Date of Award
5-2024
Degree Type
Honors College Thesis
Academic Program
Social Work BSW
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Susan Hrostowski, Ph.D.
Advisor Department
Social Work
Abstract
Mississippi House Bill 1125 (MS HB1125), also known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act,” was signed into law by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves in early 2023 (REAP Act, 2023). It is one of multiple policies passed into law that limit the rights of transgender people. This thesis aims to clarify the history of the trans community, dispel myths around gender-affirming health care and the trans identity, and discuss the current state of anti-trans laws and transgender rights. Using a policy analysis framework by DiNitto (2011), MS HB1125 is analyzed on points like its social and economic costs, the perceived cause of the issue it addresses, and possible unintended consequences of the bill’s passing. Although MS HB1125 and similar bills from other states aim to restrict the rights of trans individuals, many states are working towards protecting these rights. As social workers, we must advocate for our young trans clients’ rights to bodily autonomy and self-determination. However, we must also consider the ethical implications of allowing minors access to all methods of gender transitioning procedures, especially those that are irreversible.
Copyright
Copyright for this thesis is owned by the author. It may be freely accessed by all users. However, any reuse or reproduction not covered by the exceptions of the Fair Use or Educational Use clauses of U.S. Copyright Law or without permission of the copyright holder may be a violation of federal law. Contact the administrator if you have additional questions.”
Recommended Citation
Brewer, Kerigan, "REAPing What We Sow: The Implications and Outcomes of Mississippi House Bill 1125, The “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP)” Act" (2024). Honors Theses. 942.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/942
Included in
American Politics Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Social Policy Commons, Social Work Commons