Date of Award
Spring 6-13-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Social Work
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Social Work
First Advisor
N. Eugene Walls
Second Advisor
Kimberly Bender
Third Advisor
Erin N. Harrop
Fourth Advisor
Anthony Fulginiti
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Desire-based research, Embodiment, Gender euphoria, Nonbinary, Trans joy, Transgender
Abstract
Gender euphoria is a critical aspect of embodiment for transgender and nonbinary (TNB) people that has long been overshadowed in academic research by deficit narratives and gender dysphoria. While gender dysphoria is the distress an individual may experience related to their gender, gender euphoria encapsulates the positive emotions a TNB person may experience because of positive gendered experiences. Despite community documentations of gender euphoria since the 1970s, academic research on gender euphoria has only recently begun to emerge. This three-paper dissertation advances this body of scholarship by exploring how gender euphoria is conceptualized, experienced, and embodied in TNB communities. Utilizing scoping review methodology, the first manuscript synthesizes conceptualizations, and the facilitators of gender euphoria as documented in academic scholarship. The second manuscript deepens understandings of how gender euphoria is experienced by TNB people through two creative writing groups. Then, the third manuscript uses linear regression analyses to examine associations of internal and external/social gender euphoria. Findings from the three studies expand existing conceptualizations of gender euphoria, identify unique facilitators for experiencing gender euphoria, and demonstrate the need for social work to counter deficit narratives through highlighting TNB communities’ strengths and the positive gendered experiences they have, for example, gender euphoria.
Copyright Date
6-2025
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Brendon T. Holloway
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
200 pgs
File Size
1.2 MB
Recommended Citation
Holloway, Brendon T., "The Embodiment and Experiences of Gender Euphoria Among Transgender and Nonbinary Communities: A Mixed Methods Inquiry" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2571.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2571
Included in
Gender and Sexuality Commons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Queer Studies Commons, Social Work Commons