Historical and social forces in the Iridescent Life Course

Key life events and experiences of transgender older adults

Bibliographic Data

ID11201592
AuthorsKaren Fredriksen Goldsen (0000-0002-7846-349X, University of Washington, corresponding author), Charles A Emlet (0000-0002-4992-2669, University of Washington Tacoma), Vanessa Fabbre (0000-0003-3121-1313, Washington University in St. Louis), Vanessa D Fabbre, Hyun‐jun Kim (0000-0002-6381-0487, University of Washington), Hyun-Jun Kim, Jennifer E Lerner (0000-0002-0590-1612, University of Washington), Justin Lerner, Hailey H Jung, Hailey Jung (0000-0002-2230-6743, University of Washington), Vern Harner (0000-0002-5176-7864, University of Washington), Jayn Goldsen (University of Washington)
Year2024
Volume44
Issue7
Pages1700-1722
Publication date2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x22000563
PMID39555177
OpenAlexW4304806303
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited38

The lives of transgender older adults are rarely examined, and little is known about the critical life events and experiences of this population. Informed by the Iridescent Life Course, this study investigates how intersectionality, fluidity, context and power impact the life events and experiences of trans older adults by generation and gender. Utilising 2014 data from the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study: Aging with Pride (National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging funded), a national sample of LGBTQ+ individuals 50 years and older, living in the United States of America, were analysed to examine life events of 205 transgender older adults, including identity development, work, bias, kin relationships, social and community engagement, health and wellbeing. Ordinary least-squares regressions and logistics regressions are used to compare the life events between the generations then test the interaction effect of gender. Pride Generation more openly disclose their identities and are more likely to be employed and married compared to the Silenced Generation, who have more military service, higher rates of retirement, fewer same-sex marriages and more different-sex marriages. Invisible Generation, the oldest group, are more likely retired, have more children and are more likely engaged in the community compared to the Silenced Generation, who experienced more discrimination. Applying the Iridescent Life Course is instrumental in understanding older trans adults' lives through intersecting identities of both generation and gender. These insights have the potential to create a greater appreciation of how historical events shape differing generations of transgender people, creating an opportunity to link generations together

Biology · Computer security · Developmental psychology · Iridescence · Key (lock) · Life course approach · Social life · Sociology · Transgender · Anthropology · Child Welfare and Adoption · Computer Science · Ecology · Gender Studies · History · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies