender discernment is a vital area that must be evaluated by the sociologists.
In light of the health and social concerns of transphobia, this paper will explore the effects of discrimination on the health status of the victims. On the other hand, the literature review will vividly explore the social challenges that are common to individuals who are subjected to the intense transphobic scenarios. Finally, the study will give recommendations on the areas that should be conducted by the future sociologists on the prevalence and influence of transphobia.
Health Effects of Transphobia on the Victims
Engagement in the Harmful Behaviors that Impair the Normal Health and Fitness
The transgender group with frequent discrimination has got repeated rates of health-harming conducts including suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as smoking (Miller & Grollman, 2015). Due to the fear of neglect and unacceptance, the Trans people who stay fulltime with the desired gender have reportedly shown the attempts of committing suicide. As a result, the unplanned death of such individuals has occurred. In practice, Cheney et al. (2017) assessed the transcripts from the Mexican’s Trans asylum-seekers who had experienced discrimination for a more extended period. The evaluation ascertained that those who had suffered transphobia were vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorders, drug abuse, and attempted suicide. As a result of transphobic issues, targets are left without a further sense of staying in the world apart from taking away their lives. Some parties resort to taking alcohol and other illegal drugs as a way of forgetting the frustration from the colleagues, an instance that does more harm than help (Cheney et al. 2017). Among those who have been subjected to transphobia, respiratory diseases and complications are investable due to excessive smoking and intake of drugs.
Transphobia tends to instigate emotional distress, depression, and anxiety amongst individuals (Rood et al., 2017). As a result of discrimination and transphobic practices, trans people lack peaceful mind but rather the subjection to psychological torture that gives the negative impact on the health and wellness of such parties. In an attempt to expound on the effects of transphobia on emotional implications of transphobia, Iantaffi & Bockting (2011) surveyed a number of Trans of 18 years and above in the US to ascertain their heteronormative attitudes as well as the self-cognition concerning the victims’ identities. From the Trans personalities, many individuals had been traumatised and given the complex medical treatments like surgery as compared to the conforming individuals.
As a result of transphobia and gender nonconformity, stigma visibility occurs. From the previous research, ‘stigma visibility exposes individuals to discriminatory treatment and the psychological distress’ (Acker, 2017). Such individuals are ever concerned with how they are perceived by their peers who purely dishonor them. Besides the engagement in drug abuse and alcohol, Miller & Grollman (2015) ascertained that discrimination of the minority and visible gender nonconformity was detrimental to the healthiness of the individuals. Additionally, Miller and Grollman (2015) asserted that the stigmatized individuals were subject to deviance from the gender binary, an instance that was harmful to the people’s health. Similarly, Rood et al. (2017) argue that the transgender and nonconforming parties have the pervasive stigma that has negative impacts on the health state of the personalities.
Gender Dysphoria is another outcome health outcome as a result of transphobia amongst the transgender personalities (Rood et al., 2017). The situation encompasses a fundamental unease with the biological sex. Notably, one is born with the gender dysphoria, hence developing anxiety, restlessness, and depression amongst other symptoms. Dysphoria facilitates the change of individual’s body and expression of gender. From the assessment conducted by Iantaffi & Bockting (2011), the adolescents who had dysphoria reported that their parents were exposed to transphobic instances. Similarly, the sample comprised of personalities who attested that they had been subjected to transphobia, a case that would have initiated the prevalence of dysphoria amongst the group.
Social Effects of Transphobia
Intimidation in School and Dropouts
The Trans in the school environment who have been victims of bullying and discrimination are vulnerable to several negative challenges. From the study of Acker (2017), different students were asked to respond whether they had experienced instances like name calling, rumours and gossips, threats, and intimidation either from the peers, teachers or outside the school environment. Other misfortunes that students had been subjected to include bullying and false allegations. While such Trans were asked whether they had the interest of continuing to stay in school, 67% were never willing to leave and seek for chance elsewhere. As a result of oppression, the individuals reported aspects of isolation, fearfulness, and unwillingness to stay together with the colleagues (Miller & Grollman, 2015). While at school, apprentices were not ready to ask questions and engage the educators, an instance that contributes to the persistent failure of the students.
Under the instances of extreme school transphobia, students opt to abandon the system after becoming convinced that he can hardly bear the intense pressure (Dispenza et al., 2012). In fact, the school setups where administration undertakes low profiles to protect the transgender and the minorities have a high rate of Trans’ dropouts. Instead of viewing schools as resourceful institutions that nurture good characters while enforcing proper morals, Acker (2017) affirms that Trans personalities perceived colleges as institutions for cruelty. Therefore, quitting remains the only viable option.
Lowering Self Esteem
According to Lewis et al. (2017), transphobia has a negative relationship with self-esteem. After a series of insults, name-calling, intimidation, and subjection to various stressors, individuals lose the confidence on the potentiality and capability of performing in different tasks. From the assessment conducted by Acker (2017), the Trans that had been subject to transphobia were persistently taking low profile while in school. Such personalities were worried about the aftermath perception and reaction of the peers. As a result of criticism and discrimination, some teens hide their sexual orientation and gender identity. An instance is the lacking the courage to approach the opposite sex for socialization even after attaining the puberty state. The bottom line is that the self-assurance is lacking that is necessary for interaction (Acker, 2017).
Indulgence in Crime Activities
Amongst the Trans, illegal drugs such as smoking and alcohol intake are highly prevalent. Besides the negative implications on health, drugs make the Trans to participate in crimes, theft and murders after using the drugs. In reminiscence, Cheney et al. (2017) reported the occurrence of physical and sexual assault amidst the characters who had been subjected to transphobia. In fact, transphobia increases the chances of lesbianism, raping, and other peculiar practices. Since transphobia intensifies the prevalence of unhealthy sex, it is hectic to eradicate the existence of HIV/AIDs and other related pandemics especially from those who have passed through discrimination of every kind (Iantaffi & Bockting, 2011).
Difficulty in Creating Friendship and United Social Class
Where transphobia dominates, it is challenging to develop intimacies. For instance, Acker (2017) unearthed that university students in New York with a history of discrimination developed negative emotions to interact with the colleagues who were discriminating them. Apparently, transphobia makes it impossible for learners to appreciate the diversity in the institutions while becoming subjective and fast to criticize the peers. Likewise, the adults are equally affected. From the findings of Lewis et al. (2017), old people who have been subjected to transphobic circumstances feel isolated and incapable of getting along with the rest. Usually, such parties are entirely convinced that they can hardly obtain acceptance before the aristocrats whatsoever. Therefore, old Trans with a history of transphobia continue to be self-centred (Dispenza et al., 2012). Individuals who have passed through transphobia also find it hard to interact with the contemporaries while at work. In this essence, it is hectic for the executives to achieve the teamwork philosophy.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Overall, transphobia encompasses a situation where a set of individuals appear timid, isolated, mistrusted, and the existence of disbelief towards the transgender and transsexual personalities. Transphobia seems to be a firm sociological concern since it affects a diverse social group beginning pupils, adolescents, and even the old personalities. The motives for choosing the topic were necessitated by the overwhelming health effects of transphobia to the victims. For instance, Chesney et al. (2007) conducted research which concluded that discrimination and transphobia were responsible for increased use of drugs such as alcohol, smoking, and prevalence of suicide. On the other hand, Iantaffi & Bockting (2011) maintains that transphobia leads to emotional distress, depression, and anxiety amongst individuals. Additionally, Miller & Grollman (2015) reiterates that transphobia is a form of gender nonconformity and stigma visibility that is responsible for the psychological distress. The social impacts of transphobia incorporate intimidation in school and high dropout amongst the transphobic victims. Lewis et al. (2017) also affirmed that transphobia results in low self-esteem of individuals who end up demeaning themselves and never ready to participate in the essential activities and functions with the peers. Other social issues of transphobia encompass overindulgence in criminal activities, difficulty in creating the friendship and unity of a social class.
So far, the research has explored the health and social impacts of transphobia on different parties majorly the school-going children, students, and adults. The future assessment should focus on the sociological influences of transphobia amidst the young children under the school attendance age who would be subjected to discrimination by the parents, perhaps due to family feuds and other challenges such as poverty. Likewise, future assessments should be based on the impacts of transphobia to the widows who are sometimes traumatized and overlooked in some societies, thus feeling isolated. Moreover, the new study should assess the influence of transphobia towards the prosperity and success of individuals concerning economic and social stability after attaining the marriage age.
References
Acker, G. M. (2017). Transphobia among students majoring in helping professions. Journal of Homosexuality, 64(14), 2011-2029.
Cheney, M. K., Gowin, M. J., Taylor, E. L., Frey, M., Dunnington, J., Alshuwaiyer, G., Huber, J. K., Garcia, M. C., & Wray, G. C. (2017). Living outside the gender box in Mexico: Testimony of transgender Mexican asylum seekers. American Journal of Public Health, 107, 1646-1652.
Dispenza, F., Watson, L. B., Barry Chung, Y., & Brack, G. (2012). Experience of career-related discrimination for female-to-male transgender persons: A qualitative study. Career Development Quarterly, 60, 65-81.
Iantaffi, A., & Bockting, W. O. (2011). Views from both sides of the bridge? Gender, sexual legitimacy and transgender people’s experiences of relationships. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 13, 355-370.
Lewis, D. C., Flores, A. R., Haider-Markel, D. P., Miller, P. R., Tadlock, B. L., & Taylor, J. K. (2017). Degrees of acceptance: Variation in Public attitudes toward segments of the LGBT community. Political Research Quarterly, 70(4), 861-875.
Miller, L. R., & Grollman, E. A. (2015). The social costs of gender nonconformity for transgender adults: implications for discrimination and health. Sociological Forum, 30(3), 809-831.
Rood, B. A., Reisner, S. L., Puckett, J. A., Surace, F. I., Berman, A. K., & Pantalone, D. W. (2017). Internalized transphobia: Exploring perceptions of social messages in transgender and gender-nonconforming adults. International Journal of Transgenderism, 18(4), 411-426.
