The Resistance of Transgender and Gender Expansive People: a scoping review

Previous research on transgender and gender expansive (TGE) people has primarily focused on the adverse outcomes of this population. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and synthesize peer-reviewed literature on the resistance of TGE people. Literature across four electronic databases (PubMed, ProQuest Psychology, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO) was searched. The search was limited to peer-reviewed, English-language articles that reported resistance of TGE people aged 14–75 and were published within the previous 10 years (i.e., 2012–2022). Of the 203 citations identified, six qualitative studies and one cross-sectional study met the selection criteria. Findings indicated various resistance factors for TGE people, with a focus on health environments. These factors included activism, setting boundaries, and resisting oppression. Clinical and practical implications are provided for policymakers, researchers, and mental health care providers, including high-quality, affirmative, and safe services to TGE populations. It is recommended that future research investigate the resistance specific to TGE school-aged young people due to this critical developmental period.