Discrimination and Violence against Transgender People

Abstract

Violence against transgender individuals is pervasive across many sectors, yet discourse on the issue remains limited to a few platforms, with minimal action taken to address it. This inaction contributes significantly to public health problems. Transgender individuals often face myriad forms of violence, including familial ostracization, physical abuse, emotional neglect, school bullying, unemployment, and discrimination in public arenas. Such experiences hinder their social integration and infringe on their personal rights. Research indicates that violence against transgender people has detrimental effects on their mental health, and the rates of reporting such incidents are distressingly low. Factors like stigma, misunderstandings by authorities, fear of transphobic reactions, unequal legal protections, and the risk of unjust arrest discourage seeking help. These challenges increase the vulnerability of transgender people to violence. This review will analyze the existing literature on violence against transgender individuals and explore the societal underpinnings of such violent behaviors.