Redefining Gender Identity

       There has been an over-emphasis within social work practice on set categories of sexual orientation and sexual stigma, leaving gender non-conformity stigma largely unexamined although it definitely intersects with sexual stigma. Awareness of negative societal attitudes, fear of discrimination and feelings of shame are all perceived stigmas of those who don’t quite fit in. Societal bias and discrimination toward transgender and gender-nonconforming people lead to social and economic marginalization, which, in turn, affect housing, employment, and access to competent health care. When accessing health care, transgender and gender-nonconforming people frequently experience disrespect and harassment and even violence and denial of service. Such individuals may turn to sex work and have higher rates of mental illness and substance abuse, all of which puts them at greater risk of arrest and imprisonment. Marginalization and stigmatization heighten the vulnerability of sexual minorities to an array of negative outcomes. Our society has conditioned people to think in a particular way, and when someone doesn't fit in that little box, then that individual can be viewed as an outsider: as someone who is not desirable. In this video, Ivette Feliciano reports on the up and coming custom-made clothing line for the LGBT community that hopes to redefine the parameters of gender identity.

‘The right to be handsome’: Clothing for gender non-conforming people on the rise