Trans Awareness Week is an opportunity to celebrate, support, and raise awareness of the diverse experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. This week highlights the importance of gender affirmation, respectful language, and inclusivity in creating a welcoming environment for all.
Vocab
Gender: a social construct that refers to a person's personal and social identity as a man, woman, non-binary, or another gender.
Sex: biological status assigned at birth, can be categorised as male, female, or intersex.
Cis person:  someone whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth.
Trans person: someone whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Non-binary person: someone whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender-fluid person: someone whose gender identity or expression is not fixed and can change over time
What is Gender Affirmation?
Gender affirmation is all about helping transgender and gender-diverse individuals live their lives authentically and comfortably. It can include social, medical, and legal actions that help folks transition into their true gender identity. Transitioning can involve a variety of steps, like hormone therapy, changing names and pronouns, and updating documents to reflect a person’s true self.
It's important to remember that transgender and gender-diverse identities are wonderfully diverse. Some people may choose to identify as "trans," while others feel more at home with "non-binary" which means they don’t strictly identify as just "man" or "woman." Everyone’s transition journey is personal and unique—there’s no one right way to do it.
Gender Affirmation Under the Equality Act
Gender affirmation is one of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, helping to create a more inclusive society. This law offers support to individuals who are undergoing, planning to undergo, or have already completed gender-affirming processes. While these processes can include medical treatments, they encompass much more than that and medical treatment is not a requirement. It's essential to remember that each person's journey is special and can involve changes to their name, pronouns, appearance, and personal expression. Everyone's path is unique, and that’s what makes it interesting.
Exploring the Experiences of Transgender Students and Staff in Higher Education
Transgender and non-binary students often face challenges like discrimination and harassment, which can really impact their academic success and sense of belonging. A study found that almost half of transgender scientists have thought about leaving their jobs because their workplaces aren’t always friendly to LGBTQ+ folks, and 20% of them consider this regularly.
Misgendering and Deadnaming
Misgendering—referring to someone by the wrong pronouns or gendered terms—can be a tough experience for transgender and non-binary people. It often leads to feelings of stress and discomfort, which can interrupt conversations. Many people might hesitate to correct someone, worrying about how it could impact how they are perceived. Deliberately misgendering a person could be viewed as gross misconduct and is a form of bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
To help create a more welcoming environment, try asking people about their pronouns (like he/him, she/her, or they/them) and trying to use them consistently. If you're in a leadership role, gently correcting misgendering when it happens can really make a difference. Your support can go a long way in making everyone feel respected and valued and encouraging lively and open conversations.
“Deadnaming” happens when someone uses a transgender or gender-diverse person's previous name, and it can bring up a lot of strong feelings. For many transgender individuals, their old names are tied to a time when their true gender identity wasn't recognised or respected. Names can also carry heavy gender implications. Because of these factors, using those names can be painful and may cause feelings of dysphoria or a sense of invalidation. Moreover, in different social and legal situations, deadnaming can “out” an individual. Using a deadname makes it harder for people to feel supported by friends, family, and institutions. It's really important to use a person's chosen name, as doing so respects their identity and helps create a more welcoming and understanding community for everyone.
Respecting Identities and Building Inclusivity
To make meaningful strides toward inclusivity, it’s important that we respect everyone’s names, pronouns, and chosen identities. Using the right name and pronouns is a simple yet powerful way to honour who someone is and to create a respectful environment. By being mindful of gender identities, avoiding assumptions, and supporting name changes, we can help make higher education a place where everyone can thrive, no matter their gender.
Trans Awareness Week is a great opportunity to show our commitment to inclusivity and create a supportive community that celebrates everyone’s unique identity. Let’s take this time to engage with resources, learn from one another, and work together to foster a welcoming environment for all.
Resources