Sexual citizenship theory and employment discrimination among transgender-identified people

Abstract

Employment discrimination remains a consistent and widespread concern among transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC) people. A secondary data analysis was conducted using the Transgender Law Center California Economic Health Survey (n = 646). The aim of this study was to examine workplace discrimination among transgender and gender non-conforming adults. Sexual citizenship theory informed both the grouping of variables and analysis of findings. Bivariate, multivariate, and multivariable statistical tests were conducted to examine problems related to hiring and to various forms of workplace harassment. Analyses revealed that about 67% of respondents reported some kind of workplace mistreatment. Trans men (FtM) were 132.6% more likely to report discrimination in the workplace (chiefly misgendering and privacy breach), while trans women (MtF) were more likely to experience a wider variety of types of discrimination. Respondents out to their co-workers were 292.4% more likely to experiences discrimination. Those with higher income were less likely to need assistance with changing IDs and more likely to pass/blend. Those who were less likely to pass/blend faced higher unemployment. These findings underscore the many ways in which transphobia, cis gender entitlement and transmisogyny shape the lives of trans people and prohibit full citizenship participation in society vis-à-vis the workforce.