Navigating a social transition to feel affirmed in your identity.
Transitioning looks different for everyone. Some people will navigate through a social transition to feel affirmed in their identity, while others will also navigate through a medical transition. There is no right or wrong way to explore one’s gender identity. Finding what works for you and what helps you feel affirmed in your identity is what is most important.
Social transition: This includes changes such as: changing your name or pronouns, coming out to family and friends, dressing or grooming in a different way, and/or wearing gender affirming gear.
Medical transition: This includes changes such as: starting medically supportive treatments such as hormone therapy and/or undergoing surgery such as top or bottom surgery.
In this article, we will be focusing on considerations for a social transition. (Don’t worry: information about navigating a medical transition will be coming out in a future article!)
Reminder: You do not have to transition physically for your identity to be valid!
Some considerations for a social transition can include:
Many people navigating a social transition will opt to change their name and pronouns. This can be done both socially, as well as legally by updating government and schooling documentation.
It can feel intimidating to commit to a new name and/or pronouns for yourself. It might be helpful to test out different names/pronouns in a safe and supportive setting to see how it feels and help you figure out what you prefer.
Some people may choose to have different pronouns for family, friends and co-workers based on their comfort levels, and to allow them to feel safe. Additionally, some people navigating a transition may feel more comfortable going without a label at first, rather than committing to one right away. Labels can also change over time. Honouring your own process and having multiple sets of pronouns (or going without chosen pronouns for a time should you so choose) does not invalidate your identity.
Should you be looking to change your name or gender marker on legal documents, you may consider updating: your passport, SIN card, OHIP card, birth certificate and driver’s license. When changing your name on legal documents, you will not require a letter from a medical professional. However, when changing your gender marker on legal documents, you will require a letter from a medical professional.
Should you be looking to update your name or gender marker at McMaster, you have a few options:
Note: Trans identifying students are not required to present legal documentation to change their name shown on their transcript or diploma.
This is a very personal decision, and it will look different for everyone. Something to remind yourself of when deciding to come out to people in your life is that you don’t have to have it all figured out! You may choose to come out to some loved ones at the early stages of your transition- while you are exploring different pronouns, gender expression and gender affirming gear- or you may choose to come out to others once you have made decisions around these areas of your life. There is no right or wrong answer! If you are worried about answering questions that your family or friends might have, consider doing some research to help you feel mentally prepared. Additionally, you could consider speaking with a counsellor on how to best navigate a coming out conversation.
Some gender expression changes you may consider include:
Options for gender affirming gear include:
For more information and resources for finding gender affirming gear, visit:
Navigating the social transition can be exhilarating, freeing, confusing and scary. It can also sometimes be difficult to find the right resources for you. If you have any questions about your transition, consider speaking with a healthcare provider, such as Dr. Mary Fletcher at the Student Wellness Centre (905-525- 9140 ext. 27700).
Note: Stay tuned for a future article around considerations for a medical transition!
Resources: