‘It just feels really nice when people call me by my name’: accounts of gender euphoria among Australian trans young people and their parents

ABSTRACT

Gender euphoria refers to positive internal feelings of joy related to gender, and external affirmation when recognized as one’s gender. Euphoria can be an important counter to experiences of gender dysphoria for many trans people. Due to an often damage-centred approach to understanding trans people’s lives, gender euphoria remains an under-researched topic, particularly with trans young people. This paper aims to address this gap by exploring the experiences of pre-pubertal trans young people and their families at the beginning of, or who were waiting to access, gender-affirming medical care, and how this relates to their sense of self, relationships with others, and views about the future. As part of the first wave of the Australian iteration of an international longitudinal study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 families (comprising 12 trans young people, 16 parents, and 2 siblings). The themes developed emphasized that gender euphoria can arise as a product of self-understanding, receiving affirming medical care, close interpersonal relationships, and interactions with people in the broader community. While gender euphoria can be normative in its enactment, it also highlights the unique aspects of being trans, helping with feelings of safety, comfort, and the hope and promise of an imagined future.

KEYWORDS:

• Trans young people
• gender euphoria
• temporality
• relationships
• affirming care

Acknowledgments

The first two authors acknowledge that we live on the unceded lands of the Kaurna people and acknowledge their sovereignty as First Nations people. The Growing Up Trans research team wishes to recognize and thank the young people and their families who have kindly shared their experience with us. The Growing Up Trans study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Funding Reference Number 470051).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [470051].

Notes on contributors

Salem Skelton

Salem Skelton is a PhD candidate in the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work at Flinders University who also works as a mental health support worker and has had experience co-facilitating queer and trans community groups, hosted both online and in person

Damien W. Riggs

Damien W. Riggs is a professor in psychology at Flinders University and a psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in working with trans young people. Damien is the author of over 200 publications on gender, family, and wellbeing, including Working with trans young people and their families: A critical developmental approach (Palgrave).

Annie Pullen Sansfacon

Annie Pullen Sansfaçon is a Professor at the University of Montreal’s School of Social Work and holds a Canada Research Chair on transgender children and their families. Annie has developed anti-oppressive theories, approaches and methodologies that are applied to research and practice with trans and non-binary children, youth and their families.

Sabra L. Katz-Wise

Sabra L. Katz-Wise is an Associate Professor in Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. She co-directs the Harvard SOGIE Health Equity Research Collaborative. Dr. Katz-Wise’s research investigates sexual orientation and gender identity development, and she has published nearly 60 peer-reviewed articles in these areas.

Manvi Arora

Manvi Arora is trained as an educationist and counselling psychologist, with expertise in qualitative research with transgender children, their educational and identity-based development.

Charles-Antoine Thibeault

Charles-Antoine Thibeault is a researcher at the University of Montreal’s School of Social Work with experience in interventions with trans and non-binary youth.