The gradual process of gaining insight into one’s gender identity was described as navigation in the dark, from the first feelings of being different in childhood, to the gradually increasing identification as a gender minority.

Theme: Gender Dysphoria as Navigation in the Dark 

- The importance of other people and the relational dynamic emerged as 
central to understanding how subjective experiences of gender dysphoria develop and unfold. 

Theme: Relating with Others 

The body emerged as an important contributing factor to the development and unfolding of subjective experiences of gender dysphoria.

Theme: Body 

- Subjective experiences of gender dysphoria were linked to sexuality for some youth 
because the increasing sexual exploration associated with adolescence and young adulthood created a confusing intersection between gender and sexuality. 
- Forming sexual relations with other people could both bring gender to the surface and alleviate subjective experiences of gender dysphoria. 

Theme: The Role of Sexuality and Sexual Impulses

- Highlighting of subjective experience in the new diagnoses – gender dysphoria and gender incongruence – raises questions regarding how we understand the concept of gender dysphoria. 
- Since subjective experiences represent the clinical target of medical treatment, it seems to be especially important to gain further knowledge about the 
nature of gender dysphoria to improve future treatment. 

Arizona State University

Jessen, R. S., Haraldsen, I., & Stänicke, E. (2021). Navigating in the dark: Meta-synthesis of subjective experiences of gender dysphoria amongst transgender and gender non-conforming youth. Social Science & Medicine, 281, 114094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114094

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