Social Perspectives on Trans Health

Transgender people are waiting to be seen in healthcare and waiting to be recognised as the legitimate experts on their own lives and needs. This book foregrounds empirically novel and conceptually groundbreaking sociological analyses of trans health care and experiences.

It draws together sociological contributions focused on the lives and perspectives of trans people to provide a vision of more equitable and affirming health and social care. Chapters explore how gender affirmation is imagined and enacted, and how trans people creatively and collectively work to secure the care they require in countries such as Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Concluding with a commentary on trans health in the Global South by Professor Emerita Raewyn Connell, this book demonstrates the urgent need for radical sociopolitical transformation, grounded in a recognition of trans people as authorities in and on their own lives.

Social and health science students and researchers will be inspired by the critical perspectives this book provides on normative framings of gender and health, and health practitioners, policymakers and advocates will benefit from better understanding the challenges trans people face in securing safe and quality health care today. This book was originally published as a special issue of Health Sociology Review.

Professor Christy Newman (they/them) is a social researcher of health, gender, and sexuality at the Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney. As a queer/bi+ and non-binary person, they draw on both lived experience and research expertise in contributing to public discussions on diverse genders, sexualities, relationships, and families.

Dr Anthony K J Smith (he/him) is a sociologist of health specialising in HIV and LGBTQ+ communities. He is employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney. Anthony is Editorial Advisory Board member of Health Sociology Review and Associate Editor of Sexual Health.

Elizabeth Duck-Chong (she/they) is a writer, researcher and filmmaker who works across LGBTQ+ sexual health, advocacy, and education. In previous roles, Liz has set up peer-based services, and was the lead writer of transgender health and wellbeing platform TransHub. Liz is also a Board Director of the Trans Justice Project.

Dr Son Vivienne (they/them) is CEO of Transgender Victoria and has lived experience as a trans-masc non-binary, pansexual and neurodivergent parent, bee-keeper and gardener. They have a background in media production and their most recent book is ‘Queering Safe Spaces: Being Brave Beyond Binaries’.

Dr Cristyn Davies (she/her) is a Research Fellow in the Speciality of Child and Adolescent Health at the University of Sydney, Australia, and co-chair of the Research Committee of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health. Cristyn has expertise in gender and sexuality diverse young people and culturally safe healthcare.

Professor Kerry H. Robinson (she/they) is a sociologist in the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University, Australia. Kerry’s research expertise includes: LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing; gender and sexuality subjectivity in childhood; gender and sexuality-based violence; and sexuality education.

Professor Peter Aggleton (he/him) has a background in the social sciences as applied to well-being, education and health. He holds senior professorial positions at a number of universities including UCL in London, The Australian National University in Canberra, and UNSW Sydney.