The field of forensic anthropology plays a crucial role in identifying individuals based on skeletal remains. However, traditional methods often fall short when it comes to accurately identifying transgender individuals. A recent study titled "Misgendering a transgender woman using FORDISC 3.1: A case study" sheds light on this issue and suggests ways practitioners can improve their skills to address these challenges.
The Case of Patty: A Transgender Woman
The study centers around Patty, a 38-year-old European trans woman who underwent extensive gender-affirming medical care, including Facial Feminization Surgeries (FFS) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Despite these interventions, the FORDISC 3.1 software classified her as male based on her craniometric measurements. This misclassification highlights the limitations of relying solely on traditional anthropometric methods.
The Need for a Biocultural Approach
To address these limitations, forensic anthropologists are encouraged to adopt a biocultural approach. This involves considering not only the biological aspects of an individual but also their cultural and social identities. By doing so, practitioners can better understand the lived experiences of marginalized individuals, including transgender people.
- Incorporating Sociocultural Indicators: Forensic anthropologists should consider evidence of gender-affirming surgeries and other sociocultural indicators such as clothing, jewelry, tattoos, and personal effects.
- Building a Biocultural Profile: This approach involves separating assigned sex at birth (ASAB) from gender identity and considering them as distinct aspects of a person's identity.
- Acknowledging Structural Vulnerabilities: Understanding the structural vulnerabilities faced by marginalized groups can provide insight into their lived experiences and aid in accurate identification.
Challenges and Opportunities
The study emphasizes that traditional methods like FORDISC 3.1 may not be sufficient for identifying transgender individuals due to their reliance on binary classifications. Trans women, particularly those who have undergone gender-affirming surgeries, are at risk of being misclassified or unidentified.
Forensic anthropologists must challenge antiquated perspectives of rigid sex or gender binaries. By placing remains into dichotomous ASAB categories, they risk ignoring the continuum on which skeletal features exist and misrepresenting the lived experiences of decedents.
Encouraging Further Research
The study calls for further research into developing more inclusive methodologies that account for human variation beyond binary classifications. Practitioners are encouraged to explore new techniques that integrate sociocultural contexts into forensic analyses.
By adopting a holistic lens, forensic anthropologists can lessen the violence perpetuated toward marginalized groups in both life and death and better identify individuals like Patty.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Misgendering a transgender woman using FORDISC 3.1: A case study.
