Social exclusion of transgenders in the sectors of education and health : in the area of Meharabadi (G-12)

Abstract

The transgender community goes through a lot in their lives due to their gender identity. This study sought to understand the experiences of the transgender community that they face in their everyday lives and what are the reasons of their social exclusion in the sector of health and education. In this study, I interviewed thirteen transgender individuals regarding their experiences of social exclusion in the sector of health and education and how has social exclusion affected their lifestyle. All of the respondents discussed how social exclusion has left them with no dignity, self respect or self esteem and how they wish they had different lives. In addition to this, they shared their stories of how most of them are pushed towards unethical jobs like sex workers and prostitution, and they are not ashamed of it as the society does not give them any jobs so to make ends meet they have to do this. I used in depth interviews as my tool for my research as it gave me a better understanding and a clear reflection of the people of the transgender community. Through this study, the importance of health and education was understood by a transgender perspective, the gaps were identified. Education gives perspective and shapes lives but social exclusion has cornered them to begging and dancing at weddings. The transgender community doesn’t have the resources to get education or to get proper treatment from health facilities. Their priority is food and to support their families, education may give perspective but education cannot fill their stomach so they would rather go to a dance school to learn dancing. Implications for research, limitations, methodology, data analysis and recommendations are also discussed.