Abstract
Amidst the global LGBTQIA+ movement, Taiwan stands as the first and only Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. However, the discourse on transgender rights in Taiwan remains overshadowed. This pioneering research, conducted by a dedicated Taiwanese transgender activist, presents the first-ever trauma narrative of Taiwanese transgender individuals. Utilizing narrative inquiry and in-depth interviews, the study explores the life experiences of 14 individuals, including 4 transgender women, 6 transgender men, and 4 non-binary individuals. The study reveals diverse forms of discrimination and microaggressions, such as misgendering, ontologizing gender, transnormativity, invalidation of gender-diverse concepts, invalidation of trauma, and stigmatizing transgender women as sex offenders. This resulted in trauma, including low self-esteem, social barriers, high defensiveness, mental illnesses, distrust in people, lack of futurity, physical damage, and the concealment of transgender identity. Resilience strategies included community connectedness, rebelliousness, pride, and the presence of transgender-friendly regulations in social settings. This research provides a crucial foundation for Taiwanese society to grasp the authentic experiences of transgender individuals before engaging in discussions on transgender issues. The study proposes recommendations for policies aimed at enhancing the environment for transgender individuals in Taiwan, particularly addressing the current focal point of controversy – the scheme of gender marker changing without surgery. Specific attention is given to improving regulations in educational institutions, workplaces, and hospitals. This research advocates for future studies to delve deeper into transnormativity and explore potential advocacy strategies amidst Taiwan’s post-Cold War dilemma.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Civic, Political, and Community Studies
KEYWORDS
Discrimination, Resilience, Taiwan, Transgender, Trauma
