Violence against Trans* Women within Family and Work in Sweden: A Qualitative Analysis of Socio-Legal Status

Gender equality policy in Sweden is achieved due to decades of feminist movements in struggling for recognition of women’s status as full citizens in society.

Thus, laws and policies have been changed to reduce violence and protect women against all forms of violence in all areas of life such as family, employment, education, and health.

Nevertheless, the struggle for gender equality continues today to problematize structural inequalities that subordinate people on the grounds of their gender, sexuality, race, class, religion, age and disability.

For example, because of robust activism combined with strong gender equality policy in Sweden, forced sterilisation of trans* people was removed from Gender Recognition Act in 2013.This project focuses on trans* women who experience violence and inequality due to misrecognition of their womanhood and their needs within law and society.

It argues that trans* women are often subordinated and not considered as full citizens in Swedish society, because they are not recognized as women.

Therefore, various forms of violence are visited upon them, forms of violence that are not even addressed by law.By interviewing trans*women and trans* activists, this project aims to understand how trans* women experience their status and needs being (mis)recognized by law and society and how such (mis)recognition affects their experience of violence within family and labor market.In collaboration with trans* activist groups and in engagement with the state representative, the project endeavors to draft two policy recommendations with regards to reduction of violence against trans* women in family; partnership and parenthood, and in labour market; employment.The project is feasible.

Contacts are already established.

Thereby, the results of the project will be used to draft policy recommendations that will be discussed with authorities such as the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, the Swedish Women’s Lobby, and the members of the Parliament.