dannyman.toldme.com

Pondering the Information Needs of Female-to-Male Transsexuals

I love Tom, if for no other reason, than he gets me to think about things I don’t often think about. For example, he was responding to some snark:

“Addressing the Information Needs of Female-to-Male Transsexuals.” A very straightforward title, but I’m not sure information is the most pressing need of these people.

And, even to a not-so-average guy like myself, the information needs of transsexuals does sound a bit left-field. But Tom knows better:

Her unfamiliarity with the subject shows here. My response is, yes, information is among the topmost pressing needs of transsexuals. As, arguably, one of the most invisible, marginalized, threatened, and misunderstood groups, trans folk have a whole host of information needs that sets them apart from other under-served groups. Ask the average person to define transsexual, transgendered, tranvestite, or drag king/queen, for example, and you’ll begin to understand the general lack of knowledge people have. Throw in specialized and individual concerns with respect to sexuality, psychology, legal and medical needs and you have a recipe for a complex and specialized set of information needs. From finding social support, consulting qualified therapists, to receiving professional care (endocrinologists, surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, voice coaches), transsexuals need to draw from very specific information sources (including people)

. . .

Please ask some transsexuals about their info needs –as real researchers who actually care do– instead of lumping them in with all the rest of [your patrons]. You just might find that they have legal questions about bathroom use depending on where they are in their transitions, questions about their workplace rights as they are transitioning, or their need to find endocrinologists who have experience and knowledge with cases like theirs.

He cites another commenter who explains that female-to-male transsexuals are more under-served than male-to-female transsexuals.

Uhm, anyway. Go Tom! And go Transsexuals!

And go go librarians who care about the special information needs of under-served minority groups that do in fact have special needs!