Richard Mocarski - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Richard Mocarski

Research paper thumbnail of Educational preparedness to care for transgender and gender diverse adults: Perspectives of mental health professionals

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Keeping the Promise of Community-Based Participatory Research: Integrating Applied Critical Rhetorical Methods to Amplify the Community’s Voice for Trial Development

Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 2020

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) represents an important improvement in the integrat... more Community-based participatory research (CBPR) represents an important improvement in the integration of marginalized voices into research programs by including community members in the designs, conduct, and dissemination of studies. CBPR often features a social justice component, generating studies designed to reduce societal disparities and improve outcomes for disenfranchised groups. However, the practical implementation of CBPR usually fails to capitalize on this promise, using the same traditional research methodologies, leadership structures, trial designs, and research questions that inculcate researcher bias. In response to the problem, we propose a new solution: Applied critical rhetorical research (ACRR) integrated into the CBPR approach to clinical health research. ACRR research combines critical/cultural studies and rhetorical methods to amplify the figurative voice of marginalized populations. ACRR can expose how majority power (i.e., hegemony) manifests in social instit...

Research paper thumbnail of A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Domestic American and International Chinese Students' Social Media Usage

Journal of International Students, Oct 1, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Nike’s Commodification of LeBron James: Intoning Jesus and Hegemonic Masculinity for “Maximized Comfort”

Research paper thumbnail of Issues faced by lesbian , gay , and bisexual individuals differ substantially from those faced by trans individuals

T he presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the... more T he presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the United States in recent years. Celebrities who publicly transition have expanded the national conversation about gender variation beyond gender and women’s studies classrooms and certain specialty health and mental health services. This increased public visibility has been accompanied by increased visibility in the mental health literature, including the publishing of competencies or guidelines for working with clients who identify as transgender by various professional organizations. However, rapid societal changes and increased understanding of the experience of being transgender in our society means literature can rapidly become dated. This commentary identifies key points that will move forward professional competency, both of the field and of individual practitioners, in the provision of psychological services for individuals who identify as transgender. Before proceeding further, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Health mythologies: Developing an understanding of health myths and how they stick and spread through the vaccines cause autism myth

Research paper thumbnail of Psychometric Evaluation of the Transgender Congruence Scale

Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of A systematic review of recommendations for behavioral health services for transgender and gender diverse adults: The three-legged stool of evidence-based practice is unbalanced

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 2021

There is a growing literature of clinical recommendations for transgender and gender diverse (TGD... more There is a growing literature of clinical recommendations for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) affirming behavioral health care, yet it is unknown to what extent these recommendations are rooted in evidence-based practice (EBP). This systematic review included 65 articles published between 2009 and 2018 with recommendations for behavioral health services with TGD adults, emphasizing general clinical care. Coded variables included type of article, participant demographics, aspects of EBP, and whether care was informed by objective assessment. Most articles did not equally draw from all components of EBP. Recommendations for specific clinical problems are increasingly available and address diversity within TGD communities. More research, including clinical trials adapting established interventions, is needed to inform state-of-the-art TGD-affirmative behavioral health care.

Research paper thumbnail of Discursive stickiness: Affective institutional texts and activist resistance

Public Relations Inquiry, 2021

Pushing the bounds of public relations theory and research, we explore how institutional texts ha... more Pushing the bounds of public relations theory and research, we explore how institutional texts have produced and reified stigmas around gender transgression and how these texts are bound up in moments of activism and resistance. We considered how different discursive and material functions get “stuck” together by way of texts and how this sticking depends on a history of association and institutionalization. Activism presents opportunities to challenge institutional and structural stickiness, and we argue that public relations can challenge the affective assemblages that comprise and perpetuate these systems, unsettling the historical discourses that have governed institutions by establishing new communicative possibilities.

Research paper thumbnail of “The world wants us dead”:stigma and the social construction of health in Pose

Critical Studies in Media Communication, 2021

ABSTRACT Through its portrayals of the intersectional identities of race and gender divergence, t... more ABSTRACT Through its portrayals of the intersectional identities of race and gender divergence, the FX series Pose illustrates how social structures fail marginalized communities as a disciplinary function of hegemony and perpetuate a biomedical model of health that serves to reinforce health disparities. For this study, researchers took a critical cultural rhetorical approach to the series through the lens of the social ecological model and biomedical model, to deconstruct hegemonic discourses of power present within medical practices. This paper situates Pose as an artifact that condemns the cultural practices of the marginalization and erasure of transgender communities, demonstrating how the show confronts the mechanisms of hegemonic power by exposing the cissexist stigmatization within the healthcare establishment. Through the exposure of the failings of the social ecological model with the biomedical model, Pose exposes the discrimination and stigma inherent within dominant forms of healthcare as they persist today.

Research paper thumbnail of The Impact of the 2016 US Presidential Elections on Transgender and Gender Diverse People

Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2020

With Trump’s presidency came a rise in the oppression of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) peo... more With Trump’s presidency came a rise in the oppression of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people, as the nation witnessed a removal of protections for TGD people. We examined the daily experiences of 181 TGD individuals (ages 16–40, M age = 25.6) through their reflections about daily stressors over the course of 8 weeks (data collected fall 2015–summer 2017), some of which reflected shifts during the election period. During the 2016 presidential election, participants reported a rise in marginalization stress and the subsequent impact on safety, mental health, and well-being. There were three emergent themes: External Rejection and Stigma from Dominant Culture; Supporting the TGD Community; and Fear for the Self and Development of Proximal Stressors. In line with marginalization stress theory, participants vocalized the progression from exterior stigmatization to proximal stressors and their heightened sense of vigilance and fear of the dominant culture. Based on the results of this study, policy makers and TGD advocates must work to ensure that political rhetoric and action do not serve to further marginalize and erase TGD communities.

Research paper thumbnail of Specialists in name or practice? The inclusion of transgender and gender diverse identities in online materials of gender specialists

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2020

Recommendations for health care providers working with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) indiv... more Recommendations for health care providers working with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals emphasize affirming clients' identities, such as using correct pronouns and name, however it is unknown how often gender specialists adhere to such recommendations. Websites and intake forms of gender specialists were coded for use of affirming language, asking for pronouns and chosen name, and mention of TGD specialties and resources. Most websites identified the provider's specialty to work with TGD individuals, though much fewer provided additional resources concerning TGD issues and only half of intake forms included affirming language. Given previous research that has demonstrated providers working in states with legal protections for TGD individuals use affirming language more often than providers in locales without protections, association with state legal climate is also examined.

Research paper thumbnail of Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In

Research paper thumbnail of Unmet Expectations in Health Care Settings: Experiences of Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in the Central Great Plains

Qualitative Health Research, 2019

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face a long-term, multifaceted process if they c... more Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face a long-term, multifaceted process if they choose to begin a gender affirmation journey. Decisions to go on hormone therapy and/or have a surgical procedure necessitate the TGD individual to set up an appointment with a health care provider. However, when TGD patients interact with health care practitioners, problems can arise. This article documents and categorizes the types of unmet expectations that are common in the TGD patient–health care provider social dynamic in the Central Great Plains of the United States. Utilizing a community-based participatory research model, qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 27 TGD individuals about their health care experiences. From this, the researchers identified four main themes of unmet expectations: probing, gatekeeping, stigmatizing stance, and misgendering/deadnaming. Steps that can be taken by both the health care provider and the TGD individual to have a more successful ...

Research paper thumbnail of First impressions online: The inclusion of transgender and gender nonconforming identities and services in mental healthcare providers' online materials in the USA

International Journal of Transgenderism, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In (TC3): Initial Validation of a Clinical Measure for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults Receiving Psychological Services

Behavior Therapy, 2019

Rawson, and Jae Sevelius), and Joshua Eyer for their input on the TC 3. We also appreciate the me... more Rawson, and Jae Sevelius), and Joshua Eyer for their input on the TC 3. We also appreciate the members of the TGD communities who provided data through the online study or interviews and the providers who gave feedback on the TC 3. We would also like to thank Jolene Smyth for her expertise formatting the questionnaire, Jae Puckett for their assistance with participant recruitment, and Heather Meyer for her work coding the interviews. Rin Nguyen and Gabrielle Albeck's efforts on data collection were vital to the success of the project.

Research paper thumbnail of The provider perspective on behavioral health care for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in the Central Great Plains: A qualitative study of approaches and needs

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2019

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals interact with mental health care systems ... more Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals interact with mental health care systems at high rates and experience substantial barriers to care. Rural TGNC individuals face additional disparities in accessing appropriate mental health services. Little research has focused on the mental healthcare providers who work with TGNC individuals in underserved areas. The current study sought to describe the mental health care services delivered by providers perceived as affirming by TGNC community members in the Central Great Plains. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 10 providers to understand how providers seek cultural competency and conceptualize and work with their TGNC clients given the barriers to care. Results: Providers held diverse theoretical orientations and described challenges to working with TGNC clients including the impact of stigma and marginalization and financial and structural barriers to care. Emphasis was placed on individualizing care, helping clients manage stigma and build resiliency, connecting clients to resources (when available) and support systems, and navigating the intersections of physical health care and mental health care such as writing letters for medical transition. Providers largely educated themselves on TGNC topics and had previous experience working with marginalized populations. Conclusions: Overall, the providers' approaches to working with TGNC clients mapped on to models of cultural competency but few providers described their work in the context of an evidence-based model. Implications for increasing the quality and availability of mental health care services for TGNC individuals in underserved areas are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection

Names, 2019

Our identity is our name connected with a specific face and body. Yet, our name, a critical aspec... more Our identity is our name connected with a specific face and body. Yet, our name, a critical aspect of the “names-body-identity” nexus is rarely self-selected. The naming of a newborn is often the purview of family and the name selected is often linked to the sex assigned to the child. Assigned sex, however, may differ from gender identity. Renaming, the process of selecting and using a new name, can be instrumental in expressing an authentic gender identity. Thus, gender identity and renaming were examined among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) adults using an online survey. Participants indicated that the recognition of their gender identity often involved the renaming of self or the use of a new name reflective of that gender identity. Several factors influenced name selection including input from familial sources. This exploratory study offers insight into the connection between gender and naming strategies in an adult TGNC population.

Research paper thumbnail of A review of contemporary assessment tools for use with transgender and gender nonconforming adults

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Culturally competent evidence-based behavioral health services for the transgender community: Progress and challenges

The American journal of orthopsychiatry, 2016

The presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the ... more The presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the United States in recent years. Celebrities who publicly transition have expanded the national conversation about gender variation beyond gender and women's studies classrooms and certain specialty health and mental health services. This increased public visibility has been accompanied by increased visibility in the mental health literature, including the publishing of competencies or guidelines for working with clients who identify as transgender by various professional organizations. However, rapid societal changes and increased understanding of the experience of being transgender in our society means literature can rapidly become dated. This commentary identifies key points that will move forward professional competency, both of the field and of individual practitioners, in the provision of psychological services. Topics discussed include (1) how mental health has contributed to tr...

Research paper thumbnail of Educational preparedness to care for transgender and gender diverse adults: Perspectives of mental health professionals

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Keeping the Promise of Community-Based Participatory Research: Integrating Applied Critical Rhetorical Methods to Amplify the Community’s Voice for Trial Development

Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 2020

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) represents an important improvement in the integrat... more Community-based participatory research (CBPR) represents an important improvement in the integration of marginalized voices into research programs by including community members in the designs, conduct, and dissemination of studies. CBPR often features a social justice component, generating studies designed to reduce societal disparities and improve outcomes for disenfranchised groups. However, the practical implementation of CBPR usually fails to capitalize on this promise, using the same traditional research methodologies, leadership structures, trial designs, and research questions that inculcate researcher bias. In response to the problem, we propose a new solution: Applied critical rhetorical research (ACRR) integrated into the CBPR approach to clinical health research. ACRR research combines critical/cultural studies and rhetorical methods to amplify the figurative voice of marginalized populations. ACRR can expose how majority power (i.e., hegemony) manifests in social instit...

Research paper thumbnail of A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Domestic American and International Chinese Students' Social Media Usage

Journal of International Students, Oct 1, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Nike’s Commodification of LeBron James: Intoning Jesus and Hegemonic Masculinity for “Maximized Comfort”

Research paper thumbnail of Issues faced by lesbian , gay , and bisexual individuals differ substantially from those faced by trans individuals

T he presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the... more T he presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the United States in recent years. Celebrities who publicly transition have expanded the national conversation about gender variation beyond gender and women’s studies classrooms and certain specialty health and mental health services. This increased public visibility has been accompanied by increased visibility in the mental health literature, including the publishing of competencies or guidelines for working with clients who identify as transgender by various professional organizations. However, rapid societal changes and increased understanding of the experience of being transgender in our society means literature can rapidly become dated. This commentary identifies key points that will move forward professional competency, both of the field and of individual practitioners, in the provision of psychological services for individuals who identify as transgender. Before proceeding further, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Health mythologies: Developing an understanding of health myths and how they stick and spread through the vaccines cause autism myth

Research paper thumbnail of Psychometric Evaluation of the Transgender Congruence Scale

Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of A systematic review of recommendations for behavioral health services for transgender and gender diverse adults: The three-legged stool of evidence-based practice is unbalanced

Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 2021

There is a growing literature of clinical recommendations for transgender and gender diverse (TGD... more There is a growing literature of clinical recommendations for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) affirming behavioral health care, yet it is unknown to what extent these recommendations are rooted in evidence-based practice (EBP). This systematic review included 65 articles published between 2009 and 2018 with recommendations for behavioral health services with TGD adults, emphasizing general clinical care. Coded variables included type of article, participant demographics, aspects of EBP, and whether care was informed by objective assessment. Most articles did not equally draw from all components of EBP. Recommendations for specific clinical problems are increasingly available and address diversity within TGD communities. More research, including clinical trials adapting established interventions, is needed to inform state-of-the-art TGD-affirmative behavioral health care.

Research paper thumbnail of Discursive stickiness: Affective institutional texts and activist resistance

Public Relations Inquiry, 2021

Pushing the bounds of public relations theory and research, we explore how institutional texts ha... more Pushing the bounds of public relations theory and research, we explore how institutional texts have produced and reified stigmas around gender transgression and how these texts are bound up in moments of activism and resistance. We considered how different discursive and material functions get “stuck” together by way of texts and how this sticking depends on a history of association and institutionalization. Activism presents opportunities to challenge institutional and structural stickiness, and we argue that public relations can challenge the affective assemblages that comprise and perpetuate these systems, unsettling the historical discourses that have governed institutions by establishing new communicative possibilities.

Research paper thumbnail of “The world wants us dead”:stigma and the social construction of health in Pose

Critical Studies in Media Communication, 2021

ABSTRACT Through its portrayals of the intersectional identities of race and gender divergence, t... more ABSTRACT Through its portrayals of the intersectional identities of race and gender divergence, the FX series Pose illustrates how social structures fail marginalized communities as a disciplinary function of hegemony and perpetuate a biomedical model of health that serves to reinforce health disparities. For this study, researchers took a critical cultural rhetorical approach to the series through the lens of the social ecological model and biomedical model, to deconstruct hegemonic discourses of power present within medical practices. This paper situates Pose as an artifact that condemns the cultural practices of the marginalization and erasure of transgender communities, demonstrating how the show confronts the mechanisms of hegemonic power by exposing the cissexist stigmatization within the healthcare establishment. Through the exposure of the failings of the social ecological model with the biomedical model, Pose exposes the discrimination and stigma inherent within dominant forms of healthcare as they persist today.

Research paper thumbnail of The Impact of the 2016 US Presidential Elections on Transgender and Gender Diverse People

Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2020

With Trump’s presidency came a rise in the oppression of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) peo... more With Trump’s presidency came a rise in the oppression of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people, as the nation witnessed a removal of protections for TGD people. We examined the daily experiences of 181 TGD individuals (ages 16–40, M age = 25.6) through their reflections about daily stressors over the course of 8 weeks (data collected fall 2015–summer 2017), some of which reflected shifts during the election period. During the 2016 presidential election, participants reported a rise in marginalization stress and the subsequent impact on safety, mental health, and well-being. There were three emergent themes: External Rejection and Stigma from Dominant Culture; Supporting the TGD Community; and Fear for the Self and Development of Proximal Stressors. In line with marginalization stress theory, participants vocalized the progression from exterior stigmatization to proximal stressors and their heightened sense of vigilance and fear of the dominant culture. Based on the results of this study, policy makers and TGD advocates must work to ensure that political rhetoric and action do not serve to further marginalize and erase TGD communities.

Research paper thumbnail of Specialists in name or practice? The inclusion of transgender and gender diverse identities in online materials of gender specialists

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 2020

Recommendations for health care providers working with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) indiv... more Recommendations for health care providers working with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals emphasize affirming clients' identities, such as using correct pronouns and name, however it is unknown how often gender specialists adhere to such recommendations. Websites and intake forms of gender specialists were coded for use of affirming language, asking for pronouns and chosen name, and mention of TGD specialties and resources. Most websites identified the provider's specialty to work with TGD individuals, though much fewer provided additional resources concerning TGD issues and only half of intake forms included affirming language. Given previous research that has demonstrated providers working in states with legal protections for TGD individuals use affirming language more often than providers in locales without protections, association with state legal climate is also examined.

Research paper thumbnail of Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In

Research paper thumbnail of Unmet Expectations in Health Care Settings: Experiences of Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in the Central Great Plains

Qualitative Health Research, 2019

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face a long-term, multifaceted process if they c... more Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face a long-term, multifaceted process if they choose to begin a gender affirmation journey. Decisions to go on hormone therapy and/or have a surgical procedure necessitate the TGD individual to set up an appointment with a health care provider. However, when TGD patients interact with health care practitioners, problems can arise. This article documents and categorizes the types of unmet expectations that are common in the TGD patient–health care provider social dynamic in the Central Great Plains of the United States. Utilizing a community-based participatory research model, qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 27 TGD individuals about their health care experiences. From this, the researchers identified four main themes of unmet expectations: probing, gatekeeping, stigmatizing stance, and misgendering/deadnaming. Steps that can be taken by both the health care provider and the TGD individual to have a more successful ...

Research paper thumbnail of First impressions online: The inclusion of transgender and gender nonconforming identities and services in mental healthcare providers' online materials in the USA

International Journal of Transgenderism, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Trans Collaborations Clinical Check-In (TC3): Initial Validation of a Clinical Measure for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults Receiving Psychological Services

Behavior Therapy, 2019

Rawson, and Jae Sevelius), and Joshua Eyer for their input on the TC 3. We also appreciate the me... more Rawson, and Jae Sevelius), and Joshua Eyer for their input on the TC 3. We also appreciate the members of the TGD communities who provided data through the online study or interviews and the providers who gave feedback on the TC 3. We would also like to thank Jolene Smyth for her expertise formatting the questionnaire, Jae Puckett for their assistance with participant recruitment, and Heather Meyer for her work coding the interviews. Rin Nguyen and Gabrielle Albeck's efforts on data collection were vital to the success of the project.

Research paper thumbnail of The provider perspective on behavioral health care for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in the Central Great Plains: A qualitative study of approaches and needs

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2019

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals interact with mental health care systems ... more Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals interact with mental health care systems at high rates and experience substantial barriers to care. Rural TGNC individuals face additional disparities in accessing appropriate mental health services. Little research has focused on the mental healthcare providers who work with TGNC individuals in underserved areas. The current study sought to describe the mental health care services delivered by providers perceived as affirming by TGNC community members in the Central Great Plains. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 10 providers to understand how providers seek cultural competency and conceptualize and work with their TGNC clients given the barriers to care. Results: Providers held diverse theoretical orientations and described challenges to working with TGNC clients including the impact of stigma and marginalization and financial and structural barriers to care. Emphasis was placed on individualizing care, helping clients manage stigma and build resiliency, connecting clients to resources (when available) and support systems, and navigating the intersections of physical health care and mental health care such as writing letters for medical transition. Providers largely educated themselves on TGNC topics and had previous experience working with marginalized populations. Conclusions: Overall, the providers' approaches to working with TGNC clients mapped on to models of cultural competency but few providers described their work in the context of an evidence-based model. Implications for increasing the quality and availability of mental health care services for TGNC individuals in underserved areas are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Renaming Me: Assessing the Influence of Gender Identity on Name Selection

Names, 2019

Our identity is our name connected with a specific face and body. Yet, our name, a critical aspec... more Our identity is our name connected with a specific face and body. Yet, our name, a critical aspect of the “names-body-identity” nexus is rarely self-selected. The naming of a newborn is often the purview of family and the name selected is often linked to the sex assigned to the child. Assigned sex, however, may differ from gender identity. Renaming, the process of selecting and using a new name, can be instrumental in expressing an authentic gender identity. Thus, gender identity and renaming were examined among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) adults using an online survey. Participants indicated that the recognition of their gender identity often involved the renaming of self or the use of a new name reflective of that gender identity. Several factors influenced name selection including input from familial sources. This exploratory study offers insight into the connection between gender and naming strategies in an adult TGNC population.

Research paper thumbnail of A review of contemporary assessment tools for use with transgender and gender nonconforming adults

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Culturally competent evidence-based behavioral health services for the transgender community: Progress and challenges

The American journal of orthopsychiatry, 2016

The presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the ... more The presence of individuals who identify as transgender has emerged into public awareness in the United States in recent years. Celebrities who publicly transition have expanded the national conversation about gender variation beyond gender and women's studies classrooms and certain specialty health and mental health services. This increased public visibility has been accompanied by increased visibility in the mental health literature, including the publishing of competencies or guidelines for working with clients who identify as transgender by various professional organizations. However, rapid societal changes and increased understanding of the experience of being transgender in our society means literature can rapidly become dated. This commentary identifies key points that will move forward professional competency, both of the field and of individual practitioners, in the provision of psychological services. Topics discussed include (1) how mental health has contributed to tr...