"You Are Not Who You Said You Were when You Were Hired!": An Autoethnographical Account of a Student Affairs Professional's Trans* Becoming
[Thesis]
Medina-Martinez, C. Kai
Bergerson, Amy
The University of Utah
2019
126 p.
Ph.D.
The University of Utah
2019
Following the format of autoethnographic vignettes, this study describes the experience of a student affairs educator as they navigate their trans* becoming while working on a university campus. While many higher education institutions include gender identity and gender in their nondiscrimination policy, and offer trans* affirming healthcare, student affairs has overlooked applying the standards for practice that supports trans* educators in a manner that allows them to thrive in academia. By considering historical person life events, workplace encounters, and institutional policies, the data analysis in this study relies on the conceptual framework of borderlands and microaggression theories. Findings indicate that trans* microaggressions, regardless of the intent, cause the derailment of one's trans* becoming, and as a result have a detrimental effect in the work life of trans* professionals in higher education. This study offers insight to assist trans* educators as they navigate their trans* becoming as well as recommendations for student affairs administrators to consider as they strive to support their trans* colleagues.