Transgressing Gender Normativity through Gender Identity Development: Exploring Transgender, Non-Conforming, and Non-Binary Identities of College Students

This study situates current gender social constructions as harmful, inhibitive, and problematic, especially for those that transgress gender boundaries and do not align with their gender assigned at birth. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to critically challenge and deconstruct the social construct of gender and its norms both within and outside of a college campus. This study works to achieve this purpose and answer research questions through careful analysis of the different gender journeys of three separate gender-diverse individuals. These participants’ stories are shared in a case-study format to recognize how each individual uniquely and personally formed their own gender. Additionally, this study works to challenge generalized ideas of a transgender identity, especially the idea that gender only exists within a binary construction. Specifically, this study explores and offers up experiences within Non-Binary, Gender Fluid, and Non-Conforming identities. Lastly, readers are offered ideas and questions that seek to help them examine their own internalized concepts of gender and deconstruct particular notions of gender that might be harmful or inhibitive to supporting gender transgressors that operate within and outside binary constructions of gender. Advisor: Stephanie Bond