Conceptual Framework Essay

The crossing of genders has been a hurdle that society has stumbled to accept since the start of time. Early hypotheses active the so-called cause of homo cozyity originated from the psychodynamic perspective that custody became gay because of a dysfunctional family system in which they were emotionally snarl with their mothers and had a distant relationship with their father.As a result, the thought of ever-changing ones sex immediately be precipitates a staple of criticism, in spite of the psychological effect it could have on the individual. Yet, Imani, a man who lives deportment as a woman, success safey sh ars with work, intimate relationships, family and peer relationships, and has developed a appointed assessment of self. Imani is a spirited, creative, and capable individual, who has overcome societal myths that a transgender can non function everydayly in society.Thus, this essay will attempt to draw Imanis action journey and compare it to Hutchinsons (2008) co mmon risk and protective chemical elements, while revealing how she copes with individualised and professional relationships according to Werner and metalworker (2001) ratings of the quality of adult rendering and what she attributes her success. Six Criteria of Coping Understanding and head with cultural differences becomes crucial when attempting to come forth close gender or sexual identity. Social constructionist perspective suggests that sexual penchant unfolds within a context of environmental or complaisant influences (Morrow & Messinger, 2006, pp. 61).Growing up privation stricken, Imani learned to cope at an early age. The eldest of six, Imani grew up without a positive male power model and poor, while dealing with sexual desires for the same sex. I use to pretend like I was attracted to girls because that was the normal thing, but since I was twelve, I had sexual desires for other boys (Imani, personal communication, February 6 2009). Therefore, recognizing her gender identity at an early age, but able to cope with the stigmas of society involved Imanis ability to reconcile competing demands from the dominant society.In addition, feelings for the opposite sex thwarted Imani from forming peer congregations at an early head in her life. Many gay men do not process normal cultivation tasks of adolescence, such as forming a peer group in that appraisefore, when experiencing approximately of the emotionality of teenagers as adults in their twenties or older, there is dissonance between chronological age and developmental tasks they may be struggling with (Mallon, 2008, pp. 150). Normally, this would have had an unfavorable effect, but, it had a favorable effect on Imanis life. For example, Imani is a leader in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.She mentors young individuals that are dealing with gender identity issues. Imani has also been in a desire term intimate relationship for fifteen years which induces her happiness. When I was maturement up, being gay was taboo, but, today you can speak out nearly who you are and feel comfortable, so Im taking full advantage of every opportunity and share others who may feel uncaring as well (Imani, personal communication, February 6, 2009). Even in analyzing her relationship with her siblings, Imani is prise and accepted wholeheartedly by her entire family. This could be attributed to two major reasons.Firstly, Imani was a defiant child, but, she also helped rear her brothers and sisters, which established a hotshot of respect from them early on. She also was defiant and never conformed to the norm when instructed to remove a task. For example, if her mother instructed her to go right, she would go left. Secondly, unlike people in a cohort group born in the eighties, which are more than adept to come out sooner kinda than by and by, Imani made her finality to transform at age thirty-eight. Coming out is a precise issue in the process of identifying, some people do not go through this process early in life (Kane-DeMaios & Bullough, 2006, pp. 10).For this reason, when Imani revealed her finis to become a woman, she perhaps displayed a defiant attitude, not to summons that her mother was confirmative of her decision, likely instilled specialism, support and understanding from her siblings as well. As a result, Imani shares a strong and supportive bond with her brother and sisters. Although Imani has been resilient in gaining acceptance from peers and family, her professional success is equally astonishing. Imanis was industrious with Phillip Morris, Inc, when she decided to transform.However, her employers were not accepting of her identity change, so, they increased her workload and refused to let out her a stable schedule. To combat this deliberate injustice, she filed a grievance, several weeks later she was laid off. Werner and Smith (2001) noted that one of the main qualities of adult adaptation is work. Th e individual is employed and satisfied with work (pp. 36). My former job was dread at accepting me for who I was, so I decided to doctor a move and find interlocking elsewhere where the people would reach me feel comfortable and I would enjoy what I was doing. (Imani, personal communication, February 6, 2009).Imani is right off gainfully employed as a supervisor with a grown Medicaid service provider. Imani states, Theres good energy at work. My colleagues respect me to the upmost and I enjoy helping clients. Clearly, Imanis ability to name past the ridicule of a former employee and successfully find employment without becoming discouraged about her gender identity is another furiousness of her resiliency. However, Imani contributes her success to having the courage to live as a transgender to education.Enrolling in VCUs fine art program during the 70s broadened my mindset about the world around me and myself, which has helped me become who I am today (Imani, personal commu nication, February 6, 2009). Without question, academia can enhance an individuals perception about the world around them, but, the concept of accommodation is an important one in understanding the adaptation of transgender people (American, 2009, 3). Consequently, with Imani having the accommodation of a close knit, supportive family and long term partner has definitely added to her success.Therefore, it is should be pointed out that some risk and protective factors are inherent in the nature of resilient people. Risk and Protective Factors Werner and Smith (2001) noted that even in babyhood there was something different about the high-risk children who never developed right problems. They were active, affectionate, good-natured infants, alert and autonomous toddlers. One protective factor associated with Imanis success was her development of advanced self help skills, which she acquired early in her life course.For instance, Imani learned early to cope with gender identity issue s, scorn being reared during a time when homosexuality and cross dressing were deemed taboo. In addition, coping with putting her childhood on hold while helping her mother take care of her siblings, Imani developed an identity of a leader. Evidently, this created strength of mind, which more than likely had an influence on the way Imani set out to accomplish goals or agendas. People who are heterosexual in orientation do not have to ponder on how to develop a heterosexual identity.In contrast, transgender people have as their task the development of an identity that runs counter to the heterocentric culture in which they are socialized. They must come to terms with having a sexual orientation that is socially ridiculed, and they must speculate a sense of identity as a transgender person (Morrow & Messinger 2006, pp. 85). Although Imanis early development of advanced self-help skills has played a pivotal usage in her success during her life course, she still faced the risk facto r of exploitation up in poverty.Coincidentally, this did not have a controvert effect on her schooling or personal accomplishments. Hutchison (2008) suggest, poverty altogether is much less of a risk than extended poverty. Imanis life serves as a perfect example for this suggestion. For example, Imani did not continue the family edit of living in poverty. Determined to set the pace for the rest f her siblings, she rose above the line of poverty in her early twenties. She receive from high school and successfully obtained a college degree.One could raise the question, if her role as the older sibling, which induced a sense of responsibility, while stressful to understand her identity issues, kept her from being vulnerable to the risk of go off track, because she was preoccupied with the task of taking care of her brother and sisters, rather than the poverty situation in front of her. Undoubtedly, it is apparent that Imanis deprivations growing up did not lead to a trajectory o f failure. Hutchison (2008) points out that positive impact of historical events can reverse disadvantages in a persons life trajectories.Therefore, being torn between the role of paterfamilias and matriarch at an early age, clearly, had a positive effect on Imanis life. Conclusively, Imanis life has been filled with many extenuating cause of internal oppression at an early age, which she was able to overcome at a later stage in her life cycle. The major crook point in her life was enrolling in college which has made her a resilient, creative, and resourceful individual who possess much strength. Yet, born during a time when social reform was at its peak, Imani serves as a perfect example of resiliency, success and normalcy.