“We’ve been here all along:” The collective resilience of transgender and gender diverse U.S. service members
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Eleazer, J. R., Marchant, L., Kizewski, A., Gross, G., Warren, A., & McCubbin, L. (2023). “We’ve been here all along:” The collective resilience of transgender and gender diverse U.S. service members. Psychological Services, 20(2), 382-396. https://doi. org/10.1037/ser0000721
Abstract Created by REACH:
This qualitative study examined the experiences of oppression and resilience among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) Service members. Researchers interviewed 40 active-duty TGD Service members about their experiences with their gender identity and military service in the overall system of power within the military. Participants’ responses were organized into themes by coders who were either cisgender allies, TGD Service members, or Veterans themselves. 4 themes emerged: Service members’ experiences of oppression in the military, navigating safety risks and minority stressors, and both individual and collective factors that facilitated or impeded Service members’ resilience.
Focus:
Mental health
Other
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Navy
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Guard
Reserve
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Guard/Reserve member
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Authors:
Eleazer, Jacob R., Marchant, Landon, Kizewski, Amber, Gross, Georgina, Warren, Allison, McCubbin, Laurie
Abstract:
Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people in the United States face high rates of minority stressors, such as social rejection, homelessness, discrimination, and identity-based violence (James et al., 2016). Transgender and gender diverse service members are also exposed to unique military-specific stressors such as discriminatory military policies, combat stress, and military sexual trauma (Tucker et al., 2019). However, little is known about TGD troops’ experiences of resilience when navigating stress and trauma exposure during their military service. A transaffirmative participatory research design and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) analytic method were used to explore how troops made sense of their experiences of oppression and resilience. Researchers interviewed TGD service members (N = 40) about their gender identity and military service. Superordinate themes included: (a) understanding oppression; (b) survival strategies; (c) individual stress and resilience factors; and (d) collective resilience factors. Results suggest that both intrasubjective and intersubjective factors impacted how TGD troops made sense of their experiences of oppression and resilience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
American Psychological Association
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
VA Connecticut Healthcare System, JRE
VA Connecticut Healthcare System, GG
VA Connecticut Healthcare System, AW
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, JRE
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, GG
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, AW
Philosophy Department, Williams College, LM
Department of Health Behavior and Society, University of Kentucky, AK
Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Louisville, LM
Keywords:
transgender, gender diverse, minority stressors, gender identity
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
Funding for the Transgender Military Service study was provided by the Palm Center, the American Psychological Association Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
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