The literature suggests gender expression to be a key experience of transgender young people that may impact upon the development of their gender identity and psychological well-being. The present study aimed to explore participants’ experiences of expressing their gender identity around others, with a focus on interactions with new people (with whom they do not have an existing relationship). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight young people aged 16 to 17 who identified as male and were assigned female at birth. Three superordinate themes were identified: (a) using gender expression to shape identity; (b) experiencing and making sense of others’ responses; (c) a changing relationship with gender expression. The process of gender expression enabled participants to explore, develop, and strengthen social and self-identity, and had both positive and negative impacts upon their well-being. Initially gender expression seemed to be an effortful process in which participants felt pressured to conform to social expectations to be viewed as male, yet over time they navigated a way to express themselves in a manner that felt more comfortable and authentic. Findings highlight the need to facilitate young people to express and be affirmed in their gender identity, and to provide adequate support with the social experiences surrounding it.

文献表明，性别表达是跨性别年轻人的关键体验，可能会影响他们的性别认同和心理健康的发展。本研究旨在探索参与者在他人周围表达其性别认同的经历，重点是与新人（与他们没有现有关系）的互动。对 8 名年龄在 16 至 17 岁之间的年轻人进行了半结构化访谈，这些年轻人在出生时被指定为男性并被分配为女性。确定了三个高级主题：(a) 使用性别表达来塑造身份；(b) 体验并理解他人的反应；(c) 与性别表达的关系不断变化。性别表达的过程使参与者能够探索、发展和加强社会和自我认同，并对他们的福祉产生了积极和消极的影响。最初，性别表达似乎是一个费力的过程，在这个过程中，参与者感到有压力要符合社会期望以被视为男性，但随着时间的推移，他们找到了一种更舒适、更真实的方式来表达自己。调查结果强调需要促进年轻人表达和肯定他们的性别认同，并为其周围的社会经历提供足够的支持。