"Lost in Transition". Finding an own Identity as a Transsexual in Iran

Linda Hewitt

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Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Cultural Studies - Middle Eastern Studies, grade: 1,3, Lund University, language:...

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Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Cultural Studies - Middle Eastern Studies, grade: 1,3, Lund University, language: English, abstract: This paper describes how transsexuals in Iran negotiate their everyday life within social and cultural boundaries and how post-operation transsexuals are recognised by others. It gives an overview of the legal situation, the transition process, and describes socio-cultural issues of transsexuals while finding their own identity in Iranian society. Since Ayatollah Khomeini published a fatwa that permitted sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) for hermaphrodites, the Iranian government uses methods to enforce adherence of gender roles and defines transsexuals as people with a Gender Identity Disorder (GID) who need to be treated. The aim of the fatwa was to 'correct the true sex' in order to prevent same-sex desire and maintain society's heteronormative morality. The illegality of homosexual acts supported the development of sex change operations in Iran because transsexuality became a more accepted way of being non-heteronormative as they are perceived to be born in the wrong body. However, despite the legalisation of SRS, social oppression towards transsexuals is still prevalent in Iranian society. Prejudices and discrimination create a transphobic discourse within the society. Many transsexuals have to deal with identity issues, social oppression and often challenge the essential discourse of gender/sex, while seeking for recognition within their social environment. Transsexuals do not seek for recognition of identity politics, but rather for recognition of status in society in order to become an equal social participant. The legalisation of SRS is not progressive but rather reinforces gender apartheid and homophobia as many homosexuals are forced to change in order to escape punishments of homosexual acts.