Research Paper on Transgender Identity in Mexico: An Overview

Introduction

According to Xavier, Honnold, and Bradford (2017) define transgenders as persons whose ender behaviors, identity, and expressions do not comfort the sex group given at birth. They tend to behave in a different manner that signifies that their gender is different. The transgender population is estimated to be 0.1 % of the reproductive adults in Mexico (Global, A. I. D. S., 2014). When people are discussing gender identity, the most controversial issue is whether they can freely claim to belong to a certain category of sex, race or class. The topic of gender identity causes many arguments based on studies experience of sexuality; people are afraid to declare to be lesbian or homosexual because they fear society will treat them differently. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the rationale of the transgender topic, provide a literature review and implications for working with clients.

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The topic of transgender is important in psychology because it studies their behaviors and the problems they encounter while trying to claim their gender identity. They are the most marginalized group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) society. Although the media has been focusing on the debate on marriage equality, it does not emphasize the transgender issues. In Mexico, most transgender individuals suffer from marginalization and social exclusion due to how they portray their gender personality. For instance, if a person was identified as a male at birth, he demonstrates female behaviors such as dressing. Mexico is a traditional and conservative society that is associated with masculinity believes culture. They emphasize strict restrictions on male identity, hence a male who behaves like a female is excluded from society. However, several social reforms have been challenging the traditional and cultural ender believes to protect the LGBT people. The pressure led Federal District in Mexico (Mexico DF) to establish legislation that allowed for ender changes in personal and public documents. In October 2008, the court allowed transgender people to apply for a new and modified birth certificate, but the process of accessing it is long and complex (International Bar Association, 2015). However, despite the change in social policies, most Mexican continue to oppose the LGBT legislation exposing them to risks of violence, discrimination, and harassment. The local government and religious institutions have also contributed to ender identity maltreatment because they say it is against the will of God and nature. In some Mexican states, it is illegal to express transgender behavior (Center, 2016).

The topic is significant in psychology because it studies how the behaviors of people towards gender identity. In recent years, I used to think that people should behave according to the gender assigned to them at birth. However, I came to realize that these people may be assigned a female identity, but the male hormones are dominant in their bodies. This is the reason why they behave like men. The topic of transgender helps in understanding my social and biological behaviors towards my gender. In the counseling department, one faces many issues such as transgender problems. I am an American citizen and believe that everyone should be given a chance to choose his/her gender identity. Most tests carried out of a transgender person may undermine an individual gender. I would encourage people to be what they want. Various problems are associated with gender identity denial. The transgender should stand against gender assigned at birth or diagnosis if they think it was wrong. Failure to express the gender identity denies individuals the right of who they are and what they want to achieve in life.

Literature Review

According to a study carried out by McGillivray and Jennings (2008) transgender individuals experience problems in identity development because they lack non-traditional tools to help them. They often feel lonely in the struggle for identity because of the scarcity of public acknowledgment (McGillivray &Jennings, 2008). Most public or private institutions do not provide a room for transgender identity. In most official forms, one either indicates to be male or female limiting their capacity of discovery. They also feel lonely due to a lack of family support. Most parents want their children to express the identity that was assigned to them at birth. The transgender people have no background information to discover their identity because the educational sector does not include them. The textbooks do not define transgender nor address their development experiences (McGillivray &Jennings, 2008). A study by Ringo (2002), revealed that public acknowledgment of transgender people has both positive and negative effects. The participants declared that some educational materials such as journals, textbooks or online groups on transgender were helpful. However, the participants declared that they were criticized and abused by revealing their identity. Levitt and Ippolito (2014), conducted research to explain transgender identity development based on the grounded theory. They interviewed different transgender persons in the US and found that they identified as a transwoman, crossdresser, butch lesbian, and transman. The questions were focused on identifying the participants' experiences during the development process. The study found that participants decided to match a need for authenticity with the demands of requirements. They evaluated their internal sex experience with concerns about their coping skills, available resources, and the implications of gender changes (Levitt & Ippolito, 2014).

Although the psychological literature does not provide transgender identity development models, it has offered the butch lesbian and transsexual that can be used similarly. A study by Devor's (2004) discussed fourteen stages of sexual development. The first phases are associated with confusion and anxiety as an individual try to compare their sex and behaviors with others. At these phases, the transgender individuals experience interpersonal discomfort and self-denial as they try to fit in the available categories. In these phases, some choose the lesbian identity because it represents several categories. The next three phases are also associated with confusion as an individual try to discover transsexualism by comparing his personality and gender identity. At this stage, people seek a transsexual relationship and conduct online research (Devor's, 2004). At phases 7,8, and 9 the transgender identity is developed at individuals try to assess how it would impact their lives as well as others. At phases 10 and 11, the people are not decided whether they should transit or not. They develop pride in their identity in the other stages after overcoming discrimination and stigma.

Several pieces of research have been carried out to determine the problems experienced by transgender people. One of the major problems is lack of education family rejection, and unemployment (United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2014). At a young age, transgender is treated as mentally ill people because society does not understand their feelings. They are socially excluded and marginalized when they portray gender identity (Robles et al., 2016). Exclusion and rejection affect their self-esteem and self-perception. Moreover, rejection contributes to anxiety, self-harm, depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol use (United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2014). Another study carried out by Cheney et al. (2017) showed that most Mexican transgenders immigrate to the United States due to rejection from their families. The study was aimed to determine the cause of the pre-immigration of transgender Mexican asylum. The applicant wanted to run to a society that would accept their gender identity. Moreover, Cheney et al. (2017) also found the applicants experienced rejection from a family without the protection of police and other local authorities. Therefore, the Mexican transgender people experienced psychological trauma, suicide thoughts, low education, mental health disorders, and unemployment (Cheney et al., 2017). Both young and adults are vulnerable to economic instability, and homeliness. They depend on educational institutions for food, housing and other necessities (United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2014).

Baruch-Dominguez, Infante-Xibille, and Saloma-Zuniga (2016) conducted a study on transphobic and homophobic bullying as a significant problem experienced by transgender people in Mexico. The bullying included physical violence, verbal violence, and sexual assaults. Although the legal policies have been enacted to protect the LTGBT people, they still suffer from violence and discrimination in school. The online survey collected from 913 respondents found that two-thirds of the population experienced bullying in school (Baruch-Dominguez et al., 2016). The students claimed to have received no protection from teachers or parents. There are severe results of violence such as suicidal thoughts, dropouts, trauma, depression, and health problems (Loza, Beltra & Mangadu, 2017). Cheney et al. (2017) also found that distress from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse undermined the feelings of trust, fairness, freedom, and safety.

The information from the above literature view demonstrates the complex stages the transgender people go through before realizing their identity. It also shows the problems they encounter in society when they acknowledge their gender identity. The information has changed the way I feel about them because I have realized that they are driven by either male or female hormones. The information is helpful because it has enlightened me to be cautious about my actions. I will change my view and prejudices about the transgender people. I used to think that they expressed a different gender due to a lack of morals or poor upbringing. I did not physically abuse them, but I bullied them through verbal abuse. I also rejected and ill-treated one girl who acted like a boy in my neighborhood. I will change my behavior by respecting their identity.

To topic on transgender is important because it emphasizes the need for sexual diversity to include the queer people. I will develop and improve my cultural competence by understanding, and interacting effectively with the queer people. The topic has created awareness of the transgender world view, and the need to develop a positive attitude towards them.

Cultural competence is important when working with transgender people who often face bias and discrimination in many institutions. In clinical practice, it is important to understand that my cultural attitudes have a direct impact on how I view others. It is important to be sexually diverse when counseling transgender people to avoid prejudices and blame game. A psychologist may feel that a transgender is responsible for rejection or discrimination he/she face in society if he does not respect their gender identity. Moreover, the psychologist may limit transgender people from disclosing if they judge their sexuality based on their behaviors.

Three competency skills are significant when working with transgender people. A study by Boroughs et al. (2015) showed that transgender clients may fail to disclose their identity if the therapist is biased. Confidentiality is a key skill in counseling practice. I have learned that the discussion should be kept safe and to notify the client which information will be recorded. Some clients may change their minds about their sexual identity. Cultural awareness is the skills in counseling because it allows the counselor to respect and understand clients' cultural groups. A knowledge skill is also importa...