Understanding Programmatic Barriers for Homeless Transgender Youth through the Lens of Cisnormativity

Background and purpose:  Cisnormativity directly impacts the experiences, health, and well being of transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) young people. Bauer, et al. (2009) confirm that although needs assessments and research studies have consistently documented the harassment and discrimination experiences of TGNC young people and their difficulty accessing services, an analysis of the production and maintenance of their marginalization is virtually absent. As a result, the arrival of a TGNC person within systems such as youth shelters creates an emergent crisis for which program staff and established systems are ill prepared. Herein lies the importance of recognizing cisnormativity and its significant role in the lives and experiences of TGNC people.  Focusing only on individual acts of transphobic behavior incriminates individuals for acting in accordance with a larger societal structure, leaving that societal structure firmly in place without questioning the inherent oppressive nature of its systems.

Methods: Twenty-seven unstably housed TGNC young people (ages 18-25) participated in this qualitative study.  The data collection methods employed in this inquiry include semi-structured interviews and the visual method of mapping.  The semi-structured interview guide asked participants to describe their experiences related to both their gender identity and also their experiences of homelessness.  The visual mapping prompt produced visual data that is representative of each participant’s unique journey, further building upon the interview responses and introducing new areas for exploration.  NVivo9 was utilized for data management and storage.  The heuristic process of phenomenological inquiry guided analysis.

Findings:  All of the participants had histories of youth shelter program involvement.  At the same time that these programs were helpful in meeting basic needs, shelter programs did not offer a sense of residential stability for the participants.  The lack of residential stability can be attributed to institutional barriers resulting from cisnormative program structures. These program structures may be challenging for all unstably housed young people; however the barriers they erect for TGNC young people were often insurmountable. Aspects of programs that created barriers include employment requirements, length of stay requirements, age restrictions, dormitory living, and sex segregation.  As a result of these barriers, TGNC young people were often unable to meet program requirements and/or expressed concerns for their safety. The programs produced what I refer to as “shelter surfing,” when TGNC young people moved between short term shelter programs, leading to continued housing instability.

Conclusion and Implications: Institutional barriers exist that make the successful navigation of homeless youth programs difficult for TGNC young people. Understanding programmatic barriers through the lens of cisnormativity can enable social workers to create more effective intervention programs for TGNC youth experiencing homelessness.  The knowledge gained from this project has the potential to inform social work practice on multiple levels, including program development, clinical and public policy interventions, and the broader discourse regarding what it means to be transgender or gender non-conforming as well as the shifting definition and impact of homelessness.