‘It just feels really nice when people call me by my name’: accounts of gender euphoria among Australian trans young people and their parents

Abstract

Gender euphoria refers to positive internal feelings of joy related to gender, and external affirmation when recognized as one’s gender. Euphoria can be an important counter to experiences of gender dysphoria for many trans people. Due to an often damage-centred approach to understanding trans people’s lives, gender euphoria remains an under-researched topic, particularly with trans young people. This paper aims to address this gap by exploring the experiences of pre-pubertal trans young people and their families at the beginning of, or who were waiting to access, gender-affirming medical care, and how this relates to their sense of self, relationships with others, and views about the future. As part of the first wave of the Australian iteration of an international longitudinal study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 families (comprising 12 trans young people, 16 parents, and 2 siblings). The themes developed emphasized that gender euphoria can arise as a product of self-understanding, receiving affirming medical care, close interpersonal relationships, and interactions with people in the broader community. While gender euphoria can be normative in its enactment, it also highlights the unique aspects of being trans, helping with feelings of safety, comfort, and the hope and promise of an imagined future.