Transgender people in Asia and the Pacific: what does the research tell us? Sam Winter, University of Hong Kong Asia and Pacific Transgender Network Development Conference, Bangkok, Dec 2009

WHERE is the research?

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? Large population

Large population: CLINIC STUDIES Iran: 1:2200 – 1:3300 (transpeople) Singapore: 1:2900 (transwomen) 1:8300 (transmen) Taiwan: 1:1030 (transpeople)

Large population: COMMUNITY ESTIMATES Malaysia 1:75 to1:150 (transwomen) India: 1:600 (transwomen) Thailand: 1:300 (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).

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

Some local identities and genders (modern or traditional, affirming or offensive) Kathoey Pumia, Pumae, Phet thee sam, Sao praphet song, Phuying kham phet Mahu, Fa’afafine Fakaleiti Pinapinaine Apwint, Acault Bakla, Transpinay Bayot, Bayog, Asog, Bantut, Binabae Maknyah Waria, Banci, Bencong, Calabai, Kedie, Wandu Yirka-la-ul-va-irgin, Ne-uchica Khanith, Xanith Hijra, Kothi, Meti, Aravani, Khusra, Zanana

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

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, pp A seven country study of prejudice: 841 university students. A questionnaire: on attitudes towards transwomen

Hong Kong, Singapore Malaysia – United States United Kingdom Philippines Thailand Seven societies: a range of prejudice Transacceptance Transprejudice

Stigma and prejudice Trans-stigma and trans-prejudice clear in all 7 societies. Some sample figures: Rejecting transwomen’s right to marry a man: 63% Malaysians 53% Filipinos Rejecting transwomen’s right 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)

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

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 Legal recognition of gender status: as reflected in the right to marry: only 7 countries in Asia? Discrimination and marginalisation

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 Legal recognition of gender status: as reflected in the right to marry: only 7 countries in Asia? 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 Discrimination and marginalisation

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)

Risk: MENTAL HEALTH (% transgender women reporting ever attempting suicide) Malaysia: 14% (Teh, 2002) Philippines: 16% (Winter and Vink, unpublished report) Thailand: 22% (Winter and Vink, unpublished report)

Chiangmai 2005: 18% 2007: 17% Bangkok 2005: 12% Phuket 2005: 12% Dhaka : 0% Jakarta: 2002: 22% 20009: 34%? HIV prevalence among transgender people: some studies Karachi 2005: 1.5% Lahore: 2005: 1% Pakistan various: : 2% (Larkana 14%) Cambodia various: 2005: 10% (Phnom Penh 17%) Mandalay: 1996: 33% (?) Chennai: 2001: 60% 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) Risk: PHYSICAL HEALTH

Stigma, Prejudice Discrimination, Social/economic/legal marginalisation + exclusion Vulnerability and increased risks to mental / physical health The General Picture: A chain, from STIGMA to RISK Much current research?

Stigma, Prejudice Vulnerability and increased risks to mental / physical health ? ? ? The General Picture: A chain, from STIGMA to RISK Discrimination, Social/economic/legal marginalisation + exclusion Culture? Religion? Western Medicine

Hong Kong, Singapore Malaysia – United States United Kingdom Philippines Thailand Seven countries study of trans-stigma and trans-prejudice Trans-acceptance Trans-prejudice Across the study, those who BELIEVE transwomen ARE MENTALLY ILL also EXPRESS MORE STIGMA AND PREJUDICE towards them Therefore,, it is important to push for REMOVAL of ‘Gender Identity Disorder’ AND ‘Transsexualism’ FROM THE MEDICAL MANUALS !! So ideas about ‘MENTAL ILLNESS’ PROMPT OR SUPPORT STIGMA and PREJUDICE.

Hong Kong, Singapore Malaysia – United States United Kingdom Philippines Thailand Seven countries study of trans-stigma and trans-prejudice Transacceptance Transprejudice Across the study, those who BELIEVE transwomen HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS also REPORT MORE PREJUDICE towards them Therefore,, it is important to push for the REMOVAL of ‘Gender Identity Disorder’ AND ‘Transsexualism’ FROM THE MEDICAL MANUALS !! So, ideas about ‘MENTAL ILLNESS’ PROMPT OR SUPPORT PREJUDICE. THANK YOU !!!