EDI research showcase: Diverse genders, sexes and sexualities
The Gender Studies Team—Dr Herbary Cheung, Professor Sharon A. Bong, and Dr Joseph N. Goh—launched our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Week on 2 September with a compelling presentation of their research on diverse genders, sexes, and sexualities. The theme of the Showcase, 'Omissions and Opportunities', reflected how the issues, needs and concerns of LGBTIQA+ communities are constantly sidelined, omitted and even condemned. Yet, it is within these very dismissive and condescending attitudes that opportunities emerge to foster recognition, hope, and empowerment.
In his opening remarks, Dr Goh emphasised that LGBTIQA+ issues are embedded and reflected in the university's EDI Framework 2022-2030 values. The framework strives to create a community where everyone feels safe, supported, and respected while fostering a sense of belonging. This is particularly important as many LGBTIQA+ individuals frequently experience microaggressions, bullying, discrimination, rejection and even violence.
Dr Goh, Professor Bong, and Dr Cheung: Leading voices in the exploration of gender and sexuality at the EDI Research Showcase.
Dr Goh also highlighted the university's encouragement for all staff and students to continue creating and reimagining new ways of understanding, respecting, and appreciating LGBTIQA+ communities. This inclusion is encouraged both within the life of the university and beyond, according to each individual's capacity and pace.
Dr Cheung presented the lived experiences of sexual minority single mothers in Thailand from an intersectional perspective, highlighting the Thai government's deliberate inaction and passive-aggressive social exclusion. Professor Bong explored human sexuality through both secular and religious lenses, grounding these often contested understandings in the lived experiences of Malaysian gay Christian informants. She highlighted how these individuals develop strategies to reconcile what it means to be both queer and religious or spiritual.
Dr Goh also discussed the theoretical concepts of 'everyday precarity' and 'oblique hostility,' underscoring the often invisible forms of vulnerability that affect the lived experiences of Malaysian transgender men. He pointed to examples such as roadblocks and exclusion within church communities.
Professor Adeline joins Dr Cheung, Professor Bong, and Dr Goh, highlighting the collective effort and engagement at the EDI Research Showcase.
The presentations were followed by a robust Q&A session and a lively discussion, with around 45 participants joining from online and on-site locations worldwide.
As we continue to engage with these important themes throughout EDI Week, the insights shared by Dr Cheung, Professor Bong, and Dr Goh remind us of the ongoing need for vigilance, empathy, and proactive change. Their research not only challenges us to confront entrenched biases but also inspires us to seek out and seize opportunities for genuine inclusion and respect.
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Gender Studies Team | School of Arts and Social Sciences