There’s so much to do to make the FE sector a welcoming place to study and work for all, and so, with support from the Scottish Funding Council, we undertook the TransEDU research to examine the experiences of trans, non-binary and gender-diverse applicants, students and staff in Scotland’s colleges and universities.
We found that 86 per cent of students and staff with a trans or gender-diverse status had encountered barriers to their work or study, and nearly half of the college student respondents had withdrawn from their course before completion.
Challenges included concerns about group work and peer relations, instances of verbal abuse and hostility, and inflexible administrative processes around titles, name changes, identification documents and exam certificates.
Students described a gnawing fear before every class, suspecting that the registers would again include their previous name. Some carefully planned their route through campus to avoid areas that were unsafe, or to reach one of the few gender-neutral toilet facilities.
For staff, there were instances of bullying and harassment from colleagues and students, within broader cultures of discrimination and trans- and homophobias. Others identified issues related to job security, career progression and securing leave to access gender-affirming healthcare.
For most, a major challenge was the general lack of understanding around trans experience and gender diversity.
Colleagues and line managers might offer support, but in the absence of specific policies and thorough guidance, this was generally reactive and ad hoc. Respondents said that it often fell to the individual to educate others and to negotiate the support they are legally entitled to.
So how can we, as colleges and individuals, demonstrate our support?
• Institutions should designate a “named contact” within student services or HR, to act as an approachable first point of contact for trans students and staff.
• Giving meaningful training, promoting allies’ programmes and ensuring that there are senior champions who can help, too.
Add pronouns to email signatures, for example she/her; he/him; they/their, and be respectful of how people wish to be addressed.
• Commit to educate ourselves and colleagues about gender diversity, and seek videos, films, books and articles by trans and non-binary creators.
• Simply displaying posters about gender diversity around campus can raise awareness and visibility.
College leaders, staff at all levels and student representatives can become allies of their gender-diverse colleagues.
It cannot be left to those individuals with lived experience to champion their cause and to educate others.
Dr Stephanie Mckendry is widening access manager at the University of Strathclyde and Dr Matson Lawrence is a research associate at the university
