International women's day 2023: Trans women's access to support services

Campaigns for International Women’s Day have long supported the goal of eradicating violence against women and girls worldwide. In 1999, 2007, 2009, and 2013 respectively, the United Nations theme for International Women’s Day centred upon the aim of tackling violence against women and girls.

Central to the aim of tackling violence against women and girls is the provision of effective, tailored support for victims and survivors. For many victims and survivors, access to specialist support services (including rape crisis centres, refuges, access to ISVAS and IDVAs, and specialist helplines) is vital to ensuring they feel safe and empowered in their recovery (Brown et al 2010; Hester and Lilley 2018). Indeed, in a study considering the effectiveness of multiple forms of support for victims/survivors of sexual violence, Brown et al (2010) found that specialist sexual violence support services and rape crisis centres produced the highest satisfaction rates amongst victims/survivors in the UK.

Whilst such services play a vital role in providing support for victims and survivors, some individuals face significant barriers when attempting to access them. The ‘typical script’ of violence, alongside the ‘public story’ surrounding interpersonal violence, are both heteronormative and cisnormative in their approaches to experiences of violence (Mortimer, Powell and Sandy 2019). In this sense, the typical script of violence serves to perpetuate stereotypes surrounding who can be a victim/survivor of violence – such stereotypes centre cisgender, heterosexual women as the common victim/survivors (Donovan and Hester 2015). As such, victims and survivors who fall outside of this typical script may encounter significant barriers to support.

Trans people, specifically, report high rates of experiences of violence; Field and Rowland’s (2020) study indicates that trans people may be at a higher risk of experiencing domestic violence and abuse than any other section of the population. Despite this, SafeLives (2018) report that trans survivors are one of the most hidden groups of domestic violence and abuse survivors, and furthermore, their access to specialist support services is often limited.

In particular, trans women and girls often face specific barriers to accessing support services. Matsuzaka and Koch (2019) note how trans women may face transphobia and discrimination when approaching services, often due to a lack of adequate training in the specific support needs of trans survivors. Rymer and Cartei (2015) also recognise the barriers to trans women accessing support – the majority of participants within their study feared being discriminated against and worried that service providers would have a general lack of knowledge surrounding trans people’s experiences of abuse. The additional fear that single-sex, women-only support services may be exclusionary of trans women is particularly concerning. Negative discourses surrounding trans women’s inclusion within women-only support may, therefore, create further barriers to trans survivors’ access to support.

Several studies indicate ways in which services can address these barriers. A Stonewall report into trans women’s inclusion in sexual violence services, for instance, highlights the importance of Government investment in training and guidance for services to promote the inclusion of trans survivors (Stonewall 2018). Furthermore, Hester et al (2012) note that inclusion strategies should be developed alongside existing services within the trans community, to ensure that trans voices are heard.

This International Women’s Day, it is imperative to ensure that all women and girls are included in initiatives aimed at ending VAWG. Below are some resources and services attempting to address the barriers trans women face to support.

Services and resources:

Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. They work with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence.

Email: help@galop.org.uk

National helpline for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence: 0800 999 5428

Loving Me are a by-and-for service supporting trans and non-binary victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence.

Email: help@lovingme.uk

Helpline number: 07902 478958

SafeLives are a UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse for everyone.

https://safelives.org.uk/practice_blog/making-domestic-abuse-services-accessible-lgbt-people

References:

Brown, J., Horvath, M., Kelly, L. and Westmarland, N., 2010. Connections and disconnections: assessing evidence, knowledge and practice in responses to rape. . London: Government Equalities Office.

Donovan, C. and Hester, M., 2015. Domestic violence and sexuality: what's love got to do with it?. Bristol University Press.

Field, M. and Rowlands, J., 2020. Commissioning for Inclusion: Delivering services for LGBT+ survivors of domestic abuse. Galop, LGBT+ anti-violence charity, London, UK.

Hester, M. and Lilley, S.J., 2018. More than support to court: Rape victims and specialist sexual violence services. International review of victimology, 24(3), pp.313-328.

Hester, M., Williamson, E., Regan, L., Coulter, M., Chantler, K., Gangoli, G., Davenport, R. and Green, L., 2012. Exploring the service and support needs of male, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered and black and other minority ethnic victims of domestic and sexual violence. Bristol: University of Bristol.

Matsuzaka, S. & Koch, D.E., 2019. Trans Feminine Sexual Violence Experiences: The Intersection of Transphobia and Misogyny. Affilia-Journal Of Women And Social Work, 34(1), pp.28–47.

Modleski, T., 2014. Feminism without women: Culture and criticism in a" postfeminist" age. Routledge.

Mortimer, S., Powell, A. and Sandy, L., 2019. ‘Typical scripts’ and their silences: exploring myths about sexual violence and LGBTQ people from the perspectives of support workers. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 31(3), pp.333-348.

Rymer, S. & Cartei, V., 2015. Supporting transgender survivors of sexual violence: learning from users' experiences. Critical and Radical Social Work, 3(1), pp.155–164.

Safelives.org.uk., 2018. Barriers to accessing services for LGBT+ victims and survivors | Safelives. [online] Available at: <https://safelives.org.uk/practice_blog/barriers-accessing-services-lgbt-victims-and-survivors> [Accessed 26 August 2021].

Stonewall & nfpSynergy., 2018. Supporting trans women in domestic and sexual violence services |Stonewall. Available at: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/supporting-trans-women-domestic-and-sexual-violence-services> [Accessed 07 March 2023].