Passing and Transphobic Bullying: Stigmatized Identity in Transgender Aesthetics

Abstract

Passing, in gender studies, is seen as the situation in which a transgender woman is physically perceivable as a cis woman. A trans person who is perceived as cisgender may face less bullying, harassment, and risk of violence, as well as better employment opportunities. In the same way, since passing is an aesthetic component of the trans physiognomy, depending on its level, people could integrate what Goffman calls discredited and discreditable. In the case of trans persons deprived of liberty, the level of passing can easily be distinguished from the privileged groups, and therefore bullying can be even worse. 24 trans people deprived of liberty were interviewed, who voluntarily agreed to answer questions related to passing. The interviews were processed using the SPSS statistical software. (3) The results in the present work suggest that there is a direct relationship between the passing level and the scarcity of social opportunities due to bullying. In the conclusions, we can demonstrate that factors such as the bul lying, economy, family support, and social inclusion are predominant factors in the physical development of trans people. This work is part of the doctoral thesis for the University of Malaga, currently under development