'Part of me already knew': the experiences of partners of people going through a gender transition process

Experiences of Female Partners of People Transitioning Gender: A Feminist Interpretive Metasynthesis

The needs of romantic partners of people transitioning gender remain neglected within academia and gender services. Following a systematic search, nine studies relating to female partners' experiences were subjected to a thematic metasynthesis. Four themes were generated and entitled Changes in sexual relationship; New roles and responsibilities; Identity and belonging; and Transformation and loss Results are considered in relation to the dominance of the gender-affirmation discourse. Limitations of the review and reviewed studies are highlighted. Clinical implications for couples and partners of people transitioning gender are offered.

Social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners: A meta-synthesis

RATIONALE

Social relationships are important in bolstering health and well-being for everyone in the general population. For transgender people, strong supportive social relationships may be paramount to their overall health and well-being due to their marginalised status in society.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to investigate what is currently known about the social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners (e.g., family members, romantic partners).

METHODS

Thirty-nine qualitative papers were extracted from Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed that related to social relationships of transgender people. These papers were analysed via a qualitative meta-synthesis.

RESULTS

Forty-nine second-order themes were identified, initially organised into relational partner clusters (e.g., family, friends, work colleagues) for specific phenomena, then these were synthesized into five overarching conceptual themes: (1) Development of relationships through transition and beyond, (2) Coping strategies of transgender people and their relational partners, (3) Reciprocal support in social relationships, (4) Stigma enacted and ameliorated interpersonally, and (5) Influence of stigma on social health and well-being.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These overarching themes show the potential characteristics that assist in the health-buffering role of social relationships for transgender people and their relational partners. Of particular note, stigma was reported as a common negative experience by transgender people and their relational partners, and open communicative social relationships had positive effects on self-conceptualisations of identity, which were inferred to protect against the damaging effects of stigma. We discuss the various implications and applications of this meta-synthesis to future research and clinical settings as well as how it can inform healthcare policy to support transgender people.