Agency and Social Forces in the Life Course: The Case of Gender Transitions in Later Life.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

In order to bolster gerontology's knowledge base about transgender issues and advance conceptualizations of agency and social forces in life course scholarship, this study explores the conditions under which people contemplate or pursue a gender transition in later life.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with male-to-female identified persons (N = 22) who have seriously contemplated or pursued a gender transition after the age of 50 years. Participant observation was also carried out at three national transgender conferences (N = 170 hours). Interpretive analyses utilized open and focused coding, analytical memo writing, and an iterative process of theory development.

Results

Participants in this study faced unrelenting social pressures to conform

SUBMITTER: Fabbre VD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5926992 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature