Gender Trajectory Milestones from a Life-Course Perspective: A Comparison across Contexts

This article aims to examine gender identity milestones—realization, sharing, and body interventions—through a life-course perspective. Using Sequence Analysis, the study explores the timing and differences in these milestones across 30 European countries, leveraging data from the European Fundamental Rights Agency's LGBTQ+ Survey (FRA, 2021). The study addresses the research question: Do the timings of gender milestones vary across different contexts, including cohort and country? Following existing literature, younger cohorts appear to experience earlier gender milestones due to supportive socio-cultural environments. However, despite these advancements, younger individuals report higher levels of mental health issues and minority stress, potentially due to increased societal visibility. This research will test two hypotheses: that favorable contexts allow for earlier realization and sharing, and that the time between milestones is shorter in these contexts. Findings will contribute to understanding the impact of social and legal environments on gender trajectory development.