A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Diversity Studies, July 2017 / Transgender students in higher education in South Africa are increasingly coming out. Though this coming out at huge to cost for them in terms of personal safety, alienation. potential harassment, bullying and discrimination, this group of students are insisting that campuses should be inclusive and safe for everyone irrespective of their gender, sexuality and/or sexual orientation. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / XL2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology by Coursework and Research Report, Johannesburg, 2017 / Experiences of transgender individuals in South Africa have largely remained marginalised and silenced by a discriminatory, gender binary and prescriptive society, in spite of progressive legislation within the constitution. The literature reviewed substantiated such experiences both within and outside of the South African transgender communities, further illuminating the need to deepen the understanding of transgender and gender identity dynamics. Through in depth face-to-face interviews with five self-identified adult transgender participants, the present study documented experiences identified as they navigated their gender identity and expression from dissonance towards gender congruency. The interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis. The results of the qualitative interviews revealed multiple beneficial factors as well as challenges whilst navigating gender congruent identity and expression. As a result, seven overarching themes were identified broadly defined as: (1) gender identity and dissonance; (2) gender expression; (3) challenges to gender congruency; (4) protective factors and coping strategies; (5) ‘coming out’; (6) toward gender congruent expression and (7) activism. / XL2018

Text in English / The ‘doing’ of gender in our society is constructed along the lines of power, knowledge and being. Power structures angle knowledge and understanding of transgender people and transgender lives in a way that relegates them almost to the museum to be observed as a spectacle or exotic objects. The emphatic frames of man and woman, even in South Africa where the Constitution is considered and understood to be liberal and generous, the life of a transgender body is an Other life. One is either male or female; any other form of doing and being gender suffers peripherisation and classification as special, different, strange or any other exteriorising definitions. This dissertation attempts to question the power or the tyranny of categorisations and classifications of man and woman, drawing from various discourses such as the medico-legal discourse classification. It further looks at how gender is being performed by transgender people. Further it aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of the experiences and challenges of transgender people with regards to doing gender within a gendered society. The findings within the dissertation tells us, that the performativity of gender is not a neutral space, but enacted by various power structures and those who live outside the norms such as the transgender people, they are subjected to precariousness. It this dissertation seeks to contribute to an unmasking of some easy but harmful assumptions about gender and sexuality. Gender and sexuality may not be taken for granted and assumed according to fixed templates but they are fluid, mobile and flexible beyond the limits of convention. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology (Research Consultation))

MGS / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / This study seek to explore the challenges that are faced by youth in lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) relationships at Mkhuhlu location. The study argues that this cohort, just like any other, should be afforded human rights, and the choice to be in lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersex relationships. Research has shown that those who believe sexual orientation is inborn are more likely to have tolerant attitudes towards lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people, whereas those who believe it is a choice have less tolerant attitudes. The study was undertaken at Mkhuhlu location and the respondents were males and females in lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex relationships. A feminist epistemological approach to doing research guided the process of data collection while also employing a qualitative approach in interpreting the data. An exploratory design was used to gain a broader understanding in the challenges that youth in lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersex relationships are faced with every day. A Sample of 10 respondents from Mkhuhlu location was selected. Non-probability sampling was used and snow-ball sampling method was also used to draw the required sample. The data was collected through the use of guided unstructured interviews. The findings in this study reveal that LGBTI youth have faced various challenges in their daily lives. LGBTI people face considerable levels of stigmatization, discrimination and harassment in their daily lives. These challenges have negative impact in the lives of LGBTI youth and also bring various emotions, which include intense sadness, anxiety, loneliness, discomfort in social situations, and feeling overwhelmed. The study also found that there are strategies that can be employed in order to alleviate the challenges of LGBTI youth, through education the misperception that LGBTI sexual interest is uncommon and sinful may be corrected if realistic, developmentally appropriate sex education is made accessible to the public. / NRF