The Resistance of Transgender and Gender-Expansive School-aged Young People

Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) young people face high levels of discrimination, bullying, and mental health challenges within oppressive environments. Advocacy and self-identification serve as key protective factors that mitigate these harms. This thesis explores how Australian TGE school-aged young people resist oppression across family, educational, and medical settings. It comprises four papers: a scoping review and three qualitative studies using semi-structured interviews analysed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), informed by queer theory, transgender theory, and intersectionality. Findings highlight the need for affirming educational practices, comprehensive TGE training, and systemic change to create safer, more inclusive environments for TGE young people.