Transphobia (Reading)

Transphobia is intolerance of gender diversity. It is based on strict binary thinking and the idea that only two, very distinct biological sexes exist – male or female, which are assigned and fixed from birth, and which must also inherently cause us to prefer interests, expression, clothes  and behaviours associated with the corresponding gender role. Those who fit in with the strict binary gender norms and ideals are considered to be morally better, even smarter or somehow just more “worthy”. Like any other prejudices, transphobia involves cognitive, affective and behavioural aspects, thus transphobia can manifest itself in people’s thoughts, feelings and in what they do or say.

It can be present in an active, very noticeable way, for example intentionally acting against gender diverse people; but also in a passive, more invisible way, for example not recognising or allowing for the fact that gender variance exists.

We call the more subtle expression of transphobia microaggression.

Microaggression

Verbal, behavioural or environmental slights, intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative attitudes toward persons from stigmatised or culturally marginalised groups. Microaggressions can become so commonplace that most people don’t even notice them. Microaggression can be:

• Making assumptions about someone based on their gender or gender expression
• Deliberately not using a transgender person’s preferred pronouns
• Using outdated and offensive terminology

It is very important for professionals in the helping professions to avoid all manifestations of transphobia. The most important manifestations are the following:

• Open violence
• Misgendering
• Deadnaming

Misgendering

For example, calling a trans man ‘she’ or even ‘it’ even though the speaker knows that they are a man. It can take a while to get used to using new pronouns and people might make mistakes, but if they do it deliberately knowing what the right pronouns are and knowing that using the wrong ones will hurt somebody, then that’s transphobia. It can also include discrimination, like not allowing a trans man to use the men’s changing rooms.

Deadnaming

When someone, intentionally or not, refers to a trans person by the name they used before they transitioned. So-called deadname can be associated with various traumas or unpleasant experiences, and it is definitely better to avoid it if you do not want to do any harm to a trans or gender-diverse person.