Canvassing the Filipino Trans Man’s Story: A Narrative Analysis of Transgender Men’s Youtube Video Blogs

Abstract

This exploratory study strives to understand the stories of Filipino transgender men through the lens of narrative psychology. By listening to the narratives of trans men, I explored how their gender and male identity is reconstructed and negotiated within Filipino society. The Youtube video blogs of five Filipino trans men were analyzed using narrative analysis. Nine key events were found and organized under the pre-transition, the transition, and the post-transition timeline. The nine events revolved around the following themes: (1) realization of identity, (2) coping with gender dysphoria, (3) coming out, (4) decision to transition, (5) undergoing hormone therapy, (6) engaging with the trans community, (7) facing social/institutional challenges, (8) balancing between stealth or coming out, and (9) finding the road to advocacy and resolution. Overall, the findings specified social and psychological challenges that compel trans men to create their own gendered narratives.