How to use trans/form
Overview
This section provides an overview of how the [transgender identity group] you selected experiences the [violence type] you chose to learn more about. It delves into the reasons this group is subjected to Having or showing a dislike of or strong prejudice against transgender people. Refers to attitudes, behaviours, or systems that combine transphobia and misogyny, specifically targeting trans women and trans feminine individuals. This form of oppression is rooted in the intersection of anti-transgender prejudice and the devaluation of femininity, often manifesting as discrimination, harassment, violence, or systemic exclusion. Transmisogyny disproportionately impacts trans women and trans feminine people, reinforcing patriarchal norms and gender hierarchies by punishing those who deviate from traditional gender expectations. It is a key concept in understanding the unique forms of violence and marginalization faced by trans women and trans feminine individuals.
Violence against transgender people is categorised into three broad, colour-coded levels based on impact and severity1:
Normalization
Leads to
Degradation
Leads to
Assault
Normalisation includes a range of transmisogynistic behaviours which perpetuate and encourage violence against the transgender community. This includes non-factual media portrayal, marginalisation, othering, stereotyping, objectification and cisgender heterosexual misogyny.
‘Normalisation’ leads to the further Degradation of transgender lives through verbal assault, cyberbullying, transmedicalism, within legal frameworks and documentation, and through scapegoating and jailing transgender people.
‘Normalisation’ and ‘Degradation’ eventually lead to serious crimes of physical or sexual abuse and Assault against transgender people, of which perpetrators could include members of domestic circles, caregivers, police and government forces, co-workers, bosses or complete strangers.
Footnotes
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Trans/form is adapted from the rape culture pyramid, which illustrates how societal behaviors and attitudes contribute to a culture that enables sexual violence. Our adaptation focuses on the specific experiences of violence faced by transgender individuals, highlighting the escalation from normalisation to degradation, and ultimately to assault. ↩
Recommended Reading
This section offers further academic articles, reports, news articles, videos, podcasts and other information created by the global transgender community and through trusted sources to know more about the selected category.
Some other trans/form features to explore:
The LIVED EXPERIENCES section is a space for transgender people who identify as part of various intersectional social groups to share their personal stories. These narratives are crucial for building evidence. Since Transform aims to inform research and policy, the personal stories of trans people are just as valuable as any report or study included in this tool.
The GLOSSARY is designed to help understand the language used in this tool, including specific terms that might be frequently used but not easily understood. It can also be accessed from the main menu.
A lot (actually, all) of the information on Trans/form focuses on the violence faced by transgender people. You can choose to proceed, stop reading, or take a break and return when you feel ready.
Accessible from the main menu is a TRIGGER TOOLKIT complete with tools, cat/dog/animal videos, music and readings that may be useful during particularly tough times.