Vem får man vara i vårt samhälle? - Statens folkhälsoinstitut

lysed if we are to understand how the structural dimensions affect the
individual (Magnusson & Allen 1983).
Preventing discrimination is not only a matter of spending more
money in order to acquire better information but is also a question of
learning what motivates individuals to change their way of thinking
to a more accepting attitude towards one another. Then, we can all
accept our differences regarding identity constructions and cognitive
or emotional experiential worlds and sexual identities. Man cannot be
reduced to being totally determined by structural factors. We are able
to affect these structures and take initiatives that can change prevailing
attitudes in the context of society (Wetherell & Maybin 1998; Thomas
1998).
Programmes aimed at reducing discrimination towards LGBT groups
should be evaluated not only for before-and-after effects but also to
identify which type of process is most effective. An understanding of
the processes of influence is a prerequisite for developing effective pedagogical
preventive strategies (see also Lilja, Giota, Larsson 2004).
The construction of knowledge and the actor-spectator paradox. The actorspectator
paradox reveals that both actors and observers are unaware of
various dimensions of a phenomenon. Actors have a tendency to disregard
the importance of personal factors and spectators tend to filter out
the influence of the situation or the social structures (Lilja et al. 1996).
When we create knowledge of transgender identities it is important
to start from the actor’s descriptions or experiences (the emic perspective).
The actor, of course, has considerable personal knowledge since
it is he or she who has direct experience of how the “from-within perspective”
can be described. However, the actor may also be unaware
of certain processes because he or she is a part of them (Denvall et al.
1999; Lalljee, 1998).
From an observer’s perspective (the etic perspective) it is possible
through theoretical interpretations, to see other aspects of the phenomenon
in question to those perceived by the actor (Patton 1990). The
combination of actor and observer interpretations and a possible negotiation
between these perspectives can give more information than the
various perspectives can provide on their own (Janesick 1994; Morse
1994). We believe in the need of such a combined description and analysis
in order to gain a deeper understanding of the discrimination suffered
by transgender individuals in society and, hence, be able to create
more adequate strategies to counter this.
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