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Asia and Pacific Transgender Network Development Conference, Bangkok, 13-16 Dec 2009. Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: what does the research tell us? Sam Winter, University of Hong Kong. http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/index.htm. WHERE is the research?.
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Asia and Pacific Transgender Network Development Conference, Bangkok, 13-16 Dec 2009 Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: what does the research tell us? Sam Winter, University of Hong Kong
http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/index.htm WHERE is the research?
http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/bibliography.htm 220 items listed in the TG-ASIA bibliography NGO reports, books, chapters, research articles, research theses, encyclopedia entries, etc. …plus 42 essays + country reports on TG-ASIA itself ….and …. since 1990 only …English language only …social sciences only (not medical) .. Asia only (not the Pacific)
Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: What does the research tell us? Largepopulation
Large population: CLINIC STUDIES Iran: 1:2200 – 1:3300 (transpeople) Taiwan: 1:1030 (transpeople) Singapore: 1:2900 (transwomen) 1:8300 (transmen)
Large population: COMMUNITY ESTIMATES India: 1:600 (transwomen) Thailand: 1:300 (transwomen) Malaysia 1:75 to1:150 (transwomen)
Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: What does the research tell us? Large population Deep cultural roots and old social roles
Deep cultural roots:a place in society for transpeople Japan; China, Korea, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Aghanistan India Philippines Siberia Pacific (Okinawa, Hawai’I, Samoa, Tonga, Tuva etc) . Gender Identity Variance: Universal, Timeless. A part of human experience.
Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: What does the research tell us? Large population Deep cultural roots and old social roles Local identities and genders
Yirka-la-ul-va-irgin, Ne-uchica Khanith, Xanith Some local identities and genders (modern or traditional, affirming or offensive) Hijra, Kothi, Meti, Aravani, Khusra, Zanana Mahu, Fa’afafine Fakaleiti Pinapinaine Bakla, Transpinay Bayot, Bayog, Asog, Bantut, Binabae Apwint, Acault Waria, Banci, Bencong, Calabai, Kedie, Wandu Maknyah Kathoey Pumia, Pumae, Phet thee sam, Sao praphet song, Phuying kham phet
Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: What does the research tell us? Large population Deep cultural roots and old social roles Local identities and genders Modern stigma and prejudice
A seven country study • of prejudice: • 841 university students. • A questionnaire: • on attitudes towards • transwomen Stigma and Prejudice Transpeople, transprejudice and pathologisation: a seven-country factor analytic study. Winter,S., Chalungsooth,P., Teh,Y.K., Rojanalert,N., Maneerat, K., Wong, Y.W., Beaumont,A., Ho,M.W., Gomez,F., Macapagal,R.A. International Journal of Sexual Health, 21, pp96-118
Seven societies: a range of prejudice Transacceptance United Kingdom Philippines Thailand Hong Kong, Singapore Malaysia – United States Transprejudice
Stigma and prejudice Trans-stigma and trans-prejudice clear in all 7 societies. Some sample figures: Rejecting transwomen’sright to marry a man: 63% Malaysians 53% Filipinos Rejecting transwomen’sright to work with children 33% Malaysians 14% Filipinos 13% Thais
Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: What does the research tell us? Large population Deep cultural roots and old social roles Local identities and genders Modern stigma and prejudice Discrimination and marginalisation (social, economic and legal)
Discrimination and marginalisation • Family and school • dropping out and leaving home
Discrimination and marginalisation • Family and school • dropping out and leaving home • Wider society • employment, housing, health services, access to public spaces
Discrimination and marginalisation • Family and school • dropping out and leaving home • Wider society • employment, housing, health services, , access to public spaces • drift towards ‘ghetto’ employment
Discrimination and marginalisation • Family and school • dropping out and leaving home • Wider society • employment, housing, health services, access to public spaces • drift towards ‘ghetto’ employment • Government • documentation: ID cards,
Discrimination and marginalisation • Family and school • dropping out and leaving home • Wider society • employment, housing, health services, access to public spaces • drift towards ‘ghetto’ employment • Government • documentation: ID cards, • documentation: legal gender status
Discrimination and marginalisation Legal recognition of gender status: as reflected in the right to marry: only 7 countries in Asia? • Family and school • Dropping out and leaving home • Wider society • employment and housing • drift towards ‘ghetto’ employment • Government • documentation: ID cards, • documentation: legal gender status
Discrimination and marginalisation Legal recognition of gender status: as reflected in the right to marry: only 7 countries in Asia? • Family and school • Dropping out and leaving home • Wider society • employment and housing • drift towards ‘ghetto’ employment • Government • documentation: ID cards, • documentation: legal gender status
Discrimination and marginalisation • Family and school • dropping out and leaving home • Wider society • employment, housing, health services, access to public spaces • drift towards ‘ghetto’ employment • Government • documentation: ID cards, • documentation: legal gender status • lack of protection against discrimination • despite widespread ratification or accession to: • ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) • ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) • UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) • police harassment, violence
Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: What does the research tell us? Large population Deep cultural roots and old social roles Local identities and genders Modern stigma and prejudice Discrimination and marginalisation (social, economic and legal) Vulnerability - risky situations and risky behaviours (risks to mental and physical health)
Thailand: 22% (Winter and Vink, unpublished report) Risk: MENTAL HEALTH(% transgender women reporting ever attempting suicide) Malaysia: 14% (Teh, 2002) Philippines: 16% (Winter and Vink, unpublished report)
Risk: PHYSICAL HEALTH HIV prevalence among transgender people: some 1996-2007 studies Mandalay: 1996: 33% (?) Chiangmai 2005: 18% 2007: 17% Pakistan various: 2006-7: 2% (Larkana 14%) Bangkok 2005: 12% Lahore: 2005: 1% Cambodia various: 2005: 10% (Phnom Penh 17%) Karachi 2005: 1.5% Dhaka 2004-5: 0% Jakarta: 2002: 22% 20009: 34%? Chennai: 2001: 60% Phuket 2005: 12% Source: HIV and associated risk behaviours among men who have sex with men in the Asia and Pacific region: implications for policy and programming. UNAIDS/APCOM 2008 (working draft)
The General Picture: A chain, from STIGMA to RISK Stigma, Prejudice Much current research? Discrimination, Social/economic/legal marginalisation + exclusion Vulnerability and increased risks to mental / physical health
The General Picture: A chain, from STIGMA to RISK ? Religion? Western Medicine ? ? Stigma, Prejudice Culture? Discrimination, Social/economic/legal marginalisation + exclusion Vulnerability and increased risks to mental / physical health
Seven countries study of trans-stigma and trans-prejudice Trans-acceptance Across the study, those who BELIEVE transwomen ARE MENTALLY ILL also EXPRESS MORE STIGMA AND PREJUDICE towards them United Kingdom Philippines So ideas about ‘MENTAL ILLNESS’ PROMPT OR SUPPORT STIGMA and PREJUDICE. Thailand Hong Kong, Singapore Therefore,, it is important to push for REMOVAL of ‘Gender Identity Disorder’ AND ‘Transsexualism’ FROM THE MEDICAL MANUALS !! Malaysia – United States Trans-prejudice
Seven countries study of trans-stigma and trans-prejudice Transacceptance Across the study, those who BELIEVE transwomen HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS also REPORT MORE PREJUDICE towards them United Kingdom THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! Philippines THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! So, ideas about ‘MENTAL ILLNESS’ PROMPT OR SUPPORT PREJUDICE. Thailand Hong Kong, Singapore Therefore,, it is important to push for the REMOVAL of ‘Gender Identity Disorder’ AND ‘Transsexualism’ FROM THE MEDICAL MANUALS !! Malaysia – United States Transprejudice