Research

There is a lack of research on transgender people’s needs.  It is not within the capacity of the Scottish Transgender Alliance to undertake all the research needed to fill the gaps in knowledge. However, we are uniquely placed to be able to consult with and survey transgender community groups and individuals in Scotland in order to build up a more comprehensive picture of their needs and experiences.  Therefore, the Scottish Transgender Alliance can be of assistance to researchers wishing to undertake research in this area.  We can give guidance on priority areas for research in relation to transgender issues.  We can also help researchers to avoid causing any accidental offence or distress to transgender people.  In addition, Scottish Transgender Alliance involvement and endorsement of specific research projects can help to encourage transgender groups and individuals to feel confident about participating.  Academics or organisations interested in carrying out research with transgender people in Scotland are invited to contact us for assistance.


STA and LGBTDA Research into Transgender People's Experiences of Domestic Abuse

Our most recent research report 'Transgender People's Experiences of Domestic Abuse' is available via the Downloads box at the left of this web page. It was conducted in partnership by the Scottish Transgender Alliance and the LGBT Domestic Abuse Project in Scotland. The report was launched in Glasgow on 31st August 2010.


STA Transgender Experiences in Scotland Research

During our development pilot project we found that there was an overwhelming need for evidence about transgender people’s current experiences in Scotland.  Employers and service providers in Scotland were requesting more evidence about the issues faced by transgender people in order to better inform their Gender Equality Duty scheme decisions.  The Scottish Transgender Alliance also needed a formal evidence base to better inform the direction and priorities of our equality development work.  Therefore, the STA carried out a national survey of transgender people during the summer of 2007.  The overall aim of the research was to provide greater insight into the lives and concerns of transgender people with a particular focus on public service provision.

The survey was distributed both as a paper survey and an equivalent secure online survey during the period July 2007 to September 2007 inclusive. Distribution was via transgender support groups and transgender and LGBT email news lists and gender identity clinics.  A total of 71 valid, non-duplicate survey responses were received.  This is the largest survey of transgender people in any published Scottish-specific research to date.  It also compares favourably with “Engendered Penalties”, the UK wide research carried out by Press For Change and commissioned by The Equalities Review, which was the largest cohort of any international research, and which had a Scottish sample of 73 people.

The STA’s Research Summary Report ‘Transgender Experiences in Scotland’ is available via the Downloads box at the left of this web page.

Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2010 - Discrimination Findings

The Scottish Transgender Alliance was involved in assisting with the development of questions for the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2010. In August 2011 the Scottish Government published the resulting research report on Scottish Social Attitudes to discrimination in relation to gender, age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation and transgender. The SSA survey involved around 1,500 interviews, with respondents selected using random probability sampling to ensure that the results are robust and representative of the Scottish population.

You can read the full Scottish Social Attitudes to Discrimination research report at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/08/11112523/0 

Some of the key findings are:

• For the most part, only a minority of people in Scotland hold views that could be described as discriminatory. However, some groups - particularly Gypsy/Travellers and transgender people - appear to be the subjects of fairly widespread discriminatory attitudes.
• Discriminatory attitudes were particularly common in relation to transgender people (including transvestite people and transsexual people) in the context of personal relationships: 55% of people said they would be unhappy with someone who cross-dresses in public forming a relationship with a close family member and 49% said the same of someone who has had a sex change operation.
• For the most part, the extent to which people express discriminatory attitudes has changed little since 2006. However, there has been a further significant decline in expression of discriminatory attitudes towards gay men and lesbians. Moreover, support for same sex marriage has increased - by 2010, 61% agreed that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry.
• Some sections of society - particularly those with lower levels of educational attainment and older people - were more likely than others to feel prejudice was sometimes acceptable, and to express discriminatory views about particular groups.
• In contrast, people who knew someone from a particular group were less likely to express discriminatory views about someone from that group.
• However, it was notable that even among those who express support for getting rid of all kinds of prejudice, certain groups - particularly transgender people and Gypsy/Travellers - still appear to attract a substantial level of discrimination. 

Relationships Findings:

Respondents were asked if they would be happy or unhappy if a close relative married or formed a long-term relationship with someone from each of ten different groups. Responses varied widely depending on the group in question:

• Over half (55%) said they would be unhappy about a family member forming a relationship with someone who cross-dresses in public.
• 49% said the same of someone who has had a sex change operation.
• 37% would be unhappy about a Gypsy/Traveller joining their family circle.
• 30% would be unhappy if a family member formed a relationship with someone of the same sex.
• 23% would be unhappy about a family member forming a relationship with a Muslim, compared with 18% for a Hindu, 9% for a Jewish person and just 2% (of non-Christian respondents) for a Christian.
• 1 in 5 (21%) would be unhappy about a family member marrying someone who experiences depression from time to time.
• 1 in 10 (9%) would be unhappy about a black or Asian person joining their family circle.

In 2010, 50% said that sexual relationships between two adults of the same sex are either rarely wrong or not wrong at all, compared with 27% who thought they were always or mostly wrong. A majority (61%) agreed that gay or lesbian couples should have the right to marry one another if they want to.

Employment Findings:

Respondents were asked how suitable or unsuitable different kinds of people would be for the job of primary school teacher. Again, there were wide variations in attitudes towards people from different groups taking on this role:

• Gypsy/Travellers were most likely to be considered unsuitable - 46% said this.
• Similar proportions felt that someone who experiences depression from time to time (41%) and someone aged 70 (39%) would be unsuitable for such a position.
• 3 in 10 (31%) felt someone who has had a sex change operation would be an unsuitable primary teacher.
• 18% said the same of gay men and lesbians, 15% of a Muslim, and just 6% of a black or Asian person.

Engendered Penalties Research

Vital UK research on trans people’s experiences of inequality and discrimination was funded by The Equalities Review and carried out by Press For Change in 2006.  The report of their findings, ‘Engendered Penalties’ was written by Stephen Whittle, Lewis Turner and Maryam Al-Alami and published in February 2007.  It is available online at http://www.theequalitiesreview.org.uk/