Navigating social space: transgender inclusion in Guwahati city, Assam, India

This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of people with transgender identities in the urban social spaces of Guwahati, India, through an intersectional lens. The study was informed by data drawn from three key informant interviews with gender rights activists, one focus group discussion with kinnar community members, and eight in-depth interviews with persons identifying as trans women, trans men, gender fluid or non-binary. The social spaces of Guwahati, considered in this study, were categorised into public spaces and education and workplaces. Using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis , the study provided insights into the experiences of people with transgender identities in the city's different social spaces. The findings reveal their experiences are not uniform but are impacted by the intersection between an individual's gender identity and social location, including their socio-economic status and educational attainment. The work contributes to an understanding of the complex relationship between transgender and social spaces in regional cities such as Guwahati, underscoring the importance of adopting an intersectional approach when working to create inclusive and equitable environments for gender minorities in the Global South.