Sociocultural Messages about Gender Dysphoria (Dis)Align with the Lived Experiences of Trans and Nonbinary Individuals: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of trans and nonbinary (TNB) individuals in relation to gender dysphoria, specifically focusing on information they have received from sociocultural agents (i.e., messages) about gender dysphoria and how their actual experiences align or differ from these messages. A sample of 104 participants responded to four prompts: what sociocultural messages have you received from others about gender dysphoria, where did you hear this information, how have your experiences of gender dysphoria been similar to these sociocultural messages, and how have your experiences been different from these sociocultural messages. Content analysis identified that the primary source of information about gender dysphoria came from online spaces. Thematic analysis was utilized to understand the content of messages and alignment with lived experiences. Thematic results indicated that six themes were present in the sociocultural messages as well as participants’ lived experience: (a) diverse expressions of gender dysphoria symptoms, (b) perspectives on the dimensions of gender dysphoria, (c) gender dysphoria is distressing, (d) the nuanced and individualized nature of gender dysphoria, (e) complex relations between medical transition and gender dysphoria, and (f) stigmatizing perceptions of individuals with gender dysphoria. Although themes were present across both sociocultural messages and lived experience, the ways participants described their experiences of gender dysphoria in comparison to the messages were complementing, conflicting, and contradicting. Taken as a whole, the results indicate that while trans medicalization and trans normativity dictate a unifying experience of gender dysphoria, TNB individuals’ experiences are more varied and nuanced. Discussion focuses on the importance of recognizing the complexity and diversity of gender dysphoria experiences.