Understanding How Cisgenderism Creates Barriers to Stabilization When Accessing Shelter Services Amongst Housing Insecure Transwomen in Los Angeles

43% of all transwomen have been homeless at some point in their lives. For transwomen, discrimination and subjugation, known as cisgenderism, continues as they access shelter services. Housing insecure transwomen are met at the shelter door by staff whose decision making power combines with the invisible effects of cisgenderism, in most cases, to negatively impact this vulnerable population.

Ten persons self-identifying as transwomen, trans, or transgender, over the age of 18 who are currently experiencing housing insecurity or have, within the last 10 years, were interviewed. All were asked a series of 36 open ended questions designed for participants to describe, in their own words, their interpersonal experiences while accessing shelter services.

Publication Date: 
2017
Location: 
California State University, California, U.S.A.