Fully-funded PhD Studentship: Doing/undoing trans sexualities: experiences of sex, sexualities and relationships of people who identify as transgender

University of Brighton Doctoral College

 University of Brighton

Fully-funded PhD Studentship: Doing/undoing trans sexualities: experiences of sex, sexualities and relationships of people who identify as transgender
Themes: transgender, sexuality, relationships, creative methodologies
Location: Falmer, Brighton
College: College of Social Sciences
Research group: Transforming Sexuality and Gender Research
Deadline: Wednesday 9 March, 23:59
Project in brief
An exciting opportunity to develop an original project that explores experiences of sex, sexualities and relationships with people who identify as transgender. The project will advance understandings of trans experiences that are often formed in the context of marginalisation, exclusion and stigmatisation, and in relation to dominant and normative body practices and embodiments. The project fits within an established research cluster that generates research to transform norms, policies and practices related to sexuality and gender so that marginalised individuals can construct liveable lives.
Project supervisors
Lead: Dr Hannah Frith
Second: Dr Katherine Johnson
Third: Dr Laetitia Zeeman
Project in detail
Critical analyses of sexuality point to the complex ways that assumptions about sexuality often entwine with socio-cultural norms, values and expectations of gendered bodies in ways which serve to marginalise ‘others’. Gender, sexuality and bodies are expected to line up, reinforcing normative notions of male/masculine, female/feminine and heterosexuality. For example, the medicalization of sexuality promoted understandings of homosexuality and lesbianism in relation to gender variant presentations (eg. ‘sissy boys’ and ‘mannish women’), or the positioning of heterosexuality as a clinical requirement for diagnosis by those presenting with gender dysphoria until the early 1990s. While these are recognisable as the discursive conditions for contemporary understandings of the relationship between gender and sexuality, within this approach, transgenderism has been criticised as a ‘socio-medico intervention’ to regulate these normative ideals.
In contrast, demands that sexuality and gender be seen as separate categories are often an important reference point in trans narratives. Initially to dispel assumptions that gender dysphoria was a form of sexual pathology, but also as indicating the need to attend to greater variety in sexual identifications amongst trans people. There is now acceptance that for some trans people sexual desire reshapes during the process of gender transition, while for others it stays the same. Both of these processes can lead to changes in sexuality identity but little is known about the relationship between sexuality, desire and new forms of gender embodiment. Extant research suggests that few relationships survive gender transition and it is important to acknowledge the role relationships can play in reinforcing/undoing processes of gender recognition, maintaining/undoing a secure sense of gendered self for the trans person, and ultimately reducing or exacerbating feelings of isolation, loss and rejection that gender transition can entail.
We seek innovative and creative proposals that address the following conditions:
Mark a shift away from medicalized accounts of trans sexuality with their focus on medical function, and health risks, and are instead informed by feminist, queer, affect and psychosocial theories to empirically explore the ways in which sexualities (including sexual activities, affects, desires, practices, risks, intimacies and identities) are negotiated, experienced and mediated by trans people as individuals, in partnerships and in relation to broader communities.
Draw on creative methodologies (such as sensory/sensual ethnography, visualised life stories, photo elicitation, arts-based methods and digital story-telling), and work in partnership with local communities, to implement qualitative phenomenological research exploring sexual identities, embodiments, desires and practices and how these are (or are not) transformed and re-negotiated in the context of gender transition.
Seek to engage with the materiality and corporeality of sexuality and consider the diverse configurations of self, partnerships and sexualities: from those who are monogamous or polyamorous; who identify as gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, queer; kink-identified or not; skoliosexual, pansexual or asexual.
Seek to explore sexual fluidity and stability in the lives of trans people, and their partners, and the complex ways in which genders and sexual identities intersect.
Be mindful of the different ways in which individuals may engage in the processes of transition, from changing names, adopting a gendered appearance, re-conceptualising body parts to reassignment surgery and the implications of this for negotiating identities shaped by gender and sexuality, especially related to embodiments.
Generate findings that will inform policy and practice related to supporting trans individuals, their partners and families through the process of gender transition.
Entry requirements
Academic entry requirements
Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree and desirably hold or expect to achieve excellent grades in a masters degree, in a relevant subject from a UK university or comparable qualifications from another recognised university.
Applicants are also required to submit a 1,000 word research proposal.
English language entry requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English, must have successfully completed a Secure English language Test (SELT) in the last two years. Applicants who have obtained or are studying for a UK degree may apply without a SELT. However, the university may request a SELT is taken as part of any award made.
English language IELTS requirements are 6.5 overall and minimum 6.0 for writing.
If you have an English language qualification other than IELTS, please contact us to see if you are eligible to apply for a studentship. The UK Home Office will not accept TOEFL tests as proof of meeting the English language requirements.
Eligibility
Current doctoral students and those already in possession of a doctorate are not eligible to apply.
Funding
This studentship is funded by University of Brighton and is worth at least £60,300 over three years, subject to satisfactory progress.
UK and EU students
For UK and EU students this comprises £4,620 per year (for three years) to cover annual tuition fees and a contribution towards living expenses of £15,480 per year (for three years).
International students
For suitable students from outside of the UK/EU the funding will comprise £14,400 per year (for three years) to cover annual international tuition fees and a contribution towards living expenses of £6,170 per year (for three years).
The value of the studentship will be raised to take into account any rise in annual tuition fees.
For more details please see here

Funding information

Funding applies to:

Open to applicants from a range of countries

Contacts and how to apply

Administrative contact and how to apply:

If you have questions about making an application, funding or entry requirements for this project, get in touch with Fiona at the Doctoral College.
01273 641065
f.j.sutton@brighton.ac.uk

Application deadline:

9 March 2016