Digital Commons Network^™

Social Transition, Coming Out, And Challenging Transnormativity: Non-Binary Experiences In Healthcare, Drew Burchell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Transgender and non-binary individuals are highly stigmatized in North America, and this has staggering adverse effects on their physical and mental health. This stigma is structured and driven by cisnormativity and transnormativity, ubiquitous sets of social rules that determine “right” and “wrong” ways to do gender. Non-binary people experience excess stigma from cisgender (i.e. not transgender) people for “deviating” from the rules, but also from within the transgender community for not adhering to medical and binary definitions of transness. Specifically, non-binary people may choose not to transition medically, but very little research has been done on this. A sample of …

Exploring The Relationship Between Gender, Race, And Space, And Toronto Community Housing Policy, Anita Rachel Ewan

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation presents the racial-gendered lived experiences of Black women living in Toronto Community Housing (TCH; subsidized housing). This research found that Black women and their families are disproportionately faced with challenges due to barriers caused by housing policy and procedures that also affect the overall development and wellbeing of their children. It also highlights the ways in which Black women continue to thrive and survive in the face of detrimental and derelict living conditions; accomplished through community development and support initiatives, and fostering strong communities.

This is a qualitative research project that includes an art-based method. Utilizing a feminist …

Well-Being, Discrimination, And Self-Management Among Racialized Lgbq+ Newcomers Living In Waterloo Region, Ontario, Emily Cox

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Racism and homo/biphobia may negatively impact the well-being of racialized LGBTQ+ newcomers. While current research focuses predominantly on negative aspects of well-being (e.g., distress, exclusion), research on resilience and positive aspects of well-being (e.g., positive affect) is limited. Although self-management strategies (i.e., activities and attitudes to improve one’s well-being) could be a key factor in promoting well-being, previous research has not addressed how racialized LGBTQ+ newcomers use self-management strategies. Further, there is limited research about the role service providers (e.g., settlement services, mental and physical health services) play in supporting these strategies. In this study, eight racialized LGBQ+ newcomers and …