Lived Experiences of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Adults Aged 50+ Shared Through Art & Film: Reflections of a Social Work Educator

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Keywords:

visibility, belonging, campus climate, trans spaces

Abstract

By featuring artists from diverse and underrepresented groups, institutions of higher education have the potential to make the invisible visible, foster connections between universities and communities, build a sense of belonging, and improve campus climate. I, a social work educator, share reflections after coordinating a college campus art exhibit with artists aged 50+ who identify as transgender and/or gender nonbinary and a companion film screening featuring a family with a transgender woman parent. Themes of visibility, belonging, and campus climate weave throughout the discussion. Beyond LGBTQ+ services on campus, programs focused on trans inclusivity and transgender and gender nonbinary identities are recommended.

Author Biography

Jeanne Koller, Monmouth University

Jeanne Koller, PhD (she/her) is Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ (jkoller@monmouth.edu).

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Published

2025-12-28

How to Cite

Koller, J. (2025). Lived Experiences of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Adults Aged 50+ Shared Through Art & Film: Reflections of a Social Work Educator. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 31(4), 34–45. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2137

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