<p>The aim of this study was to explore transsexuals’ identity formation and experiences related to cross-sex hormone treatment, as well as to become absorbed in the narrative approach. To be able to participate in transsexuals’ identity formation, life stories were well suited as a theoretical approach. Life stories can be seen as socially situated actions according to Mishler, where individuals’ identity formation can be seen as both identity performances and identity claims. These narratives are seen as identity performances, where we construct and perform our identities. The stories are viewed as co-constructed between the respondent and the co-constructors in a relational context, where the interviewers are seen as visible subjects. The results showed that hormone treatment, contributing especially growth of male beard, as an important factor for the respondent in passing as biological male in heterosexual contexts. The respondent’s identity expressions also showed that his identity claims and identity performances as male varied depending on relational and social contexts. The findings in the empirical data also showed that gender roles and gender stereotypes, played an important part in what identity claims and identity performances the respondent chose to portrait.</p>

The aim of this study was to explore transsexuals’ identity formation and experiences related to cross-sex hormone treatment, as well as to become absorbed in the narrative approach. To be able to participate in transsexuals’ identity formation, life stories were well suited as a theoretical approach. Life stories can be seen as socially situated actions according to Mishler, where individuals’ identity formation can be seen as both identity performances and identity claims. These narratives are seen as identity performances, where we construct and perform our identities. The stories are viewed as co-constructed between the respondent and the co-constructors in a relational context, where the interviewers are seen as visible subjects. The results showed that hormone treatment, contributing especially growth of male beard, as an important factor for the respondent in passing as biological male in heterosexual contexts. The respondent’s identity expressions also showed that his identity claims and identity performances as male varied depending on relational and social contexts. The findings in the empirical data also showed that gender roles and gender stereotypes, played an important part in what identity claims and identity performances the respondent chose to portrait.