Non-Task Functions And Roles Of Transgender Community Activism

[Shana A]

Non-Task Functions And Roles Of Transgender Community Activism
by: Autumn Sandeen
Tue Jan 18, 2011 at 13:45:00 PM EST

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/18464/nontask-functions-and-roles-of-transgender-community-activism

When I talk to folk about activism under the transgender community umbrella, the discussion usually goes to task-based activism. You know, such as working on specific antidiscrimination ordinances and legislation, providing healthcare services, providing for basic needs (such as food and shelter), or educating those in and out of community about community members and their concerns.

But, there are other non-task functions and roles within transgender community that have to do with activism. If one thinks about it for a moment, there is more than one type of leadership within groups. We know about task leadership roles, but there are other group building and maintenance roles. These other group building and maintenance roles include encouraging (offers praise to group members), harmonizing (seeking to resolve conflict), compromising (resolving conflict by coming "half-way"), and gatekeeping (someone who keeps lines of communication open in a group), for example.