Abstract

Despite a growing transgender aging population with differing needs and care preferences, professional knowledge on gender identity and expression is still limited. This study examines Swedish social workers’ knowledge, experiences, and prerequisites for working with older transgender adults in municipal social services. The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 16 social workers and the collected data were analyzed using the content analysis method. The analysis is presented through three themes: Heteronormative Discourse, Causes and Consequences of Invisibility, and Terminology and Pronouns. The results indicate that the challenges in social work with older transgender adults are related to invisible needs, a lack of knowledge, and social services organizations that do not prioritize issues related to gender identity and expression. Implications for social work are discussed as an increased reflective practice and a norm-critical approach, in order to grasp the older transgender individual’s specific experiences and needs, beyond stereotypical ideas and thoughts on sexual orientation. However, to be able to develop this reflective practice, institutional and organizational conditions for increased knowledge are required as well as an historical understanding of exclusion and a deeper attention to the meaning of equal treatment. Future research suggestions include examining the relevance of LGBTQ-certification.

摘要

尽管具有不同需求和护理偏好的跨性别老龄化人口不断增加，但关于性别认同和表达的专业知识仍然有限。本研究考察了瑞典社会工作者在市政社会服务中与年长的跨性别成年人合作的知识、经验和先决条件。该研究基于对 16 名社会工作者的定性半结构化访谈，并使用内容分析方法对收集到的数据进行了分析。分析通过三个主题呈现：异性规范话语、隐形的原因和后果，以及术语和代词。结果表明，老年跨性别成年人的社会工作面临的挑战与隐形需求、缺乏知识、不优先考虑与性别认同和表达相关的问题的社会服务组织。对社会工作的影响被讨论为一种增加的反思实践和规范批判的方法，以掌握年长的跨性别个体的特定经历和需求，超越关于性取向的陈规定型观念和想法。然而，为了能够发展这种反思性实践，需要增加知识的制度和组织条件，以及对排斥的历史理解和对平等待遇含义的更深入关注。未来的研究建议包括检查 LGBTQ 认证的相关性。为了掌握年长的跨性别者的具体经历和需求，超越关于性取向的陈规定型观念和想法。然而，为了能够发展这种反思性实践，需要增加知识的制度和组织条件，以及对排斥的历史理解和对平等待遇含义的更深入关注。未来的研究建议包括检查 LGBTQ 认证的相关性。为了掌握年长的跨性别者的具体经历和需求，超越关于性取向的陈规定型观念和想法。然而，为了能够发展这种反思性实践，需要增加知识的制度和组织条件，以及对排斥的历史理解和对平等待遇含义的更深入关注。未来的研究建议包括检查 LGBTQ 认证的相关性。