Negotiating Trans Identity and Boundaries at Work: How Situational and Personal Factors Affect Workplace Identity Communication

Abstract

This study extends boundary theory by arguing that situational factors and personal factors influence how individuals construct boundaries surrounding trans identity at work, and that identity communication strategies (explicit outness, implicit outness, and covering) are a manifestation of those boundaries. Using cross-sectional survey data collected from 206 trans adults, results revealed that workplace supportiveness is positively related to explicit outness and implicit outness, and passing is negatively related. Conversely, workplace supportiveness is negatively related to covering. Lastly, passing is positively related to covering. Theoretical implications for boundary theory, stigma, and identity communication are presented, along with practical implications for workplaces.

Keywords:

• boundary theory
• identity communication
• passing
• trans
• workplace supportiveness

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Kansas Department of Communication Studies.

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Baumler

Rebecca J. Baumler (MA, University of Kansas) is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.