Dramaturgical Accounts of Transgender Individuals: Impression Management in the Presentation of Self to Specialist Gender Services

Katrin Lehmann; Michael Rosato; Hugh McKenna; Gerard Leavey

doi:10.1007/s10508-021-02028-2

Dramaturgical Accounts of Transgender Individuals: Impression Management in the Presentation of Self to Specialist Gender Services

Katrin Lehmann, Michael Rosato, Hugh McKenna, Gerard Leavey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

64 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Demand for gender dysphoria (GD) treatment has increased markedly over the past decade. Access to gender-affirming treatments is challenging for most people. For dysphoric individuals, much is at stake. Little is known about the specific needs, challenges, and coping strategies of this hard-to-reach group. We examined the experiences of treatment-seeking adolescents and adults using in-depth unstructured interviews with 26 people attending specialist gender services and 14 transgender people not referred to services. Patients with gender dysphoria distrust clinical services and describe considerable anxiety in sustaining their impression management strategies to obtain treatment. An authentic presentation is regarded by some participants, especially non-binary individuals, as inauthentic and emotionally difficult to maintain. Impression management strategies have partial success in accessing services. The presentation of “idealized” selves may result in unmet mental health needs of patients, and the receipt of interventions incongruent with their authentic selves.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3539-3549
Number of pages	11
Journal	Archives of Sexual Behavior
Volume	50
Issue number	8
Early online date	5 Nov 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02028-2
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 30 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We wish to thank our experts-by-experience (Adrienne Elson, Jennifer Clifford, and Michael Steven) who have been an integral part of this study throughout. We also want to thank staff members in both specialist gender services and staff and volunteers in the voluntary organizations (Affirm N.I., Belfast Butterfly Club, Belfast Trans Resource Centre, Cara Friend, Common Youth, Focus Trust N.I, Gender Essence, Rainbow Project, and Trans Pride N.I.) for their support of this study and their tireless recruitment of participants. Our biggest thank you goes to all the participants who have generously shared their experiences.

Funding Information:
Katrin Lehmann was supported by the Public Health Agency Northern Ireland 2016 Research & Development Doctoral Fellowship EAT/5219/15 to undertake the GIFTS study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).

Keywords

Service experience
Impression management
Gender dysphoria
Mental health
Gender Identity
Transsexualism
Transgender Persons
Attitude
Humans
Adolescent
Adult
Gender Dysphoria/therapy

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Lehmann2021_Article_DramaturgicalAccountsOfTransgeFinal published version, 567 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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abstract = "Demand for gender dysphoria (GD) treatment has increased markedly over the past decade. Access to gender-affirming treatments is challenging for most people. For dysphoric individuals, much is at stake. Little is known about the specific needs, challenges, and coping strategies of this hard-to-reach group. We examined the experiences of treatment-seeking adolescents and adults using in-depth unstructured interviews with 26 people attending specialist gender services and 14 transgender people not referred to services. Patients with gender dysphoria distrust clinical services and describe considerable anxiety in sustaining their impression management strategies to obtain treatment. An authentic presentation is regarded by some participants, especially non-binary individuals, as inauthentic and emotionally difficult to maintain. Impression management strategies have partial success in accessing services. The presentation of “idealized” selves may result in unmet mental health needs of patients, and the receipt of interventions incongruent with their authentic selves.",

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Dramaturgical Accounts of Transgender Individuals: Impression Management in the Presentation of Self to Specialist Gender Services

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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