Examining Trans Qualities of Life and Knowledge

Abstract

As the social and policy landscape in the United States continues to shift, more and more trans individuals are gaining access to institutional spaces (such as healthcare systems and academia) as not only service users (i.e., patients, students) but also providers, instructors, and researchers. While trans health and health care experiences continue to be understudied, there is a heightened focus on issues of social justice and health equity. It is within this shifting context that I have been conducting my dissertation scholarship, entitled “Examining Trans Qualities of Life & Knowledge.” As an alternative to the standard single dissertation study, I will be completing this dissertation as three substantive papers. Ultimately, the goal of this dissertation is to distill and make clear those sentiments within trans communities about the additional considerations and understandings that trans researchers conducting trans work can offer. The first paper suggests that scholars conducting trans-specific work who are trans themselves are uniquely situated as epistemic peers to one another and community members. The impact of trans-led research and epistemic peerhood is illustrated and applied in the second and third papers. The second is a study (N=27) of in-depth interviews examining trans patient preferences regarding collection of gender-related information in healthcare spaces and during medical procedures. The third paper is a survey (N=449) exploring experiences and quality-of-life of trans adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. By leveraging trans epistemological insights throughout the research process, study results and implications can be culturally attuned and affirming. Findings across the three papers are synthesized and implications related to knowledge making, the importance of multiple trans standpoints, and cautions against performativity are discussed alongside recommendations for practice and research.