شمارۀ جدید فصلنامه (تابستان 1404) منتشر شد
Volume 16, Issue 2 (4-2025)
Social Problems of Iran 2025, 16(2): 267-307 |
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Hashemian Far S A, Heidari S. (2025). Problematization of Gender Identity in the Social Interactions of Transgender Individuals in Tehran. Social Problems of Iran. 16(2), 267-307. doi:10.61882/jspi.16.2.267
URL: http://jspi.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3817-en.html
URL: http://jspi.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3817-en.html
1- Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2- Ph.D. Candidate in Social Issues of Iran, Department of Sociology, Islamic Azad University, Dehaghan Branch, Dehaghan, Isfahan, Iran ,heidarys449@gmail.com
2- Ph.D. Candidate in Social Issues of Iran, Department of Sociology, Islamic Azad University, Dehaghan Branch, Dehaghan, Isfahan, Iran ,
Abstract: (170 Views)
In Iran, despite the legal recognition of gender reassignment, transgender individuals continue to encounter profound cultural, social, and structural constraints. Even after undergoing gender transition, they face persistent psychological pressures, social discrimination, and normative restrictions. Within this context, gender identity emerges as a central dimension of their social experience, profoundly shaping interpersonal and social relations under the influence of prevailing cultural norms and value systems. This study, conducted in 2024 in Tehran, aimed to explore the phenomenological dimensions of transgender individuals’ social interactions. Employing a qualitative design informed by an interpretative phenomenological approach, data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. A total of 23 interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. The findings revealed that categories such as distortion of emotions, struggle against norms, role concealment, self-subordination, and false identity construction played prominent roles in participants’ lived experiences, significantly shaping their everyday interactions. Overall, the results indicate that the social interactions of transgender individuals in Tehran follow multilayered and diverse patterns encompassing restrictions, adaptive strategies, and varied forms of identity representation. The analysis further suggests that a deeper understanding of transgender experiences within Iran’s cultural, structural, and normative contexts-particularly through policies aimed at public education-may substantially alleviate the challenges faced by this population.
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
Sexual identity is constructed through the socialization process within formal and informal institutions, and for most individuals, it aligns naturally with their biological sex. These individuals typically do not question the sex they were assigned at birth and enact behaviors consistent with it. In contrast, transgender individuals-whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex, behaviors, or internal sense of self-often conflict with binary gender norms and cultural expectations. They transgress or combine socially prescribed masculine and feminine roles, positioning themselves outside conventional gender dichotomies. Consequently, transgender individuals experience systemic discrimination, stigmatization, civil rights limitations, harassment, restricted educational and occupational opportunities, and various social pressures. They are frequently exposed to violence, social isolation, and transphobia. The inherently social nature of human life is further complicated for transgender people, as incongruence between their gender identity and societal expectations significantly affects the quality of their social relationships and individual well-being. Even with the legal possibility of gender-affirming surgery in Iran, transgender individuals continue to face pre- and post-operative social and psychological pressures that hinder the free expression of their desired gender identity. These pressures compel them to adopt social strategies such as conforming to societal expectations, limiting personal and social choices, and enacting roles prescribed by the dominant social order. Interactions defined by the societal valuation of gender identity often generate stress, fear of social rejection, and psychological strain for transgender people, making gender identity a central axis of their lived experience. This study focuses on the problematization of sexual identity in the social interactions of transgender individuals in Tehran, aiming to illuminate how social and cultural norms shape attitudes, behaviors, and lived experiences, and why social engagement for this population is often accompanied by heightened limitations and pressures.
2. Methodology
Given the study’s aim to explore complex and latent dimensions of experience, a qualitative methodology rooted in an interpretive paradigm was employed to capture both subjective and objective aspects of transgender individuals’ social interactions. Participants included 23 transgender individuals residing in Tehran, selected through purposive snowball sampling. Eligibility criteria required participants to have visited counseling or psychological centers at least three times per year for issues related to gender identity. Official documentation confirming the participants’ transgender status—validated through clinical psychiatric assessment—served as inclusion criteria. Participants either had a female biological sex identifying psychologically as male or vice versa. Data collection adhered strictly to ethical standards, ensuring confidentiality and the secure handling of personal and identity information. Interviews were conducted in settings chosen by participants, including public parks, cafés, and workplaces. The semi-structured interview protocol covered topics such as personal experiences in social interactions, responses from individuals and social groups to participants’ gender identity, behavioral strategies in response to various social orientations, and challenges encountered in social interactions.
3. Findings
The study identified five primary themes: emotional distortion, resistance to norms, role flexibility, self-subordination, and fabricated identity. Transgender individuals frequently suppress or distort their true feelings and identities to conform to societal expectations, motivated by fear of judgment and past negative social experiences. This strategy enables them to avoid stigmatization but limits their participation in social life and suppresses intrinsic needs and desires, such as emotional sharing or engagement in altruistic activities. Some transgender individuals actively challenge restrictive social norms, responding to repeated marginalization and judgment. This resistance reflects both an assertion of internal identity and a sociopolitical protest against cultural and normative constraints, dedicating energy to altering societal perceptions and reducing normative pressures. However, individuals who conceal their identity cannot easily engage in such resistance due to the personal risks associated with disclosure.
Role concealment emerged as a strategy to manage the psychosocial risks associated with gender identity. Transgender individuals negotiate between accessing their desired identity and the psychological and social costs of disclosure or medical transition. This strategy, grounded in practical considerations, experiential knowledge, and risk assessment, allows them to navigate social life while minimizing potential threats. Particularly among trans women with masculine psychological traits, heightened awareness of societal norms and the threat of social rejection fosters self-subordination in social interactions. This mechanism serves to avert stigma and social tension, reflecting the fragility of their gender identity. Individuals adopting this stance behave cautiously and deferentially, tolerating unpleasant circumstances to prevent further marginalization. Some transgender individuals present a constructed identity contrary to their internal sense of self to manage social relationships. This fabricated identity emerges from cultural and social constraints and stigmatizing labels that hinder access to legitimate expressions of gender identity. It mediates three interacting forces: internal desire for gender identity realization, sociocultural pressures, and active management of social relations. Although it constitutes a form of coerced conformity to dominant structures, fabricated identity functions as a pragmatic tool to sustain social presence and mitigate isolation.
4. Conclusion
Gender identity profoundly shapes the social interactions of transgender individuals, as societies frequently stigmatize or reject identities beyond the male/female binary. These pressures compel transgender people to suppress or distort internal experiences, adopt fabricated identities, self-subordinate, conceal their roles, or resist social norms strategically. These adaptive behaviors reflect the tension between individual agency and structural constraints: transgender individuals strive for social legitimacy and acceptance, yet dominant social structures limit full realization of their identity. Deficient supportive spaces, social backing, and comprehensive legal frameworks hinder the socialization process for transgender individuals, necessitating alignment with prevailing norms. Enhancing public education, cultural and sexual literacy, reforming legal and administrative procedures, providing psychosocial support, and creating safe social environments are critical for enabling transgender individuals to experience and express their authentic gender identity free from stigma and marginalization.
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
Sexual identity is constructed through the socialization process within formal and informal institutions, and for most individuals, it aligns naturally with their biological sex. These individuals typically do not question the sex they were assigned at birth and enact behaviors consistent with it. In contrast, transgender individuals-whose gender identity does not align with their biological sex, behaviors, or internal sense of self-often conflict with binary gender norms and cultural expectations. They transgress or combine socially prescribed masculine and feminine roles, positioning themselves outside conventional gender dichotomies. Consequently, transgender individuals experience systemic discrimination, stigmatization, civil rights limitations, harassment, restricted educational and occupational opportunities, and various social pressures. They are frequently exposed to violence, social isolation, and transphobia. The inherently social nature of human life is further complicated for transgender people, as incongruence between their gender identity and societal expectations significantly affects the quality of their social relationships and individual well-being. Even with the legal possibility of gender-affirming surgery in Iran, transgender individuals continue to face pre- and post-operative social and psychological pressures that hinder the free expression of their desired gender identity. These pressures compel them to adopt social strategies such as conforming to societal expectations, limiting personal and social choices, and enacting roles prescribed by the dominant social order. Interactions defined by the societal valuation of gender identity often generate stress, fear of social rejection, and psychological strain for transgender people, making gender identity a central axis of their lived experience. This study focuses on the problematization of sexual identity in the social interactions of transgender individuals in Tehran, aiming to illuminate how social and cultural norms shape attitudes, behaviors, and lived experiences, and why social engagement for this population is often accompanied by heightened limitations and pressures.
2. Methodology
Given the study’s aim to explore complex and latent dimensions of experience, a qualitative methodology rooted in an interpretive paradigm was employed to capture both subjective and objective aspects of transgender individuals’ social interactions. Participants included 23 transgender individuals residing in Tehran, selected through purposive snowball sampling. Eligibility criteria required participants to have visited counseling or psychological centers at least three times per year for issues related to gender identity. Official documentation confirming the participants’ transgender status—validated through clinical psychiatric assessment—served as inclusion criteria. Participants either had a female biological sex identifying psychologically as male or vice versa. Data collection adhered strictly to ethical standards, ensuring confidentiality and the secure handling of personal and identity information. Interviews were conducted in settings chosen by participants, including public parks, cafés, and workplaces. The semi-structured interview protocol covered topics such as personal experiences in social interactions, responses from individuals and social groups to participants’ gender identity, behavioral strategies in response to various social orientations, and challenges encountered in social interactions.
3. Findings
The study identified five primary themes: emotional distortion, resistance to norms, role flexibility, self-subordination, and fabricated identity. Transgender individuals frequently suppress or distort their true feelings and identities to conform to societal expectations, motivated by fear of judgment and past negative social experiences. This strategy enables them to avoid stigmatization but limits their participation in social life and suppresses intrinsic needs and desires, such as emotional sharing or engagement in altruistic activities. Some transgender individuals actively challenge restrictive social norms, responding to repeated marginalization and judgment. This resistance reflects both an assertion of internal identity and a sociopolitical protest against cultural and normative constraints, dedicating energy to altering societal perceptions and reducing normative pressures. However, individuals who conceal their identity cannot easily engage in such resistance due to the personal risks associated with disclosure.
Role concealment emerged as a strategy to manage the psychosocial risks associated with gender identity. Transgender individuals negotiate between accessing their desired identity and the psychological and social costs of disclosure or medical transition. This strategy, grounded in practical considerations, experiential knowledge, and risk assessment, allows them to navigate social life while minimizing potential threats. Particularly among trans women with masculine psychological traits, heightened awareness of societal norms and the threat of social rejection fosters self-subordination in social interactions. This mechanism serves to avert stigma and social tension, reflecting the fragility of their gender identity. Individuals adopting this stance behave cautiously and deferentially, tolerating unpleasant circumstances to prevent further marginalization. Some transgender individuals present a constructed identity contrary to their internal sense of self to manage social relationships. This fabricated identity emerges from cultural and social constraints and stigmatizing labels that hinder access to legitimate expressions of gender identity. It mediates three interacting forces: internal desire for gender identity realization, sociocultural pressures, and active management of social relations. Although it constitutes a form of coerced conformity to dominant structures, fabricated identity functions as a pragmatic tool to sustain social presence and mitigate isolation.
4. Conclusion
Gender identity profoundly shapes the social interactions of transgender individuals, as societies frequently stigmatize or reject identities beyond the male/female binary. These pressures compel transgender people to suppress or distort internal experiences, adopt fabricated identities, self-subordinate, conceal their roles, or resist social norms strategically. These adaptive behaviors reflect the tension between individual agency and structural constraints: transgender individuals strive for social legitimacy and acceptance, yet dominant social structures limit full realization of their identity. Deficient supportive spaces, social backing, and comprehensive legal frameworks hinder the socialization process for transgender individuals, necessitating alignment with prevailing norms. Enhancing public education, cultural and sexual literacy, reforming legal and administrative procedures, providing psychosocial support, and creating safe social environments are critical for enabling transgender individuals to experience and express their authentic gender identity free from stigma and marginalization.
Keywords: Gender identity, Sexual Socialization, Social Interactions, Transgender Individuals, Interpretative Phenomenology
Type of Article: Original Research |
Subject:
Social problems
Received: 2025/02/14 | Accepted: 2025/05/19 | Published: 2025/08/24
Received: 2025/02/14 | Accepted: 2025/05/19 | Published: 2025/08/24
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