A Trans and Queer Discursive Approach to Gender Diversity and Misgendering in the Transgender and Gender Diverse Population: Queering a Study for ICD-11

Producing knowledge about transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals is a core public health strategy challenge. Yet several systemic limitations arise, notably the exclusion or exploitation of TGD individuals by research systems reproducing systemic discrimination by embedding social norms as self-evident facts of nature. This is particularly worrying in biomedical research, and contributes to the invisibilization of participants’ gender diversity. This trans research illustrates methodological challenges through queering an earlier study by focusing on misgendering as a discursive element. We based our work on discursive materials reported by TGD participants in an ICD-11 study on gender incongruence. We used network analyses to illustrate potential differences between declared gender identity and discourse practices. Our results highlight a gap between declared gender identity and discourse practices, bringing the number of non-binary participants in the sample from 15 (20.8%) to 36 (50.0%). Moreover, misgendering and the use of derogatory terms are more common toward gender-diverse individuals. Sexual orientation shows a similar trend. This study reveals the reproduction of social norms within research processes and medical knowledge, as well as how, from an individual perspective, their non-compliance seems to be a key factor in TGD individuals’ experience. By providing this simple methodological example, we hope to promote better integration of gender and its various dimensions into biomedical and public health research.