ABSTRACT
The meaning of possessions as part of the extended self has long been established in the consumer behavior literature (e.g. Belk 1988, 1992, 2010; Hirschman and Labarbera 1990; Kleine and Baker 2004; Richins 1994). The underlying assumption of the concept of the extended self is that the individual has an atomized self that radiates out into the world by means of tangible objects and consumption rituals (Belk 2010). Studies from this perspective have generally focused on the meaning of possessions as reflecting a holistic self or specific aspects of the self. However, as Erikson (1968) notes, all individuals experience conflicts between different aspects of their selfidentity throughout their lifetime. Though some argue that possessions play an important role in cases of self-conflict (Csikszentmihalyi and Rochberg-Halton 1981; Kates 2004; Tian and Belk 2005), there has been very little research on this subject. This ethnographic study explores the role possessions play in the formation and development of, coping with, and resolution of conflict between different selves using an extreme instance of self-conflict – gender identity. Gender is one of the most defining characteristics of the self (Gagné et al. 1997). When the
individual’s gender identity is not congruent with his or her genital configuration, he or she will experience a gender identity conflict. Since gender identity is established early in life, it is an internalized aspect of the self and is thought to be virtually immutable, but those who experience a gender identity conflict must develop an alternative gender identity and enact a gender presentation that does not coincide with their sex. They are identified as transgenders (Gagné et al. 1997). Our study is built on in-depth, unstructured interviews with seven male-to-female transgenders, using a grounded theory approach (Corbin and Strauss 1990). We assert that insights gathered from this extreme example of self-conflict can educate us about more common or usual behaviors (O’Guinn and Faber 1989; Kates 1998). The formation of an alternative gender identity is similar to the “coming-out” process of gay
individuals (Kates 1998). However, transgenders need not just come out, but must also cross over either temporarily or permanently from one sex/gender category to another (Gagné et al. 1997; Lev 2004). In Western society, dominated by the binary perception of gender, the act of crossing over challenges the cultural and structural social order, exposing the individual to social sanctions. Building on Erikson’s (1968) social development theory, several multiple-stage
models have been used to describe the act of crossing over. Although these models vary in the number of stages they envision, they all reflect the influence of social surroundings on the development of the new gender identity (Erikson 1968). They discuss the conflict that accompanies the process of emergence from a clinical, therapeutic and medical perspective. Together they still provide us with a useful theoretical framework for understanding the conflict. Integrating these models, we propose a five-stage model that includes: 1 conflict emergence; 2 negotiating identities – exploration of one’s self; 3 acceptance – coming out to one’s self; 4 sharing one’s new identity – coming out to others; and 5 identity resolution. We will discuss the role possessions play in each of these stages.
