Vem får man vara i vårt samhälle? - Statens folkhälsoinstitut

to identify with other gender constructions. This means that the traditional
gender role patterns in society can be deconstructed and transcended (see
Alsop et al. 2002; Butler 1990, 2004/2006; Garber 1993).
3.2 Psychosocial stresses upon the LGBT groups
The literature gives a very complex picture of transgender individuals
and the LGBT groups’ life situations. Many studies, particularly
those of young people in the LGBT groups, show that they run greater
risks than the general population of developing different emotional and
social health problems. It is fairly well documented in the literature of
the past ten years that younger people in these groups have higher than
average rates of suicide attempts, substance abuse, sexually-transmitted
diseases, school failure, family rejection, homelessness and prostitution.
Young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have also been
described as running greater risks of developing a more negative sense of
self or low self-esteem (Kreiss & Patterson 1997; Quinn 2002).
The psychosocial health situation for young people in the LGBT
groups is described in the literature as being the result of the stigma,
hatred, hostility, discrimination, isolation and alienation directed at
these groups in society (Kreiss & Petterson 1997; Harper & Schneider
2003; Warner et al. 2004). Other studies show that because of the
homophobic attitudes of many of society’s social services young LGBT
people do not receive adequate support. This is because the LGBT
groups do not comply with social norms, society’s gender or hetero
norms (Quinn 2002). Treatment and nursing staff require better knowledge
in order to work with LGBT groups in a more effective manner
(Quinn, 2002; Campos & Goldfried 2004; Röndahl 2005).
3.3 Wives and partners attitudes to transgender individuals
The important question of how wives of male transgender individuals,
especially transvestites, perceive their husbands’ need for cross-dressing
has been considered in different studies (Docter 1988; Larsson et al.
1995). A special section of this report discusses the results of a study
of 50 wives of transvestites conducted by Larsson et al. This study
was based on a mixed method strategy involving both quantitative
and qualitative data. The results indicate that many wives accept their
husband’s need for cross-dressing. However, there were also wives/
summary • 45