Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Program Name/Specialization

Community Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Dr. Natalie Kivell

Advisor Role

Co-advisor

Second Advisor

Dr. Todd Coleman

Abstract

Previous research has outlined trans histories within the United States and Europe, illustrating historic transphobia, oppression and the origins of gender identity clinics. This type of historical literature is limited in the Canadian context, with more contemporary research demonstrating that trans people experience significant barriers to accessing healthcare, aversive health outcomes, and high rates of discrimination. Trans activists and advocates have always been and continue to resist these oppressive systems and have worked to improve the social and physical wellbeing of trans people in Canada. Utilizing archival data of trans activism and community mobilizing, I sought to address the gap in Canadian trans history in this dissertation. I approached this gap with two research objectives focusing on the lived experiences of trans Canadians: 1) provide an overview of archival data that highlights how legislation and/or policies policed, criminalized or otherwise restricted trans identities or gender expression in Canada., and 2) use archival data to examine the administration of transition-related healthcare in Canada and the systemic barriers trans people faced when navigating the healthcare system. Using archival methodology, I collected roughly 12,079 pages’ worth of archival data from the Transgender Archives, ArQuives, Digital Transgender Archives and Two-Spirit Archives to understand, from trans activists’ and advocates’ perspectives, the oppressive systems they were working against. These data included court cases, reports, pamphlets, oral histories, photos, correspondence and newspapers. My findings highlight many forms of administrative violence enacted on trans people, such as police inaction to mitigate transphobic violence, restrictive policies for accessing transition-related care, and devaluation and deprioritization of transition-related care across Canada. My findings further illustrate that the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Canada’s first gender clinic, set a precedent for coercive, harmful and transphobic healthcare in Canada. These findings, as well as other forms of administrative violence, are discussed.

Convocation Year

2025

Convocation Season

Fall

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