Abstract

This paper discusses the way that trans women embody their transgender identity,
focusing on identity questioning, gender dysphoria, clinical gatekeeping and medicalized narratives.
Situated within the hermeneutics methodological approach, we adopted the unobtrusive research as
our research method, where data was derived from online forums where trans women posted content
about their perspectives and experiences of gender and gender transitioning. Thematic analysis
method was used for data analysis. Our findings suggest that gender identity is embodied and
socially negotiated. Many trans women were initially ambivalent about their transgender identity
and some continued to question their desired identity throughout adulthood. When presenting
to healthcare professionals many trans women reported being expected to adopt a ‘wrong body’
narrative in order to gain access to treatment and surgery for gender transitioning and affirmation.
In doing so, trans women interact with significant others and health care providers, and face many
challenges. These challenges must be understood so that trans women can perform self-determination
practices as a way to achieve gender autonomy.