Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(X-IV).08      10.31703/gpr.2025(X-IV).08      Published : Fall 2025
Authored by : Shahzad Khaver Mushtaq , Asma Yunus , Suleeman Hussain

08 Pages : 76-86

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(X-IV).08      10.31703/gpr.2025(X-IV).08      Published : Dec 2025

Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals

    This qualitative research paper analyzed how the social stigma has affected the mental health of the transgender population in Punjab, Pakistan, and how the effects of the social stigma can be mitigated through coping. Based on Minority Stress Theory and Transgender Stigma Framework, semi-structured interviews were carried out in-depth with 11 transgender people (khwaja sira) in urban parts of Punjab. Thematic analysis has found that the experiences or feelings of familial rejection, social harassment, and institutional discrimination were widespread. The effects of this stigma were depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. There were also the internalized stigma and unremitting fear of being excluded. Despite these problems, good community ties, peer support, the guru-chela system, and achieved celebrity as major resilience processes. The results show the necessity of urgency in stigma reduction programs, inclusive healthcare services.

    Social Stigma, Mental Health, Transgender, Minority Stress, Community Resilience
    (1) Shahzad Khaver Mushtaq
    Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Asma Yunus
    Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Suleeman Hussain
    Visiting Lecturer, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
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Cite this article

    APA : Mushtaq, S. K., Yunus, A., & Hussain, S. (2025). Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals. Global Political Review, X(IV), 76-86. https://doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(X-IV).08
    CHICAGO : Mushtaq, Shahzad Khaver, Asma Yunus, and Suleeman Hussain. 2025. "Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals." Global Political Review, X (IV): 76-86 doi: 10.31703/gpr.2025(X-IV).08
    HARVARD : MUSHTAQ, S. K., YUNUS, A. & HUSSAIN, S. 2025. Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals. Global Political Review, X, 76-86.
    MHRA : Mushtaq, Shahzad Khaver, Asma Yunus, and Suleeman Hussain. 2025. "Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals." Global Political Review, X: 76-86
    MLA : Mushtaq, Shahzad Khaver, Asma Yunus, and Suleeman Hussain. "Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals." Global Political Review, X.IV (2025): 76-86 Print.
    OXFORD : Mushtaq, Shahzad Khaver, Yunus, Asma, and Hussain, Suleeman (2025), "Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals", Global Political Review, X (IV), 76-86
    TURABIAN : Mushtaq, Shahzad Khaver, Asma Yunus, and Suleeman Hussain. "Between Family Rejection and Community Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender Individuals." Global Political Review X, no. IV (2025): 76-86. https://doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(X-IV).08