(GAS2b) Public Sociology of Gender and Sexuality II: Activism and Advocacy

This session responds to Michael Burawoy’s (2005) call for a public sociology that engages audiences outside academia in conversations about gender and sexuality. The sociology of gender and sexuality has long participated in publicly-engaged scholarship informed by and contributing to feminist, queer, and transgender social movements. Drawing on these rich intellectual traditions this session explores how the empirical and theoretical tools of sociological inquiry can be used to make power relations visible, address issues of public concern, and contribute to social change. We encourage submissions that engage conceptually with public sociology and examine the ways that publics and counter-publics are constituted in sociological research, along with presentations of empirical research that propose novel strategies for engaging diverse publics in knowledge production and dissemination. What opportunities do new digital technologies, artistic and cultural productions, and emerging social movements present for sharing sociological knowledge about gender and sexuality with multiple publics? We are particularly interested in papers which consider how sociology might respond to social issues such as rising transgender hate and anti-LGBTQ2S+ social movements, the ascent of far-right and white nationalist ideologies, and global struggles against colonization and imperialism. What is the place of the sociology of gender and sexuality in responding to the social issues of our time and how can we effectively engage multiple publics in this work? Tags: Gender, Social Movements

Organizers: Toby Anne Finlay, York University, Chris Tatham, University of Guelph; Chairs: Chris Tatham, University of Guelph, Toby Anne Finlay, York University

Presentations

A. Travers, Simon Fraser University; Dominique Falls, Douglas College

Barriers to Gender+ Equity in Youth Baseball

Youth baseball remains a masculine domain in Canada and the USA. The overall participation of girls lags far behind that of boys, and adult leadership is also highly gendered and inequitable. The vast majority of on-field volunteer roles related to coaching and player instruction, particularly at the upper, most prestigious levels, are filled by men while women continue to be concentrated in behind-the-scenes organizational and administrative work. Taken-for-granted assumptions that unequal participation and this gendered division of labour reflect ‘natural’ sex differences and individual inclinations are widely shared. While always a numerical minority, the percentage of girls who play youth baseball at the youngest levels is much higher than in subsequent years, when girls either switch to softball or drop out of bat-and-ball sports entirely. Such gendered attrition is an indicator that youth baseball environments are unwelcoming for girls. Some girls and women do continue to play baseball but typically in male-dominated environments where they often contend with isolation and/or hostility. Amateur baseball opportunities beyond youth baseball in Canada and the USA are scarce for girls. Feminist sport studies scholarship has documented the deliberate ways in which men and boys keep girls out of baseball, at first through formal prohibitions and then through cultural environments that are unwelcoming to girls, and by constructing softball as the only appropriate bat-and-ball sport for girls and women. Major League Baseball (MLB), the highest level at which the sport is played in the USA and Canada, continues to be a male-only, sex segregated sport and has yet to have an umpire or Manager (head coach) who is not a man. While youth baseball itself is no longer a formally masculine realm, the invisibility of women who play baseball professionally or on (women-only) national teams, for example, may combine with the all-male character of professional baseball to shape the masculine culture of the sport and the experience of youth players and adult volunteers. Our research examines the ways in which participants, organizations, and leaders “do gender” (West and Zimmerman, 1987) in youth baseball leagues to produce unwelcoming “climates” (Hall and Sandler, 1986) not only for girls and women but for LGBT youth and adults, as well as boys and men who do not relate to masculine gender norms. In this paper we identify the social processes that produce gender inequities in youth baseball environments and propose appropriate strategies for transforming youth baseball to be more gender inclusive. Our project utilized a mixed methods feminist research approach to develop an evidence-based account of everyday social processes that generate gender+ inequity within youth baseball environments. Methods included a survey of youth baseball association executives and coaches in Canada, interviews with both girls who play baseball and girls and young women who have switched to softball in the Greater Vancouver Area, interviews with league executives and coaches in Canada, participant observation by Travers as coach of elite youth baseball teams, and a scoping review of existing research on gender and youth baseball. In this paper, we present findings from our data related to 3 key themes. First, why girls don’t sign up for baseball? Second, why girls and young women who play baseball leave the sport? And third, what is necessary to create a more gender-inclusive experience for girls, young women and gender diverse people of all ages in baseball.

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Non-presenting authors:  Nerida Bullock, Simon Fraser University

Courtney Pyrke, University of New Brunswick; Void Clark-Nason, University of New Brunswick; Katherine (KD) Merritt, University of New Brunswick

"If a parent...would prefer for them to be referred to as she or he...that's a parent's right": A Critical Discourse Analysis of CBC New Brunswick's Heteronormative Media Bias in the Coverage of Policy 713 Changes

In Canada there is a long history of mainstream media bias when covering stories about 2SLGBTQIA+ communities (Morrison et al., 2021; Tompkins, 2020; Craig et al., 2015; Herriot, 2011). This bias can shape public opinion, education, and perception about important topics, such as New Brunswick’s (NB) Policy 713: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (Policy 713), an educational policy meant to create a safe and welcoming space for transgender and gender diverse students (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2020). This media bias can exert negatively upon the health and well-being of 2SLGTQIA+ people, specifically children whose sense of personal and sexual identity is still in development and are particularly vulnerable. In May 2023 NB’s Progressive Conservative government pulled back protections for 2SLGBTQIA+ students through controversial edits to Policy 713. As a result, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in NB faced a significant rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric and violence from the public and local politicians. NB Premier Blaine Higgs and his education minister fanned the flames of this discursive framing by joining protestors on the legislative lawn and shaking the hands of people carrying signs denouncing sex education and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. Premier Blaine Higgs and the education minister both chose to ignore the group of pro-2SLGBTQIA+ protesters situated across the street. Before, during, and in the aftermath of NB’s changes to Policy 713, news organizations both locally and nationally covered the situation, including Canada’s largest news organization, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC). We draw from critical discourse analysis (CDA) to explore CBC New Brunswick’s (CBC NB) handling of rising queerphobia and transphobia in New Brunswick. In total, we analyzed 75 CBC NB news articles published from May 2023 to December 2023 which report directly on Policy 713. CDA enables us to contextualise these news reports and understand the relationships between the discursive practices in CBC NBs reporting to broader social relations, structures, culture, and processes. Drawing from Fairclough’s (1993; 2010; 2013) understanding of CDA we work to uncover how these discourses connect to ideology and power relations. Through our CDA analysis, we bring to light the patterns involved in CBC NBs reporting on 2SLGBTQIA+ issue in NB and reveal how CBC NB functions as a key site in the (re)production of ideology in promoting narratives of power and heteronormativity in media discussions of Policy 713. Through our research, we found that CBC NB’s coverage of the Policy 713 situation involved the spreading of disinformation, evangelical bias, and heteronormative discourses. As both academics and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, we believe it paramount to engage the public in conversations about the uninformed and uneducated ways journalists in NB frequently write about 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. Mobilizing the strategies discussed by Buroway (2005), these research findings will inform an open public discussion facilitated on Instagram live – which enables us to meet the public where they are at – detailing our findings and outlining strategies for critical digital literacy when engaging with media. As a multi-disciplinary group of researchers, we understand the importance of collaborative knowledge that transcends arbitrary boundaries. Our research findings allow for dialogue between academics and the public about not only the way Policy 713 topics were reported, but how NBs mainstream media more broadly writes about 2SLGBTQIA+ topics to empower individuals with the necessary tools needed to critically analyze the news articles they consume. 

Jian Fu, Memorial University

Navigating external support: Strategies for LGBT advocacy in nationalist China

The international human rights system has played a pivotal role in disseminating LGBT rights norms and empowering local LGBT communities. However, the rise of far-right nationalism worldwide has significantly weakened the efficacy of international pressure on LGBT rights. China, characterized by its authoritarian regime and surging nationalism, has strategically portrayed external human rights pressure as stemming from hostile foreign forces with the aim of undermining and destabilizing the country. In this context, navigating cooperation with the international human rights system while avoiding government repression becomes a challenge for indigenous LGBT activists in China. Drawing from fieldwork comprising 13 observations and 9 interviews, alongside news media research, this study identifies three strategies that have proven effective in facilitating collaboration with external support for local LGBT activism. At the individual level, Chinese local LGBT activists can leverage the privileged status of foreigners to mitigate risks in local activism. At the organizational level, they can engage with transnational corporations operating in China to advocate for workplace equality. Finally, at the national level, Chinese local LGBT activists can utilize embassy support and leverage UN human rights mechanisms to exert pressure on the Chinese government. All these strategies demonstrate that Chinese local LGBT activists remain innovative despite unfavorable conditions.

Faria Sultana, American International University-Bangladesh; Mahir Abrar, University of Prince Edward Island

Unveiling Identities: A Qualitative Exploration of the 2SLGBTQ+ Community in Bangladesh

In recent years, the discourse surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity has gained momentum globally. This qualitative literature review delves into the lived experiences, challenges, and resilience of the 2SLGBTQ+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others) community in Bangladesh. Through a comprehensive exploration of existing academic works and grey literature, this research aims to contribute nuanced insights into the multifaceted dimensions of 2SLGBTQ+ identities within the cultural context of Bangladesh. The study employs a qualitative approach to synthesise and analyse diverse scholarly perspectives, shedding light on the historical, social, and legal frameworks that shape the experiences of the 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in Bangladesh. By examining local and international literature, we seek to identify recurring themes, challenges, and emerging narratives that characterise the intersectionality of identities within this community. Key areas of focus include social acceptance, legal rights, healthcare access, and the role of cultural and religious factors in influencing the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, in addition to that the paper would like to accentuate the socio-economic challenges of the community in Bangladesh. Additionally, the review investigates the evolving nature of activism and support networks that have emerged to address the unique challenges faced by this community. Ibtisam Ahmed, Doctoral Researcher at the University of Nottingham, writes “ Colonialism and Western identity politics outlawed queerness in the first place and the early attempts at rights failed largely due to its association with globalisation ”. Homosexuality is criminalised in Bangladesh under Section 377 of the penal code, which bans “unnatural sexual activity”. This refers to anal and oral sex and would theoretically include heterosexual acts. The law was created during the British rule of India and has never been used in independent Bangladesh. It is one of many acts criminalising and stigmatising homosexuality introduced during colonial rule. Opposition to this law often includes a decolonization perspective In the early 2010s, the 2SLGBTQ+ community published a magazine, Roopbaan, and held the first pride rally in Dhaka. It was able to carve out a niche space for itself. These activities were driven underground after the editor and publisher of the magazine, Xulhaaz Mannan, was assassinated by Ansar al-Islam, an Al-Qaida affiliate. The murder has a chilling effect on the community, reducing visibility and discouraging support for the community. Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country, with about 90 per cent of the population being Muslim. It is a conservative country where non-heteronormative relationships are generally not accepted. Events at universities featuring speakers of the 2SLGBTQ+ community have been targeted for protests and forced to close. Bangladesh government rejected a recommendation at a United Nations review to protect the 2SLGBTQ+ community, saying “sexual orientation is not an issue in Bangladesh”. In 2024, a faculty member at a private university was released from their contract after attacking a textbook for grade seven for featuring a story transwoman transitioning. This led to street protests by Islamists demanding his reinstatement. The study will examine how educational institutions in Bangladesh have become a battleground between progressive and conservative forces. The study will examine the role of sociologists and how they can contribute to the discourse. Many activists and bloggers have fled Bangladesh in the last few years, seeking asylum in Europe and North America. There does not seem to be any effort to revive the grassroots movements of the early 2010s. This resilient community is not ready to give up the progress made so far. Bangladesh recently had its first transgender news anchor and diplomat. Both were received positively by their colleague. The 2SLGBTQ+ community has advanced their case through incremental advancement and small victories. While Western allies can advocate for them and provide some protection, the real change must come from within Bangladesh and would require significant societal changes.

Cameron Carley, Western University; Fred Seabrook, Western University

Considering Consent: An Analysis of Coercion in Educational Research With Trans and Queer Peoples

When conducting research with human participants, explicit and continuous verbal and written consent to participate must be given to ensure that participants understand what participation entails. Specifically, prior and informed consent is an essential measure to mitigate potential harm arising from research participation. Essentially, consent and ethics must be fully and transparently communicated to participants. However, we wonder whether consent, as outlined by institutional research ethics boards (REBs), can comprehensively account for the complex and evolving power dynamics between researchers and participants. In this session, we consider the intricacies of requesting and providing consent in research with trans and queer populations, identifying how societal power dynamics impact consent. Using trans theory as a conceptual framework, we aim to examine how gender identity is produced and reproduced through inherently transphobic academic systems and institutions. We supplement trans theory with queer theory to guide our exploration of how consent is conceptualized and solicited in educational research with trans and queer populations. These frameworks are used in tangent as theoretical tools and safeguards against erasure of trans peoples through conflation and homogenization of trans populations in common discourse. Themes of consent, coercion, and hegemony will be identified through a review of literature regarding educational research with human participants, which will inform a document analysis on ethical consent processes from the Government of Canada’s REB. Recognizing that trans and queer peoples continue to experience marginalization within settler colonial institutions, we problematize whether consent can be ethically provided for research centering trans and queer populations within institutions operating under hegemony. As hegemony involves interweaving systems of domination and power, consent becomes compromised because consent cannot be agreed upon with coercion emerging from domination. Contextually, in systems of domination, trans and queer populations may experience pressures or obligations to participate in research as an act of embodied agency and advocacy towards furthering trans and queer discourses and rights. Accordingly, these motivations can be seen as coercive. This complicates the power dynamics between researcher and participant, and in this session, we will question what consent currently entails and what it could entail when critically analyzing consent procedures in educational research. This session relates to the theme of “Challenging Hate: Fostering Human Flourishing,” as we question the often insidious marginalization of trans and queer peoples through superficial heteronormative and cisnormative consent practices that do not wholly consider research with trans and queer populations. Critically analyzing REB standards is a step towards facilitating trans and queer futures in educational research that encompass equity, humility, and transparency. However, in looking to the future, we cannot forget the past and present. Although the foundations of academia are harmful to trans and queer peoples, these folks also flourish within and outside academia: We want to add to this impactful scholarship that stands in power with trans and queer peoples. As such, we must recognize how hate can function within topics of consent, as consent can function to absolve the researcher of any harm caused to the participants when operating within the ethics protocols outlined for educational research. To achieve this, we must challenge the historical and contemporary foundations of research ethics, positing new foundations that contribute to positive experiences of trans and queer folks in educational research. We want to ensure that consent is a key part of trans and queer folks sharing their experiences and their worlds in ways that feel culturally safe and encouraging.