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A Study of Transsexuality in Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Fatemeh Javaheri
Fatemeh Javaheri*
Affiliation:
Tarbiat Moallem University in Tehran
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Abstract

Although transsexuality and change of sex might be considered a matter of personal choice, they have some socio-cultural causes and consequences. This article aims to examine these through the illustration of transsexuality in Iran. To this end, firstly, sexual transition and the legal system in Iran will be explained. Secondly, the methodology will follow. This study uses the survey method with two separate samples: 1) transsexuality policy makers and 2) forty individual cases of transsexuals. The findings reveal that while the Iranian legal system does not ban transsexuality and sexual transition, transsexuals suffering from gender identity disorder do encounter some social and cultural problems both in their private lives and publicly. The paper concludes with a summary of research findings, and sets out recommendations and study limitations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Iranian Studies , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , June 2010 , pp. 365 - 377
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 The International Society for Iranian Studies

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Footnotes

I would like to thank all the anonymous reviewers who helped me to improve the paper and I would like to acknowledge my debt to my colleague Dr. Janetth Blaike and also Mr. Ali Pirhushiaran for considerable contributions in translating and editing the text.

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