Painting a Positive Identity: Creative Arts as an Affirming Intervention for Transgender Adults
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Lagna, Maia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Transgender individuals often grapple with significant discrimination and mental health challenges for many reasons including societal stigmas, barriers to gender-affirming medical care and lack of visibility. Although society is gradually becoming more aware of the struggles transgender and nonbinary individuals face, our current support system inadequately addresses their needs, particularly regarding non-conventional interventions like the creative arts. One avenue towards creating a society and a system that leads to better outcomes for transgender individuals is embracing the creative arts as an affirming and healing intervention. This study delves into transgender individuals’ perceptions into the effectiveness of the creative arts on improving their mental health and exploring their gender identity, underlining the positive impacts of gender-affirming care on transgender people’s mental health. To glean insights, a questionnaire was administered to transgender and nonbinary adults, probing their perceptions and experiences regarding the use of creative arts for developing and affirming their gender identity, and enhancing their mental health. The questionnaire sought to identify the types of creative arts used, the perceived benefits of arts in fostering a positive identity, and any potential barriers encountered in the process. The findings from the literature review and the survey responses have been synthesized to propose future research directions to better cater to the needs of transgender individuals.
Description
64 pages
Keywords
Creative, Arts, Transgender, Affirming, Intervention