Exploring Gender Identity with a Photo Diary

Abstract

Gender identity is an abstract component of one’s identity, yet a person’s physical appearance can be a significant source of anxiety and dysphoria or acceptance and integration. Distinct from individuals’ sex assigned at birth, gender identities refer to the internal sense of self. The social construct of gender identity, however, has been predominantly understood as a continuum or dichotomy of masculinity and femininity. According to J. Butler, gender is a performative act with a basis that lies in socialization, whereas sex is a biological categorization of male, female, or intersex according to scientific indicators, including external genitalia, gonads, internal reproductive organs, and sex chromosomes. When working with transgender people of color, A. A. Singh and V. S. McKleroy note the importance of understanding their resilience and how it may have helped them navigate challenges related to race and ethnicity in addition to gender identity. For affirming care, practitioners need to integrate understanding of intersectionality into their practice.