FRANKFURT, Germany — Academia apparently still has a lot of work to do in terms of fostering a positive, welcoming environment for transgender scientists. A new report created by 24 transgender scientists and their families details what it’s like to be a transgender person in the STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math, medicine) community. More specifically, the study describes the historical origins of trans marginalization, explains how these biases impact trans people’s careers in science and medicine, and lays out actions cisgender individuals and institutions can take in order to better support trans people in STEMM.
“I hope that trans scientists can see this piece as a beacon of hope,” says neuroscientist and commentary author Dori Grijseels of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in a media release. “It can be incredibly isolating to be a trans scientist, especially in particularly hostile places, but I hope that this commentary can give a sense of community to those scientists.”
Today, the report explains that current anti-trans legislation rooted in anti-scientific transphobic arguments enables such hostile and unwelcoming environments.
“By standing up against this, scientists not only play an important role in trans liberation, but also scientific integrity and public trust in science,” Grijseels adds.
The challenges trans people must overcome inhibit their involvement and participation in science, as well as the advancement of their careers.
“Legal and material precarity puts educational attainment and a productive research career, already a challenge for early career researchers, further out of reach for trans people,” the study authors write.
Trans individuals are more likely to endure harassment and discrimination across both general society and the workplace. Researchers explain they usually face much more scrutiny when it comes to “upholding” what most people consider “professional” dress and behavior.
“Any way a trans person dresses or acts is automatically taken as a statement that is highly scrutinized, in a way that a majoritarian cis male person won’t necessarily have to expect,” comments evolutionary biologist and commentary author Jess F. McLaughlin of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “It forces us to always be hypervigilant about our own presentation of ourselves in public, which is exhausting and very othering to deal with daily.”
“These expectations punish individuals who do not conform to a narrowly defined set of behaviors,” the researchers continue. “Controlling what is ‘acceptable’ gendered behavior or expression in the workplace marginalizes trans people, as well as cis people with nonconforming gender expression.”
“Appeals to professionalism have greater consequences for people with intersecting marginalized identities, such as for trans women of color, who face additional, uniquely racialized pressures to perform femininity.”
Finally, the study authors outline what cis researchers can do on their end to help trans colleagues.
“Individual actions can be distilled into three key components: showing respect to trans colleagues and students without singling them out, educating oneself and others, and utilizing one’s privilege and influence to advocate for institutional and political change,” the study authors explain.
“While it’s natural to feel hesitant about potentially making mistakes while trying to help, the risk of inaction—fueled by a fear of making mistakes—is far greater than the risk of attempting to make a positive change,” adds neuroscientist and commentary author Evyn S. Dickinson of Yale University.
Ultimately, the burden of making these changes can’t fall solely on trans researchers. Moreover, greater inclusivity will benefit the entire scientific community.
“Without sustained action by cis colleagues, achieving inclusion and equity becomes the de facto responsibility of those who are already burdened and marginalized,” researchers write. “When cis and trans people alike challenge sex and gender essentialism, we enshrine bodily autonomy and intellectual freedom. When we build institutions and systems to support all who contribute, we move to rectify scientific inequity and injustice.”
The study is published in the journal Cell.
Just do the best work you can and don’t annoy people by complaining about how “society” mistreats you. Don’t make everything a personal crusade. Everybody isn’t against you or even aware of you.
Absolutely. I get tired of the constant barrage. Keep your sexuality, your changed gender and your victimhood to yourself…or spill it out at some support meeting. Leave normal people ouf of it.