Research Abstract:

Transgender (trans) women are at higher risk of sexual violence than cisgender women. Transwomen of colour face discrimination and violence on the basis of the intersection of their gender and racial identities, and for some, their sexual identities as queer women. However, there is an absence of Australian research investigating the experiences of sexual violence among transwomen of colour. In this presentation, I will discuss my research project on the meaning and lived experience of sexual violence among trans women of colour. This project aimed to increase understanding of the lived experience of being a trans woman of color living in Australia, in relation to gender transitioning and experiences of sexual violence. I will outline the methods we used to collect data as well as brief findings. I argue that we still have little knowledge about the lived experience of trans women in Vietnam. They may experience similar sexual violence as those trans women of colour in Australia or they may have means that can help them to deal with sexual violence in their everyday life. If so, this is what we need to learn. Thus, my intention of this presentation is to stimulate some ideas about what we, as researchers and practitioners, can do for trans women in Vietnam so that their lives can be better understood and their voices can be heard more in Vietnamese society.

About the Speaker:

Pranee is a medical anthropologist and has interests in the health of women, children, immigrants, refugees, older people, and transgender individuals. In terms of health issues, Pranee is very interested in issues relating to motherhood, reproductive health, sexuality, sexual health, mental health and chronic illnesses. Recently, Pranee has focused her research on sexuality and sexual health issues of Asian women, refugee/immigrant women, young people, and trans women from ethnic minority backgrounds. Pranee is a qualitative researcher and has written many textbooks on this approach. She has also written a number of textbooks on health-related issues. Some of her textbooks (Qualitative Research Methods, Research Methods in Health and Evidence-Based Practice, Social Determinants of Health, & Public Health) have been adopted widely, both in Australia and overseas. In her previous role as Professor of Public Health, she taught qualitative research methodology and the social determinants of health units within the postgraduate programs, and gender & health; culture, diversity & health; communication in health within the undergraduate programs..