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Historical and social forces in the Iridescent Life Course: key life events and experiences of transgender older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 October 2022

Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen Open the ORCID record for Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen [Opens in a new window] ,
Charles A. Emlet ,
Vanessa D. Fabbre ,
Hyun-Jun Kim ,
Justin Lerner ,
Hailey H. Jung ,
Vern Harner  and
Jayn Goldsen
Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Charles A. Emlet
Affiliation:
University of Washington, Tacoma, Washington, USA
Vanessa D. Fabbre
Affiliation:
Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Hyun-Jun Kim
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Justin Lerner
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Hailey H. Jung
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Vern Harner
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Jayn Goldsen
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Email: fredrikk@uw.edu
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Abstract

The lives of transgender older adults are rarely examined, and little is known about the critical life events and experiences of this population. Informed by the Iridescent Life Course, this study investigates how intersectionality, fluidity, context and power impact the life events and experiences of trans older adults by generation and gender. Utilising 2014 data from the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study: Aging with Pride (National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging funded), a national sample of LGBTQ+ individuals 50 years and older, living in the United States of America, were analysed to examine life events of 205 transgender older adults, including identity development, work, bias, kin relationships, social and community engagement, health and wellbeing. Ordinary least-squares regressions and logistics regressions are used to compare the life events between the generations then test the interaction effect of gender. Pride Generation more openly disclose their identities and are more likely to be employed and married compared to the Silenced Generation, who have more military service, higher rates of retirement, fewer same-sex marriages and more different-sex marriages. Invisible Generation, the oldest group, are more likely retired, have more children and are more likely engaged in the community compared to the Silenced Generation, who experienced more discrimination. Applying the Iridescent Life Course is instrumental in understanding older trans adults' lives through intersecting identities of both generation and gender. These insights have the potential to create a greater appreciation of how historical events shape differing generations of transgender people, creating an opportunity to link generations together.

Keywords

transtransgendernon-binarygenderlifecourseageinggenerationsiridescent
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , First View , pp. 1 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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