Representation of the Transgender Community in Kashmir's Print Media: A Study

Abstract In the hetero-patriarchal society of Kashmir, the transgender community faces intense harassment and stigmatization, which has pushed them to the margins with limited opportunities for survival. Despite landmark legal decisions in India over the past decade aimed at uplifting the transgender community, those in Kashmir continue to struggle for basic acceptance and societal recognition. They face numerous challenges, including being forced to drop out of school due to bullying, lack of access to proper healthcare, housing insecurity, and constant harassment. Living in an extremely hostile and intimidating social environment, transgender individuals are often unable to openly discuss their daily struggles due to the deep-seated taboo surrounding their identity. This study, focused on the context of Kashmir, draws on the theoretical frameworks of Gerbner and Gross, along with Tuchman’s concept of symbolic annihilation, examines how local media in Kashmir symbolically annihilates or misrepresents the transgender community.