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Trans and existential-phenomenological practice
Abstract
Existentialism is concerned with freedom and authenticity—philosophies which permeate the process of transitioning gender. Indeed the recognition of freedom, the eschewing of the comfortable social norms of not transitioning gender, and the attainment of a more personally congruent and authentic gender as well as (in some cases) embodiment, are often the sine qua non of the process of transitioning gender—and consequently any psychological interventions which a trans person may seek as part of this process. Trans then, and the existential project, are fundamentally intertwined. This chapter concerns itself specifically with the matters relating to being trans, which trans people may bring to an existential-phenomenological practitioner (particularly one working from the scientist-practitioner stance such as a psychologist). These issues generally fall roughly into one of three interrelated groups: issues pertaining to whether to transition from one gender to another, issues pertaining to transphobia, whether internalised or from others, and issues pertaining to matters which may impact trans people in particular ways, such as reproduction, ageing, sexuality and such. One issue which is necessarily trans specific is that of transition, so it is to this which we turn first. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)(chapter)
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Date
2014
Type
Book chapter
Subject
Transgender persons
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Citation
Richards, C. (2014). Trans and existential-phenomenological practice. In: Milton, M. (ed.) Sexuality: Existential perspectives. Monmouth: PCCS Books, pp. 217-230.