TransForming Research Practice: Collaborative Foundations in Trans and Non-Binary Inclusive Research Report

There has been an exponential increase in transgender visibility in cultural life in the UK and beyond over the last decade. As this growth has ensued so too has the production of a wave of social research focussed on trans and non-binary people’s experiences. For social researchers, policy makers and trans communities alike this is a time of great opportunity, where well positioned and thoughtfully produced research might contribute much needed knowledge to assist the equalities advances of an acutely marginalised population. However this time of opportunity brings with it very real responsibility; it is also a time where social researchers need to pay attention to developing a research culture that produces the knowledge that is most needed to positively effect change and critically, produce this knowledge in culturally sensitive ways, to avoid doing harm alongside this good.

This document is the result of the one day seminar, TransForming Research Practice that took place on 9th May 2016 (#Trans_Forming) and focussed on this important subject. The document considers the lessons have we learned through being involved in research with trans and non-binary populations to date and what thoughts we can offer to social researchers seeking to engage in trans and non-binary people in their research.