Abstract:
Creating transgender awareness in higher education institutions and guiding University
student counsellors is very much needed. Focusing on this, this study seeks insights into
the general perspective of the lives, experiences and vulnerabilities of female-to-male
transgender people. There has been very little research explored on the lived experiences
of transgender students in higher education in teaching and learning environment, Sri
Lanka. To fill this gap, current study provides an in-depth understanding of transgender
student’s anxieties that regulates the perceptions of others in accordance with transgender
people. Comprehensive lived experiences have been collected through trans’ own
experiences. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the respondent
shared his eight years buried life experiences with the researchers. The following
insights were generated through researchers’ interpretation such as; seeking a secured
environment, start to educate yourself about transgender, choose to behave mentally
or physically, I was born but when will I live?. These themes suggest gender identity,
and particularly trans identities and experiences in higher education curricula. Findings
revealed that the education and training should be given to students, academics and
others to help them better understand gender varieties. Thus, this study provides deeper
understanding and awareness regarding the vulnerability of transgender students in
higher education and how to create a safe environment to transgender people.
