Sexual Identity and Psychosocial Disabilities of Transgender Women in India

Abstract

From an interdisciplinary perspective, this paper conceptualizes a new psychosocial model of social exclusion of the male‐to‐female trans‐gender in India. The core assumption postulates in this model is that the sexual identity as a discredited and stigma inducing social identity oft rans gender women, induces selfp erceived and enacted stigmatization. Thus, the perceived and enacted stigma results in both perceived and actual experience of discrimination in basic social institutions such as families, communities and in society. This was found to result in a range of psychosocial disabilities imposed by transgender themselves, by their own families, community and other social institutions. This would in turn lead to social isolation and exclusion of trans gender women. Further, the paper discusses the theoretical, clinical and practice implications of this proposed model in detail.