Trans Research Review

Equality and Human Rights Commission Research report 27 Trans research review Martin Mitchell and Charlie Howarth NatCen TRANS RESEARCH REVIEW Martin Mitchell Charlie Howarth © Equality and Human Rights Commission 2009 First published Autumn 2009 ISBN 978 1 84206 160 2 Equality and Human Rights Commission Research Report Series The Equality and Human Rights Commission Research Report Series publishes research carried out for the Commission by commissioned researchers. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commission. The Commission is publishing the report as a contribution to discussion and debate. Please contact the Research Team for further information about other Equality and Human Rights Commission research reports, or visit our website: Research Team Equality and Human Rights Commission Arndale House Arndale Centre Manchester M4 3AQ Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0161 829 8500 Website: [email protected] You can download a copy of this report as a PDF from our website: www.equalityhumanrights.com/researchreports If you require this publication in an alternative format, please contact the Communications Team to discuss your needs at: [email protected] CONTENTS GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................ i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................... iv 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ...........................................................1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................1 1.2 The context of the review ........................................................................1 1.3 Conduct of the review .............................................................................3 1.4 Legislation and policy .............................................................................3 1.5 Legislation ..............................................................................................4 1.5.1 Sex Discrimination Act (1975) and Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations (1999) ............................. 4 1.5.2 Gender Recognition Act (2004) (GRA) ...................................... 5 1.5.3 Goods and Services Directive (2004/113/EC) and the Sex Discrimination (Amendment of Legislation) Regulations 2008 .......................................................................6 1.5.4 Gender Equality Duty .................................................................7 1.5.5 The Civil Partnership Act (2004) ................................................7 1.5.6 Other legislation .........................................................................7 1.5.7 Future legislation ........................................................................8 1.6 Policy ...................................................................................................8 1.7 Structure of the report .............................................................................9 2 METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES ........................................................................10 2.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................10 2.2 Defining the trans population ................................................................ 10 2.2.1 Trans equality is separate from sexual orientation ................... 10 2.2.2 Trans and transgender ............................................................. 12 2.2.3 Transsexual ............................................................................. 12 2.2.4 Gender dysphoria ....................................................................13 2.2.5 Transvestite or 'cross-dresser' ................................................. 14 2.2.6 Male-to-Female (MtF) and Female-to-Male (FtM) .................... 14 2.2.7 Intersex or polygendered ......................................................... 14 2.2.8 Agreeing a definition of the trans population ............................ 15 2.2.9 Inclusive definitions of the trans population ............................. 15 2.2.10 Respondents’ identification as trans ........................................ 16 2.2.11 Age ..........................................................................................16 2.2.12 Disclosure ................................................................................17 2.2.13 Diversity and intersectionality in the trans population .............. 18 2.3 Sampling the trans population for research .......................................... 19 2.3.1 Recruitment from clinical records ............................................. 21 2.3.2 Recruitment in trans clubs, pubs and events ........................... 21 2.3.3 Recruitment through trans organisations and groups .............. 21 2.3.4 Recruitment on the Internet ..................................................... 22 2.4 Measuring the trans population – size of the population ....................... 23 2.4.1 Absence of official estimates ................................................... 23 2.4.2 Asking questions on trans status or gender identity ................. 24 2.4.3 Working estimates ................................................................... 26 2.5 Issues related to types of research with trans people ........................... 28 2.5.1 Large-scale research ............................................................... 28 2.5.2 Campaigning research ............................................................. 30 2.5.3 Non-UK research ..................................................................... 30 2.5.4 General LGBT research ........................................................... 31 2.5.5 Best practice ............................................................................31 2.5.6 Legal position ........................................................................... 32 2.6 Research gaps .....................................................................................32 2.7 Summary ..............................................................................................32 3 ATTITUDES TOWARDS TRANS PEOPLE .................................................... 34 3.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................34 3.2 Non-trans people’s attitudes towards trans people ............................... 34 3.3 Causes of transphobia ..........................................................................35 3.4 Research gaps .....................................................................................35 3.5 Summary – Attitudes towards trans people .......................................... 36 4 CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM .......................................... 37 4.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................37 4.2 Incidence of transphobic hate crime ..................................................... 37 4.3 Factors linked to hate crime .................................................................. 38 4.4 Reporting hate crime to the police ........................................................ 38 4.5 Trans people in prisons ........................................................................ 39 4.6 Research gaps .....................................................................................40 4.7 Summary – Crime and the criminal justice system ............................... 40 5 HOUSING NEEDS AND HOMELESSNESS ................................................... 41 5.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................41 5.2 Housing needs ......................................................................................41 5.3 Access to housing services .................................................................. 41 5.4 Best practice and recommendations .................................................... 42 5.5 Research gaps .....................................................................................42 5.6 Summary – Housing .............................................................................42 6 EDUCATION .................................................................................................44 6.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................44 6.2 Experiences of discrimination ............................................................... 44 6.3 Gender identities in schools .................................................................. 44 6.4 Education levels ................................................................................... 46 6.5 Best practice and recommendations .................................................... 46 6.6 Research gaps .....................................................................................46 6.7 Summary – Education ..........................................................................47 7 ECONOMIC STATUS AND EMPLOYMENT ................................................... 48 7.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................48 7.2 Economic status ...................................................................................48

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