“I only wanted one thing and that was to be who I am now”: Being a trans young adult and (re)negotiating vocational identity

Developing vocational identity as a young adult is complex feat and may be even more so for transgender people, who have to navigate their professional selves in largely cisgender heteronormative world that minoritizes them. This qualitative study explores how youths develop identity. Through 10 in-depth interviews the Netherlands Belgium, we found participants had negotiate favoring education (at expense of gender transition) or sensemaking schooling), while seeking avoid discrimination. In addition, observed transitioning was also an enabling process, facilitating development trans adults' We adults see (un)attainability career paths related anticipated stigmatization other expectations identities. particular, they mentioned occupations where hegemonic masculinity binarism are praised, those involving interaction with children teenagers not attainable. Organizations celebrating which living conditions minoritized people improved were perceived attainable desirable. The insights presented here show countries considered “progressive” terms LGBTQ+ rights, youth nevertheless influenced by (and at times constrained by) need counselors, educational institutions, organizations work on future individuals access inclusive spaces discussed.