Transgender people are a hidden part of our society. They are rarely spoken about, and when they
are part of the social discourse, they are often subject to stereotypes and prejudice. Our society is
permeated by a gender binarism that stipulates the existence of only two sexes - male and female,
determined at birth. Transgender people experience a discrepancy between their biological and
social gender, which causes internal conflicts and psychological distress. The process of coming
out as transgender is complex and challenging, involving fear of discrimination, rejection by loved
ones and loss of support. Transgender people face a variety of challenges and obstacles in
disclosing their gender identity, stemming from personal, social, institutional and cultural sources.
Gender transition is a long process involving social and medical transition. Social transition is often
the first step, involving pronoun change, name change and gender expression. The medical
transition, which includes hormone therapy and surgery, is lengthy in Slovenia. The lengthy
process of medical transition prolongs the period in which a person transitions between the sexes.
During this period, the person identifies according to gender identity, but the physical
characteristics still resemble more closely the biological sex, which can cause discomfort. In the
empirical part, I conducted a qualitative case study with a transgender woman who had recently
started gender transition. I conducted five interviews, which I designed so that each set focused on
a particular life course, as I was interested in how transgender affects life courses. I answered the
six research questions I had set myself. I found that gender reassignment can occur as early as
childhood, through expressed desires through play and imagination. Inhibiting factors such as a
conservative family, financial dependence on parents, psychological violence at school and fear of
a negative reaction makes it difficult to disclose one's gender identity. Transgender people often
face discrimination and prejudice. A supportive environment, friends without prejudice, moving to
a more accepting urban environment and support from NGOs have a positive impact on the
disclosure of gender identity. It is important that transgender people have a safe and confidential
environment to talk openly about their feelings. Whether or not transgender people are out or out
of the closet has an impact on their life course.
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