Vassar College Digital Library
Document
Abstract
This thesis examines how the use of heteronormative and cisnormative language and communication styles by a medical professional can psychologically detrimentally impact the LGBTQ+ patient. Through the analysis of Reddit subgroups where individuals of this marginalized community share their personal experiences with harmful assumptions made by their doctors and associates, my argument that heteronormativity and cisnormativity are reinforced in the medical field is further supported. This leads to the confirmation of some psychological stereotyping awareness and then decreases the patient's overall trust in the physician. Through this lack of trust, less health-relevant information is disclosed between the patient and physician. Health conditions then arise from the lack of disclosure and therefore result in disparities between the LGBTQ+ community and those who are not a part of this group. Additionally, the sexual orientation of adolescents has become increasingly medicalized and has developed into being under medical jurisdiction. With the heteronormative language that is used in the medical setting, there is especially difficulty with having trust in the physician when the patient is young and may still be questioning their sexuality. When sexual orientation becomes under the control of medicine when there is no need, it develops into an issue of social control. Not only is there a problem in the control of adolescent sexual orientation by medicine, but there is also a problem with the lack of support for transgender individuals despite biological support that not everyone can fit in the binary system. Some individuals are born with both genitalia, neither, or a variation of both, and they are physically altered at birth by doctors to fit into the female or male category. With the assertion of medical authority in sexual orientation but lack thereof in transgender-affirming societal debates, the question of the purpose of medicalization arises.
Details
Course Name
Degree Name
Peer Reviewed
Not Reviewed
Publication Date
2023-05-01
English
Class Year
Repository Collection
Document Type
Access Level