Unveiling Gender Justice Challenges Faced by Transgender Individuals in a Developing Country: An In-Depth Analysis

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the gender justice challenges faced by transgender individuals in Khulna, Bangladesh through the lens of just city theory. Despite the legal recognition of the Transgender community in 2013, they continue to experience social isolation, violence and systemic discrimination. The research investigates how democratic practices are undermined, how the preservation of transgender identity as a distinct group is obstructed and how material inequality continues to weaken their pursuit of social justice. Using purposive sampling, 15 in-depth face-to-face interviews with transgender individuals were conducted to capture lived experiences. The findings highlight four critical factors: the daily social, economic, political and cultural struggles transgender people endure; the structural issues driving these struggles; the impact of these problems on democracy, identity and equality; and their broader implications for social justice when assessed against the just city paradigm. The study also reveals a persistent behavioral challenge within the majority population who often fail to recognize transgender people as distinct genders beyond male and female. This lack of recognition perpetuates fear and exclusion, trapping transgender individuals in a cycle that limits their rights, equality and full participation in society.