Gender Dysphoria and Societal Labels as Barriers to Self Identity

Gender is more of a social construct than a biological phenomenon, encompassingpsychological, social, cultural, behavioral, and expressive aspects of identity. In India,gender is often perceived heteronormatively, leaving no room for androgyny andexpecting conformity to the gender assigned at birth. This rigid binary system does notaccommodate those who feel uncomfortable with their assigned gender. Genderdysphoria refers to the distress experienced when one's true gender identity does notalign with their assigned gender. This condition can be exacerbated by societal labelsand expectations, such as gender-specific washrooms, which challenge non-cis-gender individuals' sense of self. Activities not conforming to gender norms, like amale-presenting individual wearing nail paint, invite judgment and restrict self-expression, leading to a distorted self-identity. This lack of personal expression andinsecure self-identity correlates with low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Thepresent study aimed to highlight the significance of gender dysphoria and societallabels as barriers to self-identity in gender-queer individuals. An exhaustive literaturereview and purposive sampling of 20 LGBTQIIA+ individuals aged 18-30 wereconducted. In-depth interviews based on a partially structured, self-made questionnairerevealed that gender dysphoria and binary societal labels significantly hinder theestablishment and security of one's self-identity.