posttransition

Posttransition is a term used to describe the period or conditions that follow a transition. It is applied across disciplines to denote outcomes, adjustments, or states after a change has occurred, with the precise meaning depending on the type of transition under consideration.

In physics and materials science, the post-transition regime refers to the properties of a system after crossing a phase boundary. After a material enters a new phase, researchers study how observables settle, how order parameters evolve, and how residual fluctuations decay as the system stabilizes.

In gender studies and sociology, post-transition describes the period after an individual has undergone gender transition. It concerns social recognition, access to services and rights, and the ongoing negotiation of identity within families, workplaces, and legal systems. Terminology and experiences vary widely among communities.

In political science and economics, the term is used for eras following regime change or major reform. Post-transition periods involve the establishment of new institutions, governance norms, and economic policies, as well as challenges related to legitimacy, inclusion, and stability.

Origins of the term reflect the prefix post- meaning after and transition meaning change. While useful as a shorthand, some scholars criticize it as imprecise, noting that transitions are ongoing processes and that 'post-transition' can obscure continuity and disagreement across phases.