The aim of this study is to explore how a number of transgender individuals with an autism diagnosis relate to contemporary discourses such as neurotypicality and gender binarism. To achieve this aim, the study applies the tools of discursive psychology in combination with qualitative interviews. The over-arching theoretical and methodological platform on which this study is based derives from a social constructivist perspective emanating in an analytical approach based on discourse psychology. The results show that the informants construct themselves and their surroundings in ways that are dependent on the various interpretative repertoires employed to justify identities seen as deviant. The informants characterise themselves in accordance with or in contrast to neurotypical stereotypes. Despite displaying differing reactions to a binary two-gender system, the informants give the impression that they, in various ways, accept this perception in constructing openness to their social surroundings. The choice between either conforming to a norm or being open about ones gender identity and diagnosis is constructed in relation to the stigma that the category of deviant implies. Being diagnosed with autism seems to inhibit the transformation of gender identity, but to ease the coming-out process of being transgender due to the low or non-existent expectations of their immediate surroundings.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:su-204303 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Wiström, Hanna, Rudgård, Simon |
| Publisher | Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för socialt arbete |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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