DOI: 10.5176/2251-2853_3.1.142
Authors: Marié McGregor
Abstract:
Transsexual people are generally discriminated against, ridiculed and alienated by transphobic reactions by employers and co-employees at work. Nonetheless, it appears that awareness of the condition is increasing because of greater societal acceptance of transsexual people, re-assignment surgery and hormone replacement therapy more easily available, and coverage by the media. The article investigates the nature, causes, diagnosis and prevalence of transsexualism. The alignment of a transsexual person’s sexual expression with her or his internal identity by surgery, hormone therapy and posture and voice training are discussed. Relevant South African laws serve as background for a critical discussion of the first two reported cases dealing with discrimination against transsexual people in the workplace. The writer welcomes the Labour Court’s approach of destigmatising transsexualism and allowing no unfair discrimination against such people. The writer views the judgments as wake-up calls for employers to
embrace the diversity of their employees with the resultant effect of better employment relations, which will, hopefully, enhance the quality of working life for transsexual people, and will have a positive ripple effect on broader society. Recommendations are made to raise awareness of transphobia and
transsexualism among employers, the medical community, government and the wider population to relieve the plight of transsexual people.
Keywords: transsexualism, transgenderism, transphobia, nature, causes, diagnosis, prevalence, unfair discrimination, alignment, re-assignment surgery, hormone replacement therapy, laws, case law
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