Misgendering and experiences of stigma in health care settings for transgender people

Dolan, Irene J; Strauss, Penelope; Winter, Sam; Lin, Ashleigh

doi:10.5694/mja2.50497

Topics

General medicine

Health services administration

Social determinants of health

Environment and public health

Misgendering negatively affects the mental and physical health of trans individuals

Misgendering occurs when a person is addressed or described using language that does not match their gender identity.1 Misgendering within the health care system can significantly affect the mental and physical health of transgender (hereafter trans) individuals and can negatively impact future engagement with the health care system. Systemic policies and practices create situations which increase the likelihood of misgendering and experience of stigma, affecting the delivery of health care to trans individuals.

1 HealthPathways WA, Perth, WA
2 Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA
3 University of Western Australia, Perth, WA
4 Curtin University, Perth, WA

Correspondence: irene.dolan@wapha.org.au

Acknowledgements:

Ashleigh Lin is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (1148793).

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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