Tomorrow, June 6th, Arcigay Salerno presents, during the ONIG conference, Questio, a survey on the experiences and representations of operators who work with transsexual/transgender people:
Recent years have seen the "transsexual issue" gain prominence, too often addressed superficially by the media and by civil society as a whole. Stereotypes, prejudices, and clichés have led to a sometimes distorted perception of the transsexual/transgender condition, with repercussions on the psychological and psychophysical well-being of those living with this condition.
Over time, however, numerous centers of excellence have emerged in our country to care for these users, with the assistance of professionals and specialized figures, especially in the medical and mental health fields.
Despite nearly thirty years having passed since the approval of Law 164, which regulates the transition process, many aspects of this condition remain unknown, and many professionals, despite being involved in various ways in the process and life experiences of these individuals, are completely unprepared to address the needs of those experiencing transsexuality/transgenderism.
Consider, for example, nursing staff, social workers, general practitioners, law enforcement officers, and school staff. All these professional categories, in the case of transsexual/transgender conditions, can easily become "first responders" in emergencies and/or situations of marginalization.
The spread of social and cultural attitudes of homophobia and transphobia adds, as a further risk factor, to the already numerous traumatic and stressful aspects that transsexual/transgender people can encounter in their life experience and in the transition process.
For these reasons, interventions aimed at training and supporting professionals who may come into contact with transsexual/transgender people before others and play a role in initial reception and orientation are deemed appropriate and urgent.
Such interventions should aim not only to impart knowledge and insights into the condition itself, but also to provide a psychological journey of discovery into one's own experiences and perceptions of this condition. Elements of internalized transphobia, unconscious prejudices and stereotypes, and personal limitations in addressing certain issues are all critical factors that can hinder working with transsexual/transgender individuals, challenging not only the clients but also the professionals themselves, caught between the need to fulfill their duties and the difficulty of carrying them out adequately.
The well-being of those who work, respect for the work and dignity of those who perform it, the need to provide increasingly adequate tools and knowledge, and the urgency of protecting the well-being of transsexual/transgender people should be the overarching objectives of integrated support measures within such a complex and delicate area of intervention.
9:00 am - 4:30 pm – CESV-SPES Conference Room (Via Liberiana 17, Rome) – National Observatory on Gender Identity: NATIONAL CONFERENCE
