Claiming transgender identity: Contextualising linguistic tensions over the term transgender in Hong Kong

This article offers an analysis of the politics of naming and recognition regarding the label transgender in Hong Kong. It poses the question of how issues of gender identities, terminologies and ideologies play out in the societal context of postcolonial Hong Kong. It also highlights the complexity of Hong Kong transgender identities by documenting definitional tensions and boundary maintenance between two groups of local transgender women. While those in the ‘gender-normative transgender group’ value consistency and fixity in their gender identities, those in the ‘gender-inclusive transgender group’ embrace fluidity and diversity. Drawing from twelve interviews with self-identified transgender Hong Kongers, the article scrutinises diverse interpretations of transgender, revealing layers of meaning linked to fears of misrepresentation, exclusion, authenticity and cisnormativity. The research highlights the intricate interplay of language, identity and societal dynamics within Hong Kong’s transgender discourse.