Transphobia refers to the hostility, prejudice, or fear directed towards transgender individuals due to their gender identity or expression.
What is transphobia?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of “transphobia” is the irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against transgender individuals.
In other words, transphobia involves the rejection and denial of transgender people’s gender identity, leading to discrimination, harassment, and violence against them.
It is a deeply ingrained negative bias towards transgender individuals, stemming from a lack of understanding, stereotypes, and societal prejudices about gender identity and expression.
Forms of transphobia
- Microaggressions: Transphobia can manifest in everyday interaction through subtle comments, jokes, or gestures that indicate or demean transgender individuals, making them feel marginalized or disrespected.
- Discrimination: Transgender people often face discrimination in different aspects of life, such as education, healthcare, housing, and employment. This limits their opportunities and access to resources.
- Harassment and violence: Transphobia can escalate into verbal or physical harassment. In extreme cases, it may result in hate crimes and violence against transgender people.
- Misgendering: Refusing to acknowledge and address transgender individuals by their correct names and pronouns is a common form of transphobia, erasing their gender identity and perpetuating disrespect.
- Legal and institutional prejudice: Transgender individuals may encounter systemic discrimination through laws and policies that fail to protect their rights and uphold their dignity.
Impact of transphobia on transgender individuals
Transphobia takes a heavy toll on transgender individuals, impacting important aspects of their lives, such as their mental health or social connections.
Below are examples of how transport impacts transgender individuals in their everyday lives:
- Mental health struggles: According to studies, there exists a high prevalence and significant disparities in mental health for transgender people. A constant exposure to transphobia can lead to anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation and inadequacy among transgender individuals.
- Social exclusion: Transphobia can lead to social isolation, causing transgender people to withdraw from society due to fear of rejection and discrimination.
- Economic disparities: Discrimination in employment and workplace settings often results in lower income, limited career growth, and financial hardship for transgender people.
- Health disparities: Transgender people may face challenges accessing adequate healthcare due to discrimination from healthcare providers or a lack of understanding about their specific health needs.
Transphobia in the workplace
Transphobia in the workplace is a pressing issue that affects many transgender employees.
According to McKinsey’s study, people who identify as transgender feel far less supported in the workplace compared to their cisgender colleagues. The study also shows that transgender employees make 32 percent less money a year than cisgender employees, even if the former has similar or higher education levels than the latter.
Despite progress in recognizing LGBTQ+ rights, transgender individuals continue to face discrimination and bias in various work settings.
Below are some examples of typical manifestations of transphobia in the workplace and the challenges experienced by transgender employees.
Misgendering and deadnaming
One of the most prevalent forms of transphobia in the workplace is misgendering, where colleagues or supervisors use incorrect pronouns or names for transgender employees.
This invalidates their gender identity and contributes to feelings of alienation and distress.
For example, a transgender woman named Alex, who has come out to her colleagues, is consistently referred to as “he” and by her birth name despite her clear preference for female pronouns and her chosen name, leading to feelings of marginalization and frustration.
Deadnaming is equally hurtful and disrespectful, which is referring to a transgender person by their pre-transition name.
Employment discrimination
Transgender employees often encounter discrimination during the hiring process or when seeking promotions within the workplace.
This discrimination can be direct, such as overtly refusing to hire a transgender candidate, or indirect, when transgender employees are passed over for promotions due to transphobic biases.
For instance, Taylor, a qualified transgender individual, applies for a promotion within their company. Despite being the most competent candidate, they are denied the position, with their gender identity used as an unstated reason.
Harassment and bullying
Transphobia can manifest in the form of harassment and bullying within the workplace, where transgender employees may face derogatory comments, offensive jokes, or even threats.
For example, Jamie, a transgender man, endures daily taunts and jokes about his gender identity from co-workers, making his workplace feel unsafe and unwelcoming.
Exclusion and isolation
Transgender employees may experience social exclusion within the workplace, leading to isolation and loneliness. They may be excluded from team activities, meetings, or informal gatherings due to their gender identity.
For instance, when organizing a team-building event, the group deliberately leaves out Riley, a transgender non-binary employee, assuming they wouldn’t be interested. This leaves Riley feeling alienated from the team.
Lack of support and resources
A lack of proper policies, support systems, and resources for transgender employees can exacerbate the impact of transphobia in the workplace. Without adequate guidance, employees may struggle to understand and support their transgender colleagues effectively.
For instance, when Jordan decides to transition openly at work, there are no established guidelines for the process, leaving them unsure about how to address the transition with their team and managers, leading to unnecessary stress.
