Queer women's experiences in public spaces

This dissertation draws on in-depth semi-structured interviews with fourteen queer and/or trans women to explore their experiences in public spaces. While there is a large body of work that focuses on women’s safety in public, not much research has been undertaken on queer and trans-identifying women’s safety. This thesis blends insights from feminist phenomenology, cultural geography and queer theory to explore factors structuring spatial and gendered or sexed experiences. Most interview participants experienced harassment or were subject to acts of violence. Themes surrounding safety and feelings of comfort and discomfort in public spaces emerged from the interview data. I argue that claiming public comfort for queer people provides a challenge to heterosexualised public norms. I claim that social positionalities or horizons shape queer women’s experiences in public spaces, their knowledges and what is sayable about their experiences. My use of experience as an analytical category applies the insights of feminist phenomenologists who argue that experience is interpreted via these social positionalities. I argue that these experiences do not merely happen on a random basis to individuals, but rather are structured by the norms that govern public space. These norms are strongly underpinned by the model of a private/public divide best elaborated in liberal political philosophies, in which the public individual is abstracted, and difference is confined to private spaces. The thesis provides evidence to confirm that those who do not fit in with these norms are often positioned as “out of place” or as not belonging. It will illuminate the processes through which femininity is policed in public spaces and examine the effect of social expectations of gender normativity. In line with these arguments, this thesis seeks to understand how neoliberalism and its associated responsibilising ethos influence queer women’s experiences in public spaces

Review Essay of Pleasure Consuming Medicine: The Queer Politics of Drugs, by Kane Race and Queering the Public Sphere in Mexico and Brazil: Sexual Rights Movements in Emerging Democracies

This review essay compares two books on queer politics, one from an Australian context and another from a Central and South American context. It explores the notion of counterpublics and how activism has developed in these two very distinct case locales

Understanding Forced Marriage Protection Orders in the UK

This article examines the use of Forced Marriage Protection Orders (FMPOs) in England and Wales to determine which framing narratives affect the outcomes of FMPO cases. Forced marriage is marriage without the consent of one or both parties and is legally recognised as a form of domestic violence in the UK that primarily affects women and girls; FMPOs are civil injunctions designed to prevent forced marriage and protect its victims. Although approximately 200-250 FMPOs have been granted annually across Northern Ireland, England and Wales since 2014, little is known about how the legislation functions. This study used a qualitative socio-legal approach to understand the application and interpretation of the law and the broader socio-political context that shapes this process. It analysed 33 FMPO-related judgements, finding that perceptions of culture, consent, disability and victim credibility influenced how evidence was interpreted and how forced marriage was constructed. It also examined case outcomes and found that FMPOs were breached in a substantial minority of cases and that victims with disabilities faced significant barriers to justice. The study makes a number of recommendations to ensure that FMPOs can function effectively, such as providing training for judges and legal personnel and offering greater witness support

A deep wound under my heart”: Constructions of complex trauma and implications for women’s wellbeing and safety from violence

This project sought to develop a comprehensive picture of how complex trauma is being constructed in public policy and practice, and how it is viewed by women with experiences of complex trauma. The research took the form of a multi-method study that combined policy and service analysis with qualitative research with women with experiences of complex trauma and the professionals who work with them, via: a policy audit of approaches to complex trauma service documentary analysis and qualitative interviews with professionals in Queensland and New South Wales qualitative interviews with women with experiences of complex trauma in Queensland and New South Wales online workshops in which professional stakeholders and women with experiences of complex trauma provided feedback on the findings of the study. The research found that at the policy level, complex trauma overlaps with frameworks on violence against women and mental health. However, the impact of complex trauma is not comprehensively addressed by these frameworks, which contributes to the fragmented response to women in distress. It demonstrated that there is a strong need for a whole-of-government commitment to the implementation and coordination of trauma-informed practice across sectors. The report includes recommendations for policy and practice

Embodying Transgender: An Analysis of Trans Women in Online Forums

This paper discusses the way that trans women embody their transgender identity, focusing on identity questioning, gender dysphoria, clinical gatekeeping and medicalized narratives. Situated within the hermeneutics methodological approach, we adopted the unobtrusive research as our research method, where data was derived from online forums where trans women posted content about their perspectives and experiences of gender and gender transitioning. Thematic analysis method was used for data analysis. Our findings suggest that gender identity is embodied and socially negotiated. Many trans women were initially ambivalent about their transgender identity and some continued to question their desired identity throughout adulthood. When presenting to healthcare professionals many trans women reported being expected to adopt a ‘wrong body’ narrative in order to gain access to treatment and surgery for gender transitioning and affirmation. In doing so, trans women interact with significant others and health care providers, and face many challenges. These challenges must be understood so that trans women can perform self-determination practices as a way to achieve gender autonomy

Crossing the line: Lived experience of sexual violence among trans women of colour from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Australia

The project aim was to increase understanding of the lived experience of being a trans woman of colour living in Australia, in relation to gender transitioning and experiences of sexual violence. The project used a sequential mixed methods design and a feminist intersectional approach to address this aim. The research design, data collection and analysis, and outcomes from the findings were underpinned by principles of integrated knowledge translation, which included input from an advisory group and trans community stakeholders, integrating lived experience into the knowledge production and translation process. Study methods included: thirty-one interviews with trans women of colour, and follow-up interviews with 19 women which included photovoice analysis of thirty-nine online forum threads, with 480 unique posters and 950 comments, in relation to discussion of trans sexual violence a national survey exploring sexual violence and women’s responses to violence that included trans women, cisgender heterosexual women and cisgender lesbian, bisexual or queer women. The research found that trans women of colour living in Australia are more likely than other women to report having been assaulted by a stranger. The report shows that trans women of colour are subject to pervasive violence both outside and inside the home, from verbal violence—such as catcalling—to assaults. As a result, there are very few places where trans women of colour are safe from abuse. This research demonstrates that the absence of culturally competent information and knowledge about transgender experience, accompanied by misinformation, can lead to stigma, prejudice and discrimination, results in unmet health and justice needs for trans women. This can have serious consequences for trans women’s physical and psychological wellbeing. The report includes recommendations for policy and practice

Review of The Future of Feminism by Sylvia Walby

This is a review of the Future of Feminism by Sylvia Walby. This book primarily focuses on the importance of gender mainstreaming and changes that need to be made in order to make EU policy more sensitive to gendered issues

Impacts of Sexual Violence on Women's Sexual Health

This chapter provides a review of the health impacts of sexual violence on women’s lives. Sexual violence is common and widespread, and affects not only women’s mental health, but also their physical, sexual and perinatal health. Sexual violence is often viewed as a single incident, yet many women face multiple or cumulative traumas throughout the course of their lives, including sexual assault, physical violence, and child sexual abuse. Sexual violence may occur as part of an everyday social climate that acts to facilitate or condone violence against women, or may take place in conflict situations, where it is encouraged by an ideology of militarized masculinity

Review of Regulating Sex for Sale: Prostitution Policy Reform in the UK

This is a book review of Regulating Sex for Sale: Prostitution and Policy Reform in the UK by Jo Phoenix. It explores issues surrounding sex work and changes to policy