Challenging Transnormativity in Aotearoa Psychology and Social Work

The recent rise in anti-trans rhetoric in Aotearoa and internationally, coupled with the unmet health needs of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse (trans) people, highlights the need to improve psychology and social work practitioner competencies supporting trans populations. Many argue for increased trans-focused education in psychology and social work training programs to reduce disparities between trans and cisgender people. However, education, while well-intended, is insufficient to address the historical—and continuing—role of psychology and social work institutions in trans people’s oppression. In this article, we offer a primer on understanding transnormativity in psychology and social work practice by discussing the contemporary shift from pathologizing trans identities towards conditional acceptance of certain “types” of gender diversity. In doing so, we make the case to go beyond “trans education” and towards cultural shifts in how practitioners think about gender in their practice to ultimately transform their relationships with trans populations.