Transgender theory revisited: Current applications to transgender issues

In addition to social determinants and cognitive constructions of social identities emphasized by earlier theoretical frameworks, transgender theory emphasizes the importance of physical embodiment in gender and sexual identity, as well as the integration of embodied experiences with the self and socially constructed aspects of identity through the lived experiences of those with fluid, often intersecting identities. The present paper considers important recent topics in research on transgender identities through the lens of this theory, including embodiment in understanding fluid gender and sexual identities, the intersectionality of multiple oppressed social identities, barriers to healthcare for transgender individuals, and ethical issues with regard to social policies impacting transgender individuals and with regard to media portrayals of and research with transgender individuals.