Gender & identity

Transphobia

Alsoanti-trans prejudicetransmisogynytransphobicanti-transtrans hateTERFTERFs

Definition

Prejudice, fear, hostility or discrimination directed at transgender and non-binary people.

At a glance

  • Transphobia is prejudice, hostility or discrimination against trans and non-binary people.
  • It can be personal, like harassment, or structural, like exclusionary policies.
  • Transmisogyny names the mix of transphobia and sexism faced by trans women.
  • Discrimination is linked to poorer mental health among trans people.
  • Supportive environments are linked to better outcomes.

In detail

Transphobia can be personal, such as harassment, mockery or violence, or structural, such as laws and policies that exclude trans people from services, employment or recognition. Transmisogyny names the particular combination of transphobia and sexism that trans women and transfeminine people often face.

Research consistently links experiences of discrimination to poorer mental health among trans people, while supportive environments are linked to better outcomes.

In a sentence

  • The club made a clear statement against transphobia after the incident.
  • Research on transphobia at work found that many staff hide their identity.

Where the word comes from

Transphobia was formed from trans and the suffix -phobia, on the model of homophobia, and came into use in the 1990s.

Common questions

Does transphobia mean fear of trans people?

Not only. Like homophobia, the word covers prejudice, hostility and discrimination, not just fear. It includes both individual behaviour and laws or policies that exclude trans people.

What is transmisogyny?

Transmisogyny describes the particular combination of transphobia and sexism that trans women and transfeminine people often face.

Related terms