Stereotypes, stigma and support: Positive and negative experiences of gender diversity in the workplace
Stigma and discrimination in the workplace can take place against several different disadvantaged social groups. Predominantly it is found against women and racial groups. However, it can also take place against age, religion, disability and sexuality. One social group which has been little studied is Gender Diverse Individuals (GDIs). GDIs are individuals whose identity does not match their biological and binary gender. There is a spectrum of gender between the traditional binary male and female. GDIs identify along the continuum. They include trans men, trans women, those identifying as non-binary and those identifying as agender. A central characteristic to GDIs is fluidity and flexibility – gender identity is ongoing, it may be varied and changing on a daily basis; it is something the individual works on every day. They are continually doing and undoing gender.