A Glimpse at Transgender Community: Challenges and Victories
The transgender community is a group of individuals whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. This community has been historically criticized and discriminated against, but the recent past has witnessed a drive for their greater visibility, acceptance, and rights. In this article, we will provide an overview of the transgender community, including their experiences, challenges, and victories.
Who is Transgender?
Transgender is an umbrella term that is used to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. This can include individuals who identify as male, female, non-binary, or another gender altogether. It is important to note that gender identity is separate from sexual orientation, which refers to an individual's attraction toward others.
Understanding Gender Identity
Gender identity is an individual's internal sense of their gender. Gender identity is not the same as biological sex, which is determined by a person's physical anatomy and chromosomes. Transgender individuals often experience gender dysphoria, which is a feeling of discomfort or distress caused by a disparity in their gender identity and their assigned sex.
Types of Transgenders?
While being transgender is unique to each individual, there are different types of transgender identities that people may identify with. Here are some of the most common types:
- Binary Transgender: This refers to people whose gender identity is either male or female, and they identify as the opposite gender from the one they were assigned at birth.
- Non-binary Transgender: This refers to people who identify as neither strictly male nor strictly female and may identify as a combination of both or as something entirely different.
- Genderqueer: This refers to people who identify as neither male nor female and may refrain from accepting their gender identity altogether.
- Genderfluid: This refers to people who experience shifts in their gender identity over time and may identify as male, female, both, or neither at different times.
- Agender: This refers to people who do not possess a gender identity or who do not feel that gender is an integral part of their identity.
- Transmasculine: People who were assigned female at birth but who identify more with masculine nature.
- Transfeminine: People who were assigned male at birth but who identify more with feminine nature.
- Androgynous: People who have a gender identity that is a mix of male and female characteristics.
Experience of Transgender Individuals
Transgender individuals often experience harassment, discrimination, and violence due to their gender identity. The challenges faced by transgender include hurdles in accessing healthcare, employment, housing, and other basic needs of day-to-day life. In addition, they also experience rejection and disgrace from friends, family members, and society at large. This can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression.
A study by the National Center for Transgender Equality found that 30% of transgender individuals have experienced homelessness, and 29% have been denied access to healthcare because of their gender identity. Transgender individuals also face high rates of violence; according to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 44 transgender individuals were killed in the United States in 2020, making it the worst year on record for the transgender community.
Challenges faced by Transgender Community
One of the biggest challenges faced by the transgender community is the lack of legal protection. Many countries do not have laws that explicitly protect the basic rights of transgender individuals from discrimination in the fields of housing and public accommodations. This can make it difficult for them to access basic services and feel safe in their day-to-day lives.
Another challenge faced by the transgender community is healthcare. Transgender individuals many times require medical interventions to align their physical bodies with their gender identities. These treatments may include hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery. However, many healthcare providers are not knowledgeable or experienced enough in providing these services, and transgender health insurance may not cover such huge costs.
Transgender individuals also face challenges in accessing education and employment opportunities. They may face discrimination when applying for jobs or be denied opportunities because of their gender identity. This can limit their growth in terms of career and financial stability.
Victories of Transgender Community
Despite the challenges faced by the transgender community, there have been significant victories in the recent past. Some countries have passed laws to protect transgender individuals from discrimination. In addition, transgender individuals have been able to access healthcare services and legal recognition of their gender identity. In some countries, transgender individuals can legally change their gender tag on their identification documents, while some insurance providers have even started covering gender-affirming medical interventions.
In the United States, President Biden signed an executive order on his first day in office forbidding discrimination against individuals based on gender identity or sexual orientation in the workplace, housing, healthcare, and other common areas. In addition to this, some states have also passed laws protecting transgender individuals from discrimination in the areas of healthcare and sports. The Supreme Court passed a rule in the year 2020 on transgender rights in the US where employers cannot discriminate against employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In addition, there has been an increase in the visibility and representation of transgender individuals in areas of media and politics. Transgender individuals have been elected to high posts in political office and have also been featured in popular television shows and movies. This has helped to increase awareness and understanding of the transgender community amongst the masses.
Conclusion
The transgender community is a diverse group of individuals who face unique hurdles and challenges in their daily lives. Harassment, discrimination, the need for legal protection, and healthcare issues are just a few of the challenges that are faced by transgender individuals. In spite of all these obstacles, there have witnessed significant victories in recent years, including access to legal protection and greater visibility or representation. However, there is still a long way to go. Transgender individuals still continue to face discrimination, violence, and lack of access to basic services in some countries. It is important for society to continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of the transgender community, and to work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
