Dr Rosa Marvell, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, co-authors an article for The Conversation about how her research into the experiences of transgender and non-binary people has developed.
We’ve researched the experiences of transgender and non-binary people, particularly in the workplace, for much of the last ten years. Our original motivations remain: generate robust evidence.
However, the environment is unrecognisable from when we started. and are now ubiquitous. Researchers can contribute evidence and tools which could help.
Robust research evidence is needed across a range of issues relating to trans people. Alongside colleagues across the research sector, we have played our own small part in contributing to knowledge.
against transgender people is on the rise, and persistent negative workplace experiences show that employers need to put for trans people. Our work includes research on this issue for , and .
The findings of a suggest that most people support a compassionate approach to trans inclusion. But louder negative voices have changed the landscape.
Sharing research
Our experience of sharing our research online has changed. Our platforms are neither particularly large nor vocal, but we have received abuse in response to our research. As a result – and to avoid future occurrences – we are consciously not on X (formerly Twitter).
Although X was a valuable space to share academic work and connect internationally, the risks are not worth it. We are selective with what we say, and where we say it.
We have also had our credibility as academics questioned. Like all researchers, we welcome meaningful critique. However, it has become less productive in a context of hyper-politicisation. We have been labelled “lobbyists” and accused of having an “agenda”. Our methodological transparency and competency as researchers has been dismissed.
Messages also get contorted. In recent work, we used empirical data from focus groups, interviews and round table discussions to provide illustrative real-life examples of how organisations “do” trans inclusion in ways that works for them.
However, we faced accusations on social media of forcing organisational policy changes, such as pronoun usage or multiple ID cards. This distorted the more nuanced approach we attempted to take, while also indirectly branding us as poor researchers. The attempts to devalue evidence-based work represents an uncomfortable disregard for research integrity.
Changing language
Language is a over transgender and non-binary inclusion. We now have much trickier and lengthier discussions about phrasings and individual words. The wrong choice can spark a backlash.
In our own work, we have drawn on multiple perspectives and thought carefully when researching how organisations might want to draft policies on issues such as parenting or menstruation. Our preferred inclusive approach is to add options rather than removing them, creating space for everyone. This might mean using the phrase “pregnant women and other pregnant people”.
But this now does little to dampen negative responses. Caring about language is very beneficial for inclusion. However, the current impasse is an impediment to research and positive change.
Doing research
We’ve faced difficulty even getting our research off the ground. Ten years ago, it was relatively straightforward to connect with potential research participants. Now, it is far harder. Some people and organisations are intensely reluctant to associate with anything remotely “trans-related”, even completely anonymously. Participants ask to review their data more frequently, and in more detail. Generally, far more reassurances are required.
We prioritise the of research participants, but are often hampered by shrinking budgets, funding regulations and rigid – yet obscure – institutional processes and systems. We are left frustrated with the limited scope of possibilities.
We’ve also found our attention increasingly directed towards simply justifying the very existence of our research, rather than enhancing knowledge. This directs our focus away from intellectually stimulating exploration to simply just defending our position. Diversity and inclusion scholars are having to well-established philosophical positions and debunk accusations about poor or unscientific scholarly practice.
We work together as researchers, but we have different scholarly backgrounds – one of us is a sociologist, the other from a business and management background. These disciplines share common interests, but have different priorities and cultures. When we collaborate, we find ourselves often having to confront and navigate divergent expectations.
We also have to ask ourselves questions about when, and how hard, we should challenge people and organisations – and when we should back down or reflect on our position. Going too hard, too fast, or not acting at all, could all do more harm than good. Simultaneously, being labelled “an activist” could discredit research legitimacy.
As scholars, we are at a difficult crossroads. The right way forward is very hard to find.
, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, and , Associate Professor in Human Resource Management,
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .
More articles from The Conversation...
The Conversation is an independent source of news analysis and informed comment written by academic experts, working with professional journalists who help share their knowledge with the world.
Russia has tightened its hold over the Sahel region – and now it’s looking to Africa’s west coast
With the beginning of a new alliance between the Kremlin and Niger’s military leaders, John Sunday Ojo writes for The Conversation about Russia's growing influence in Africa.
The ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky and how I used modern astronomy to explore her link with the Milky Way
Writing for The Conversation, Dr Or Graur, Associate Professor of Astrophysics, discusses his recent research that showed an intriguing link between an Egyptian goddess and the Milky Way.
US sanctions on Iranian hackers highlight growing concern about the Islamic Republic’s cyberwarriors
With Iran’s growing expertise and willingness to conduct aggressive cyber operations, Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos and Dr Iain Reid examine the threat to the US and its global allies.
