BLOG VII: Respond to the 2016-2017 Siena Student Climate Survey

 

To be frank, I was not surprised by the 2016-2017 Siena Student Climate Survey that reported that 100% of Siena transgender  students had experienced bias/harassment/discrimination at our college.  Racism, transphobia, homophobia, and sexism are implicitly embedded within the institutions in our society. Many people like to think that harassment and discrimination are not prevalent in our society, this may be because it is easier to solve explicit problems than implicit problems. For instance,  in regard to trans issues there is a general understanding that discrimination against a trans person is unacceptable. Discrimination against trans people is an explicit problem.  The intentions and negative effects of discrimination are clear. It is, however, important to understand that  the trans community experiences  implicit problems, and in many cases these can cause more harm. Implicit biases and discrimination against the trans community are imbedded in our institutions and culture. To make this idea easier to understand, think of the concept of the “low hanging fruit”.  Low hanging fruits are easier to harvest because they are hanging at a low and visible position on a tree. Because we are occupied with the lower hanging fruit, it is difficult for us to see the things that are hidden within the tree, there are still fruits there.  The lower hanging fruit symbolizes explicit problems in the trans community, an example of this being physically attacked or sexually assaulted because of your gender identity. The fruits within the tree symbolizes implicit problems in the trans community, an example of this is the police frequently assuming that trans people, specifically trans woman or color, are sex workers, therefore, resulting in mistreatment.  ( National Center for Transgender Equality, 2015).  

My point with the difference between implicit and explicit problems is that although we like to think that we live in a society where it is not acceptable to discriminate against someone explicitly, there is implicit  discrimination imbedded in our institutions.  With respect to our community, discrimination on campus is  implicit because although the school may seem welcoming, the student body may project behaviours that are discriminatory and prejudice against the trans community. Also any lack of accommodations or allyship may be an act of implicit discrimination. While I am aware that there is  a lot we can do as a college to make marginalized people feel safe, I liked to think our campus community is welcoming and compassionate.  However, with an understanding of systemic issues, it was natural for me to feel sadness and disappointment upon reading the results of the 2016-2017 Siena Student Climate Survey.  I think not being part of the majority or the status quo is definitely very difficult and traumatizing, especially if you are being harassed and discriminated against. Speaking from experience as a woman of color, there are times when you feel like you do not fit in just because you are different. I can only imagine what it feels like to be a transgender student facing harassment and discrimination.  In our current lifetime, social institutions  are subjected to implicit biases.  The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Executive Summary by The National Center for Transgender Equality highlights how these biases impact trans people.  One of the most shocking reports were the harmful effects on physical and mental health. Respondents of the survey oftentimes found it difficult to get health care services and experienced  psychological distress and suicide thoughts sometime in their life. The report also highlighted difficulties in obtaining legal identity documents, severe economic hardships and instability; such as unemployment and homelessness. These are implicit institutional issues that impede trans people from equal opportunities. The extent as to how implicitly institutional  these problems are is why I was not surprised that transgender students feel discriminated against in our academic institution. 

I think one way to help other students  understand the disparities that trans people face is by incorporating trans issues and diplomacy for first year students in their first year seminar classes. Emphasizing the importance of being a compassionate and human rights activist is part of our Franciscan values. Learning about these issues will provide new students with a foundation of understanding in the trans community. As of now, the only people that are actively aware of these issues, are people within the trans community, or those who have gone out of their way to educate themselves ( like taking a course in Philosophy of gender).  Knowledge is one of the most important things necessary to coexist, and education brings knowledge. Academic institutions are not only aimed to educate students, but also to create better and kinder  humans. 

 

Photo Source: Bioneers