SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES FACED BY TRANSGENDERS DURING COVID-19: A STUDY OF RAWALPINDI CITY, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The global impact of COVID-19 has transcended borders, races, and ethnicities, presenting substantial socioeconomic challenges. While various individuals and marginalized communities grappled with the pandemic's effects, the transgender community emerged as particularly vulnerable, facing constraints in financial resources, heightened social issues, and limited healthcare access. In Pakistan, these impacts are visible. However, there is emphasis of research on other communities, ironically the transgender community is ignored. Therefore the study aims to advocate for comprehensive solutions, that pave the way for equal participation and societal integration of transgender individuals in Pakistan, ensuring their rights and well being are prioritized in policy and societal frameworks. This study, influenced by Bernice L. Hausman's Transgender Theory, investigates the socioeconomic challenges faced by the transgender community in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing in-depth interviews, thematic analysis, and case studies, the findings underscore a critical lack of public awareness and understanding, heightening prejudice against transgender individuals. The research stands as a poignant academic contribution, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic changes to uplift the transgender community, particularly during crises like the ongoing pandemic. In navigating these multifaceted challenges, the study acts as a clarion call for a more inclusive and just approach, envisioning a future where transgender individuals not only survive but thrive, free from discrimination and socioeconomic barriers, and contribute meaningfully to the social fabric in Pakistan.