(GAS3) Empirical Insights in Queer and Trans Studies

This session presents empirical research involving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and third gender people and empirical studies of the social relations that regulate sexuality and gender. These papers employ a wide range of methodological approaches and draw from perspectives in queer and transgender studies to pose novel questions about the social and historical contexts in which queer and trans lives are lived. The papers also take inspiration from public sociology and scholarship informed by LGBTQ2S+ social movements to consider how sociological research can contribute to the projects of sexual and gendered liberation. The session offers critically engaged and empirically grounded insights from the expansive fields of queer and trans studies. Tags: Genre

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

Presentations

Sumona Sharmin, Social Services Officer

Social Media Engagement of third gender individuals in Bangladesh: A comparative study

Many societies traditionally view gender as strictly male or female. However, there are individuals who dont fit within these categories and are considered part of the third gender. This term encompasses people whose sexual orientation differs from heterosexual norms, such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender-diverse (LGBT+). Unfortunately, third-gender communities often face exclusion, especially in Asian countries, and struggle to access basic rights like healthcare, housing, and education. This lack of acceptance leaves them vulnerable to issues like depression, bullying, and even suicidal thoughts. In recent years, the use of social media has skyrocketed, thanks to the availability of affordable smartphones and internet services. These platforms have witnessed a significant shift in understanding gender, acknowledging the differences among people based on their gender identity. Social media accommodates both traditional binary-gender (male and female) users and those from third-gender communities. For third-gender individuals, social media serves as a new way to find support—something they often lack in their offline lives. It provides them with social connections, emotional support, and access to valuable information that might be hard to come by in person. This study is propelled by urgent need to address the social exclusion and disparities experienced by third-gender communities in their access to rights and resources. The primary focus is on comprehensively understanding the nuances of their engagement with social media, aiming to highlight technologys potential as a platform for empowerment, social support, and the dissemination of information among marginalized groups. Through an investigation into the motivations, behaviors, and consequences of social media use among third-gender individuals compared to their heterosexual counterparts, this study aims to advocate for inclusivity, challenge societal norms, and emphasize technologys transformative role in fostering equality and overall well-being for all members of society. The data collection process was meticulously executed through surveys utilizing purposive and snowball sampling in two separate cross-sectional studies. Distinct samples were gathered, encompassing heterosexual individuals and third-gender people (TGP) specifically in Bangladesh. The computer-based SPSS program was employed for data analysis, validating the findings based on the Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT). This approach facilitated an extensive exploration of the factors influencing and outcomes resulting from Social Media Engagement (SMEn), enabling a nuanced understanding of the diverse motivations and impacts of social media usage across different gender groups. The research unearthed unique determinants of SMEn between binary-gender and third-gender individuals. While habit emerged as the most influential predictor for heterosexual users, emotional reassurance predominantly drove engagement among third-gender individuals. Significantly, identity management played a substantial role in SMEn solely for third-gender individuals, whereas social interaction exhibited an impact across both groups. Additionally, third-gender individuals often use social media more to fight loneliness and isolation than their heterosexual counterparts. Moreover, the study revealed that SMEn notably enhanced the quality of life and social self-esteem to a greater extent for third-gender individuals compared to their heterosexual counterparts. These findings underscore the critical need for social media design and policy considerations that cater to the diverse needs of distinct gender groups. The study strongly advocates for the creation of social media platforms that enable marginalized individuals, especially third-gender groups, to express their identities, seek emotional support, and build supportive communities. In essence, this research serves to shed light on the complex dynamics of social media use among different gender groups within a specific cultural context. The insights obtained provide actionable guidance for educational institutions, policymakers, and social media developers who aim to provide robust support for marginalized communities through digital platforms.

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Non-presenting author: Humayun Kabir

Yerong Zhao, Tohoku University

The relationship between discrimination toward LGB in Japanese corporation and their willingness to continue working

According to dentsu survey, the proportion of LGBT in Japan is 8.9% in 2021. Although since 2015, the same-sex partner registration has begun in Shibuya ward in Tokyo, the same-sex marriage has not been accepted by Japanese law((Tang, Khor, Chen 2020). In the workplace, whether LGB face discrimination, if they do face discrimination, which specific type of discrimination has a negative effect on their willingness to work, which specific LGBT-friendly policy could elevate the willingness to work under discrimination, also whether coming out in the workplace has a positive effect on their willingness to work has not been examined. Therefore, this paper conducted a study on the impact of discrimination on the work culture of Japanese companies towards LGB individuals and analyzed whether LGBT-friendly policies can reduce discrimination. This paper analyzed data from the 2018 Niji VOICE survey to identify specific types of discrimination that affect the work willingness of LGB individuals in Japanese companies by the method of generalized ordinal logistic regression, which is less restrictive than ordinal logistic regression model but more interpretable than multiple logistic regression model (Williams 2006). The results identified that LGB in who work in Japanese corporations do face discrimination, and this discrimination negatively affects their willingness to continue working, the results also identified that discrimination related to gender stereotypes (saying something like acting more like a woman/man), speculations about sexual orientation, and spreading rumors about sexual orientation negatively impact LGB individuals' willingness to work in the company. This study investigated the effectiveness of LGBT-friendly policies in mitigating discrimination and found that policies related to LGBT knowledge and training and treating same-sex partners as spouses have a positive impact on work willingness. The results found positive impacts of the "coming out" action to colleagues and supervisors on work willingness due to a more supportive work environment. In conclusion, this study contributes to the discrimination against LGB in Japanese corporations that the previous studies did not explore, which sheds light on that discrimination does exist in Japanese corporations, and explores the specific discrimination that negatively affects LGB's willingness to continue working. Therefore, the companies should consider banning discrimination. Although previous studies examined that LGBT-supportive (in general) policies have a positive impact on job outcomes, and mental health, the previous studies did not explore the relationship between specific supportive policies and LGB's willingness to continue working. This study examined that LGBT-supportive policies like treating same-sex partners as spouses and training and learning LGBT knowledge have a positive impact on LGB's willingness to continue working. Companies should consider reinforcing these LGBT-supportive policies. Although some studies focus on LGBT "coming out" to their families, few studies focus on "coming out" in the workplace. This study explored that "coming out" to colleagues and supervisors would increase LGB's willingness to continue working. This may be due to after "coming out" to supervisors and colleagues, LGB get their understanding, which could relieve their work life. This result is inconsistent with the studies in the US and Europe, which if LGBT discloses their sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace, they will face discrimination or harassment. This paper has a significant effect on policy-makers, and with the analysis result, hope that this paper could improve the work environment toward LGB in Japan.

Lucas Marqus, Lincoln Alexander School of Law - Toronto Metropolitan University

The Limits of Law and Rights-Based Approaches to Trans Liberation in Canada: Gender-Affirming Healthcare and the Carceral State

This presentation considers the contemporary gap between transgender rights discourse in Canada and transgender liberation. Amid growing concern in both Canada and the United States about the status of transgender rights, national civil liberties organizations have mounted various rights-based legal challenges on behalf of transgender people. In Canada, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (“CCLA”) has challenged provincial bills preventing students under 16 from using their preferred pronouns in school without the permission of their parents because the bills violate the Canadian Charter of Rights of Freedoms (CCLA, 2023). In the United States, the American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) is tracking a record number of bills that attack 2SLGBTQ+ rights, particularly bills related to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth (ACLU, 2023). I will show that while rights-based legal approaches and victories appear to be a panacea for transgender people, a lack of restriction on transgender legal rights ultimately is not equivalent to transgender liberation. Drawing from critical legal studies, critical race theory, and empirical research on transgender healthcare and prison populations in Canada, I use two Canadian case studies to demonstrate the inadequacy of an exclusively or predominantly rights-based approach to trans liberation. The first is access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender and gender-diverse minors in Ontario, which is not legally prohibited in the province. The second is the policy of Correctional Services Canada with respect to transgender inmates, which includes the right to receive gender-affirming healthcare and the right to choose whether to be placed in men’s or women’s prisons. Regarding the first case study - access to gender-affirming healthcare for minors in Ontario - no express legal prohibitions against access to gender-affirming healthcare for minors exist in Ontario. Further, Canadian courts have consistently held in favour of youth accessing care, typically citing youth autonomy rights and the overwhelming consensus among medical organizations regarding the benefits of gender-affirming care for trans youth. In practice, however, access to gender-affirming care is severely restricted – limiting youth autonomy and putting trans youth at significant risk for adverse mental health outcomes and suicide. Indeed, the period between when trans youth intend to start making physiological changes to their appearance and when they can access gender-affirming care is when they are most at risk for depression and suicide (Bauer et al., 2013). The second case study is the interaction of transgender people and the Canadian carceral state. While Correctional Services Ontario – for instance – states that it “ensures that all inmates are treated with the same dignity and respect regardless of their gender expression or gender identity” (Ministry of the Solicitor General, 2021), transgender inmates face disproportionate violence in prisons (Lourenco, 2022). Further, transgender inmates in Canada are disproportionately Indigenous in comparison with the cisgender prison population, only exacerbating the crisis of Indigenous mass incarceration in Canada (Correctional Service Canada, 2022). Transgender inmates also disproportionately report having experienced trauma or violence in their past in comparison to the cisgender prison population (Correctional Service Canada, 2022). The stark divide between the lack of legal restriction and the health and security outcomes of transgender populations in Canada represents the inadequacy of an exclusively legal or rights-based approach to trans liberation. As social movements organize to counteract anti-2SLGBTQ+ coalitions, the value of an exclusively, or even largely, rights-based approach should be re-considered.

Toby Anne Finlay, York University

The Birth of the "Sex-Change" Clinic in the Canadian Press

This paper explores the emergence of cultural understandings of trans phenomena in Canada through an analysis of early newspaper reporting about the development of trans medicine and what were then referred to as “sex-change” surgeries. Trans medicine was first formalized and made publicly available in North America through the Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) founded in the late-1960s, including at the Clarke Institute in Toronto. The treatment programs of these GICs helped to codify the definitions of “gender” and “transsexuality” in medicine and regulated access to medical gender transition for trans people (Meyerowitz 2002; Namaste 2000). This period of knowledge production was an object of immense fascination for news media beginning in the 1970s when medical understandings of transness were first being articulated in the press. Canadian newspapers were flooded with stories about the medical procedures that were becoming available, the protracted treatment program of the Clarke Institute GIC, and trans people’s unique pathways to healthcare access. This paper is drawn from a genealogical study of the development of trans medicine from the late-1960s to the present at the Clarke Institute, which would become the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). In accordance with Foucauldian approaches to genealogical inquiry (Foucault 2003), this research understands medical conceptions of gender as a contingent product of the relationships between medical practitioners, trans patients and activists, and the broader social conditions in which trans people lived. Drawing from this multi-method study which spans multiple archival sites and interview populations, this paper focuses on the archives of prominent Canadian newspapers which are often used to study cultural conceptions of gender in trans studies (Skidmore 2011). The present sample was limited to articles addressing trans healthcare that were published in the 1970s to best capture the initial reception of medical knowledges about transness following the establishment of the Clarke Institute GIC. In so doing, this paper asks how gender was constituted as a medical concept in this historical period and how this conception of gender was shaped by the interactions of medical practitioners, trans people, and news media? Analysis reveals that medical understandings of gender and related normative expectations for trans people were not simply confirmed by the press but rather were contested by the network of relationships organized around trans phenomena. Gender did not exist as a discrete category prior to the development of trans medicine in the mid-20th century. Previous research has illuminated the complicated negotiations that were undertaken by medical practitioners and trans people to differentiate transness from other categories of personhood, namely homosexuality and intersex conditions (Gill-Peterson 2018). These processes of categorical differentiation were far from settled in the archives of news media, as gender-nonconforming people continued to grapple with the terms with which they were hailed by medicine. These negotiations often resulted in the production of the “good transsexual” as a discursive ideal which ensured the conceptual separation of sex, gender, and sexuality and pathologized alternative expressions of transness (Aizura 2018; Velocci 2021). Analysis of the various “good” and “bad” transsexuals that appear in the archival record illustrates how the ideal subject of trans medicine taking shape in the Clarke Institute GIC was already being contested by trans people who could not or would not conform to these normative expectations.