Gender transition can be a very stressful experience for family members of transgender individuals. Unfortunately, nowadays transgender people unfairly face discrimination, ridicule, and difficulties in many spheres of life. They often find themselves rejected by their family members, organisations, and neighbours.
There can be as many as 55% of the transgender population who suffer from serious mental health disorders. These mental disorders can lead to depression and anxiety that cause many of these gender transition difficulties, adding up to the existing stress.
Organisations must learn how to support their co-workers and provide help and understanding if they want to overcome the challenges that occur when a member decides to live as a transgender.
Here are some of the main gender transitioning challenges faced by transgender individuals:
Peer isolation
The transgender community is very sensitive about its reputation and many transgender individuals have often been harassed or misunderstood by members of the public. Besides, a large number of transgender individuals experience bullying online as well. Oftentimes transgender people have to keep their personal details, such as email, phone number, and residential address private out of fear of further harassment.
Fear of violence
Many people unjustly view the transgender community as criminals and therefore they suffer violence from other individuals, both strangers, and loved ones. Several transgender teens and young adults have been brutally murdered. The rise in hate crimes towards transgender individuals is a very disturbing global trend.
Lack of support from the medical community
Transgender surgery has become very expensive with doctors charging thousands of pounds for gender-related surgeries. The lack of medical funding causes long delays in getting transgender patients on the road to recovery. There is a severe lack of support for transgender patients and they are often advised to just “deal with the issue” on their own. Unfortunately, many transgender individuals simply give up on finding medical support.
Lack of support for transgender groups
Transgender people seldom form online communities due to the fear of bullying, resulting in transgender individuals feeling isolated and frustrated during their gender transition. Very often, they may try to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs in order to cope with the stress and discomfort that gender transition can cause.
National Gender Training was set up by Michelle Clarke in response to the growing demand locally and nationally for training in and around the subject of being transgender. We had been giving talks of our journeys to the NHS staff and they were so well received by the local community that we decided to start this business in 2020.
Experts at National Gender Training will help your organisation deal with the challenges of gender transition, providing a realistic portrayal of experiences, covering language and terminology, pronouns, intersex, employment equality, and much more.
