Home as a Battleground: Familial Rejection and the Struggle for Transgender Belonging

Abstract

This study deleved into the intricate dynamics of familial rejection on the lives of transgender individuals, with a focus on how such rejection shapes their ongoing struggle for belonging and self-acceptance in Narowal, Pakistan. Drawing on qualitative interviews and existing sociological literature, the research highlights the emotional, psychological, and social consequences of being marginalized within one's own family. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, in which fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted across different villages in District Narowal through purposive sampling. It further examines the strategies transgender individuals employ to cope with rejection, build alternative support networks, and reclaim their identity in the face of stigma and exclusion. Utilizing thematic analysis, the study findings underscore the central role of kinship, both biological and chosen, in the formation of a secure sense of self and community. This research contributes to broader discussions on gender, marginality, and resilience, emphasizing the urgent need for inclusive familial and societal structures that affirm transgender lives.

Keywords:  Transgender, Familial Rejection, Social Exclusion, Gender Identity