Toward minority resilience – an integrated qualitative analysis with trans and gender non-conforming interviewees in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to explore minority resilience of trans and gender non-confirming individuals within a non-Western, collectivist society in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 15 interviews were analyzed with the multi-method qualitative text and discourse analysis framework; by incorporating the depth of discourse analysis with the breadth of thematic analysis. Findings – Four narratives emerged (jealousy and competition; authentic expression; othered or shunned; and conditional acceptance), located at the convergence of the two interview foci, “group membership” and “level of support”. Study findings strengthen the Transgender Resilience Intervention Model with evidence from a non-Western context, highlighting unique findings from Sri Lanka. Research limitations/implications – The sample size, focus on one nationality, exclusion of minors and recruitment of participants with access to digital devices may limit generalizability of study findings. Some responses on autobiographical data required prompting by the researcher, and retrospective recollections may not be reliable. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is one of the first studies in South Asia to explore minority resilience with trans and gender non-conforming individuals. The findings add to the growing body of South Asian scholarship and further expand the predominantly Global North literature by providing a collectivist perspective.