Transnormativity

Transnormativity is a regulatory, normative ideology that holds trans people’s experiences and identities accountable to a binary, medical framework. In other words, the legitimacy of trans people’s identities is socially evaluated, and trans individuals are rewarded or sanctioned based on how closely their experience aligns with these normative standards. As such, transnormativity has a noteworthy impact on the lived experience of trans people in intrapsychic, social, and cultural domains. This entry provides a brief conceptual overview of transnormativity, discusses its empirical applications in studies since 2016 of dominant themes and narratives, and suggests directions for future research.