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Developing an authentic sex : Deconstructing developmental-psychological discourses of transgenderism in a clinical setting

Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, Hanna ; Nordlund, Lisa LU and Kaiser, Niclas (2014) In Feminism & Psychology 24(1). p.20-36
Abstract
The paper is based on a broader study of the use of discourses of transgenderism among sex-reassignment evaluators in Sweden. In this paper we explore how a developmental–psychological discourse was reproduced by the evaluators in their discursive negotiations of transsexualism. We found that maturity and authenticity are two key concepts that illuminate how the developmental–psychological discourse both clashes with and works together with a medical–pathological discourse of transgenderism. The
developmental–psychological discourse can help to produce a definition of transgenderism that is more diverse regarding male/female dichotomies. This in turn can create a wider range of possible subject positions for patients who are seeking... (More)
The paper is based on a broader study of the use of discourses of transgenderism among sex-reassignment evaluators in Sweden. In this paper we explore how a developmental–psychological discourse was reproduced by the evaluators in their discursive negotiations of transsexualism. We found that maturity and authenticity are two key concepts that illuminate how the developmental–psychological discourse both clashes with and works together with a medical–pathological discourse of transgenderism. The
developmental–psychological discourse can help to produce a definition of transgenderism that is more diverse regarding male/female dichotomies. This in turn can create a wider range of possible subject positions for patients who are seeking help. The developmental–psychological discourse also imposes additional limitations regarding the subject positions available to transgender persons through a demand for maturity and for having gone through all of the steps in the expected identity development process. The developmental–psychological repertoire casts transgenderism as an identity crisis. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
alternative title
Att utveckla ett autentiskt kön
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Feminism & Psychology
volume
24
issue
1
pages
20 - 36
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:84892424863
ISSN
0959-3535
DOI
10.1177/0959353513510653
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b2f2180e-079d-4e83-b557-f91fba8b3ade
alternative location
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0959353513510653
date added to LUP
2024-09-13 09:47:10
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:03:07
@article{b2f2180e-079d-4e83-b557-f91fba8b3ade,
  abstract     = {{The paper is based on a broader study of the use of discourses of transgenderism among sex-reassignment evaluators in Sweden. In this paper we explore how a developmental–psychological discourse was reproduced by the evaluators in their discursive negotiations of transsexualism. We found that maturity and authenticity are two key concepts that illuminate how the developmental–psychological discourse both clashes with and works together with a medical–pathological discourse of transgenderism. The<br/>developmental–psychological discourse can help to produce a definition of transgenderism that is more diverse regarding male/female dichotomies. This in turn can create a wider range of possible subject positions for patients who are seeking help. The developmental–psychological discourse also imposes additional limitations regarding the subject positions available to transgender persons through a demand for maturity and for having gone through all of the steps in the expected identity development process. The developmental–psychological repertoire casts transgenderism as an identity crisis.}},
  author       = {{Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, Hanna and Nordlund, Lisa and Kaiser, Niclas}},
  issn         = {{0959-3535}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{20--36}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Feminism & Psychology}},
  title        = {{Developing an authentic sex : Deconstructing developmental-psychological discourses of transgenderism in a clinical setting}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0959353513510653}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0959353513510653}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}