Psychopathology, Discrimination, and Gender Issues

Psychopathology, Discrimination, and Gender Issues

Over recent years, many individuals have felt safe enough to express their sexual nature. Sexual nature refers to an individual’s identity in terms of their sex and their romantic and sexual preference (Moleiro and Pinto, 2015). They include lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and queers, amongst others. This expression of sexual nature stems from an individual’s feeling of belonging to a certain sex or gender. Further, individuals expressing nonconformity in society are subject to victimization and bias. Additionally, nonconformity refers to the actions, mien, and preferences (Oost, Livingston, Gleason, and Cochran, 2016). Accordingly, nonconformity relates to sexual nature since nonconformity is the root of an individual’s sexual nature. Thus, their expression is met with varying reactions, the majority being discrimination and bias. Moreover, this expression is associated with psychopathology, which is the mental condition related to pathology, which may include psychopathy, considered a mental illness (Schmalleger, 2016). Subsequently, many people associate sexual nature and nonconformity with mental illness and psychopathology. However, victimization and bias against these individuals predispose them to mental illnesses rooted in psychological stress (Oost, Livingston, Gleason, and Cochran, 2016).

 Psychopathology of Transgender People

The expression of an individual’s sexual identity stems from their feeling of belonging in reference to gender. Accordingly, transgender people are people whose sexual identification nonconforms to their gender at birth regarding their feeling of belonging to either a female or male sex (Winter et al., 2016). Accordingly, individuals are referred to as transgender as long as they identify with a gender other than that which they were born, irrespective of undergoing medical procedures (Moleiro and Pinto, 2015). Consistently, transgender people experience gender transitioning, which involves different characteristics incorporated into their identity, and social changes resulting in a change in mien and formal and informal identification (Winter et al., 2016). In the case study, a transitioned transgender woman was assigned to a SWAT unit. She is a transitioned woman because she is a biological male, but she identifies as a female due to the sense of belonging to the female gender. Her choice to use the lady’s room, dress as a woman, and wear makeup indicates that she has already transitioned.

Initially, nonconforming sexual nature was considered pathological by mental illness professionals such as psychiatrists under the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) (Moleiro and Pinto, 2015). Therefore, in the past, sexual nonconformity was considered an indication of psychopathology and mental illness. However, later on, sexual nature, such as transgender, was not considered a mental illness through its removal from the “International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10)” in 1992 (Moleiro and Pinto, 2015).  This removal indicates that a nonconforming sexual nature is neither categorized as a mental illness nor psychopathology. Distress from victimization and bias contributes to psychopathology amongst nonconforming individuals such as transgender people. However, psychopathology does not present itself in all transgender people. Hence, gender issues, victimization, and bias lead to the development of mental illnesses, including severe depression and suicide. According to Moleiro and Pinto (2015), “…transgender people have been identified as being at a greater risk for developing anxiety disorders, depression, social phobia and adjustment disorders, substance abuse, or eating disorders.” These are several of the mental disorders that transgender people might develop following gender issues and discrimination. Furthermore, mental cases are more predominant among transgender adolescents than adults. However, suicide attempts and suicide are more prevalent among adults than children, with more suicide cases among men than women (Moleiro and Pinto, 2015).

In the case study, complaints brought forth by other SWAT team members against the transitioned transgender woman illustrate victimization and discrimination against their colleagues. The complaint is based on them claiming psychopathology as the root for her being transgender. However, as indicated, a nonconforming sexual nature is not a mental illness or state. Additionally, the colleague will be affected by their reactions, predisposing her to mental conditions development.

Transphobia and Discrimination

According to Winter et al. (2016), “…available reports indicate discrimination and abuse perpetrated by individuals, groups, organizations, and in broader society” against transgender people. This discrimination might be evident in schools, at home with family or in public places. In some cases, bias stems from transphobia, which “is the disgust toward individuals not conforming to society’s gender expectations” (Bandini and Maggi, 2014). Transphobic people express transphobia through actions such as discrimination and violent behavior against transgender people.

As illustrated, discrimination is evident with other people and in different places, and thus, it is also apparent in an area of work. At places of work, transphobia and discrimination against transgender people can be illustrated through cases such as unemployment, amongst other approaches. Subsequently, this discrimination results in the exclusion of transgender people when it comes to opportunities, driving them into poverty. Consequently, these actions challenge transgender people resulting in mental illnesses or making them turn to drug abuse. According to Winter et al. (2016), the limited employment opportunities leave many transgender people with no other option but prostitution. Also, assault at places of work is also evident in some cases. Thus, there are various forms of transphobia and discrimination at places of work, leaving several impacts on transgender people.

In the case study, some SWAT team members illustrated discrimination by asking that the transgender woman be removed from the unit. Their complaint was based on psychopathology claims, demonstrating transphobia. This is because transgender people do not always present psychopathology. Therefore, linking transgender women to a mental state illustrates their dislike for transgender people. Asking for her removal from the unit due to lack of skill would be acceptable, but based on her sexual nature, she presents discrimination and transphobia.

Transgender People and the Law

Following the high discrimination cases at places of work and many other places, the law protects all individuals’ rights. Consequently, “Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act” protects all individuals from all forms of discrimination based on sex or gender (ACLU, n.d.). Accordingly, discriminating against people based on sex is illegal based on the Civil Rights Acts and is banned in many states. Consequently, transgender people who face discrimination at places of work have a right to file complaints under the “U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)” (ACLU, n.d.). The EEOC protects people who face discrimination based on their sex.

In the case study, some members of the SWAT unit request the removal of a transgender woman from their unit on the basis of her sexual nature. The discovery of her sexual nature as a transgender person makes her colleagues so uncomfortable that they want her removed. Accordingly, based on her rights protected under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, she cannot be removed based on her sex, and if she is fired, she has a right to file a complaint with EEOC. Accordingly, she must be accepted as a member of the team as long as she is skilled.

Conclusion

            In conclusion, an individual with a nonconforming sexual nature faces victimization and discrimination in many instances and in various places. This discrimination affects transgender people negatively, resulting in the development of mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety. Additionally, it may result in psychopathology, which is not the source of a nonconforming sexual nature. Further, there are rights put in place to protect transgender people from discrimination at places of work, and there are also venues to follow when one faces discrimination at places of work.

References

ACLU. LGBTQ Rights. Know Your Rights | American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved 21 August 2021, from https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/lgbtq-rights/.

Bandini, E., & Maggi, M. (2014). Transphobia. Emotional, Physical And Sexual Abuse, 49-59. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06787-2_4

Moleiro, C., & Pinto, N. (2015). Sexual orientation and gender identity: a review of concepts, controversies and their relation to psychopathology classification systems. Frontiers In Psychology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01511

Oost, K., Livingston, N., Gleason, H., & Cochran, B. (2016). Gender performance stress and risk for psychopathology: Looking beyond sexual orientation. Journal Of LGBT Youth, 13(3), 231-248. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2015.1089807

Schmalleger, F. (2016). Criminal justice: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century. Pearson.

Winter, S., Diamond, M., Green, J., Karasic, D., Reed, T., Whittle, S., & Wylie, K. (2016). Transgender people: health at the margins of society. The Lancet, 388(10042), 390-400. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(16)00683-8

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Psychopathology, Discrimination, and Gender Issues

Scenario: Generally, we have considered sexual harassment actions or verbal abuse of women to be done by men. Over the past several decades, the culture of society has evolved. The diversity of sex and gender has erupted from male abuses of females based on their biology. Now, there are gender reassignments that allow for persons with the psychological inclination to be the gender other than what they were born as being possible. Further, there are a number of transgender persons who, while retaining their biological configuration, adopt the psyche and outward appearance through dress and mannerisms of what is considered to be the traditional opposite gender of their physiology.
Recently, a newly assigned outwardly female officer was found out by her teammates in a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit to actually be a biological male. Several of the SWAT team members have come to you as the SWAT Command Leader and have voiced their concern because the transgender officer uses the lady’s room, wears makeup, and dresses as a woman in her civilian attire at the end of the shift. The officers making the complaint are claiming that someone with a psychopathological problem should not be in the SWAT unit. You go to the deputy chief with their concerns, and she tells you to prepare a briefing for the SWAT members concerning the requirements for SWAT team membership and that if an officer gets the grade, he or she has the opportunity to be a SWAT officer.
In a 3–5-page paper, you must explain to the officers, including those who complained as well as those who did not complain, that the department supports the assignment of the new officer and that according to law, she must be accepted as a valid member of the team so long as she is qualified. Further, explain that transphobia is not an acceptable attitude for members of the team and that any discriminatory action on the part of officers concerning the new officer would not be tolerated and would be met with appropriate disciplinary action.