corresponds with the findings of a 2014 study by Levitt and Ippolito where transgender participants stressed the need to be heard and have their perspectives valued as an essential part of their identity, feelings of self-worth, and basic care needs. 6.4: Conceptual Model: The Mirror In order to understand these findings and how they relate to trans experiences with mental healthcare, it is useful to present them in a conceptual mode (See Figure 1). This model, depicting the construction of a mirror, represents the layered, interconnected and sometimes competing forces that affect care received and experiences handling mental health issues. As the categories are interwoven and reflective of one another and not clear divisions of the forces at work, the subcategories are displayed to illustrate the nuance between influences. The foundational substrate (A) for the mirror represents the essence of the transgender person. The subcategories of and present the main See Me!, Defiant Silence, Care that Cannot Wait components in how transgender persons attempt to construct their own intelligibility. Here, individuals determine their own agenda, reclaim their agency in the process, and attempt to shift the power balance into their favor. The reflective coating applied to the back (B) of the mirror that creates the image to be seen is the social constructions that develop transgender performance, narratives, and perceptions of identity. It speaks to both the external and internal influences over the formation of transgender identities. The subcategories of and Following the Script Fear of the System present the social and structural influences that determine the narratives transgender persons tell and the ways in which they feel they are at the mercy of the health care system as a whole. The reflection seen from the mirror (C) illustrates the ways that transgender persons are viewed externally by healthcare providers and by extension, society in general as well as the reflections they see of themselves. These are the perceptions, assumptions, and evaluations made regarding identity, presentation, and performance. The subcategories of and Being Seen, again and are at play in forming viewpoints about Following the Script Fear of the System transgender persons, their mental healthcare needs and the ways care is provided to them.
corresponds with the findings of a 2014 study by Levitt and Ippolito where transgender participants stressed the need to be heard and have their perspectives valued as an essential part of their identity, feelings of self-worth, and basic care needs. 6.4: Conceptual Model: The Mirror In order to understand these findings and how they relate to trans experiences with mental healthcare, it is useful to present them in a conceptual mode (See Figure 1). This model, depicting the construction of a mirror, represents the layered, interconnected and sometimes competing forces that affect care received and experiences handling mental health issues. As the categories are interwoven and reflective of one another and not clear divisions of the forces at work, the subcategories are displayed to illustrate the nuance between influences. The foundational substrate (A) for the mirror represents the essence of the transgender person. The subcategories of See Me!, Defiant Silence, and Care that Cannot Wait present the main components in how transgender persons attempt to construct their own intelligibility. Here, individuals determine their own agenda, reclaim their agency in the process, and attempt to shift the power balance into their favor. The reflective coating applied to the back (B) of the mirror that creates the image to be seen is the social constructions that develop transgender performance, narratives, and perceptions of identity. It speaks to both the external and internal influences over the formation of transgender identities. The subcategories of Following the Script and Fear of the System present the social and structural influences that determine the narratives transgender persons tell and the ways in which they feel they are at the mercy of the health care system as a whole. The reflection seen from the mirror (C) illustrates the ways that transgender persons are viewed externally by healthcare providers and by extension, society in general as well as the reflections they see of themselves. These are the perceptions, assumptions, and evaluations made regarding identity, presentation, and performance. The subcategories of Being Seen, and again Following the Script and Fear of the System are at play in forming viewpoints about transgender persons, their mental healthcare needs and the ways care is provided to them.
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