3123 - Navigating Academia as a Trans/Nonbinary Scholar

Session Submission Type: Workshop

Description

In this workshop, trans and nonbinary scholars will discuss ways to navigate being trans and nonbinary as a professor, on the job market, and as a graduate student. Some topics that panelists might address include: dealing with discrimination in interviews; how to prepare for campus visits; disclosure of trans/nonbinary status; the challenges of engaging in LGBTQ research as a trans or nonbinary scholar; discussing trans/nonbinary academic work; discussion of trans inclusion in benefits and nondiscrimination policies.

Our panel consists of scholars at various stages of their careers who will speak to a variety of strategies for navigating academia at different career milestones, ensuring that the workshop is useful to a variety of sociologists. The panel will be racially/ethnically diverse to ensure that our workshop is not only relevant to LGBTQ sociologists who study LGBTQ issues, but also LGBTQ (and non-LGBTQ) scholars whose research interests go beyond the scope of LGBTQ studies. We also want to account for the ways that trans and nonbinary sociologists of color navigate academia differently.

This workshop is ideal for the 2018 Annual Meeting because it is important to consider the challenges that trans and nonbinary scholars may face in academic spaces under the Trump Administration, at both the federal and state-level. Our panelists will reflect upon strategies to be utilized and potential departmental or disciplinary practices to be implemented that will provide more inclusive and equitable graduate school, job market, and career experiences for trans and nonbinary scholars. By addressing these issues, this workshop will provide insight and hopefully future steps that can be taken to improve the academic lives of trans and nonbinary sociologists.

Description

The Sociologists’ LGBTQ Caucus would like to submit a workshop proposal for the 2018 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia entitled “Navigating Academia as a Trans/Nonbinary Scholar.” In this workshop, trans and nonbinary scholars will discuss to navigate being trans and nonbinary on the job market and as a graduate student. Some topics that panelists might address include: dealing with discrimination in interviews; how to prepare for campus visits; disclosure of trans/nonbinary status; the challenges of engaging in LGBTQ research as a trans or nonbinary scholar; discussing trans/nonbinary academic work; discussion of trans inclusion in benefits and nondiscrimination policies.

Our panel will consist of scholars at various stages of their careers (i.e., pre- and posttenure faculty, as well as graduate students); this will enable the panel to speak to a variety of strategies for navigating academia at different career milestones and consequently ensure that the workshop is useful to a variety of sociologists. The panel will be racially and ethnically diverse as an intentional attempt to ensure that our workshop is not only relevant to LGBTQ sociologists who study LGBTQ issues, but also LGBTQ (and non-LGBTQ) scholars whose research interests go beyond the scope of LGBTQ studies. We also want to account for the ways that trans and nonbinary sociologists of color navigate academia differently. No affiliation with the Caucus will be
required to attend this workshop in the spirit of building bridges with other sections and increasing Caucus visibility within ASA.

Sub Unit

• Workshops / Professional Development Workshop

Session Organizer

• Shantel Gabrieal Buggs, Florida State University

Panelists

• Anima Adjepong, SImmons College

• Alex Hanna, University of Toronto

• Tey Meadow, Columbia University

• Michelle Esther O'Brien, New York University