The presence of transvestites and transsexuals in universities has been growing in recent years with the adoption of quotas in public and private entities. In the field of science, there are still obstacles to be overcome, such as the stereotypes that still surround this part of society.
First transvestite doctor and university professor in Brazil, Luma Nogueira Andrade, 44, professor at Unilab (University for the International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony), in the municipality of Redenção (CE), believes that there is greater openness today, but there is still a quite challenging path of inclusion and reception.
“There is a historically systematized problem that often prevents us from being recognized and occupying a legitimate space because of the knowledge produced, which breaks traditional and conservative models”, says Luma.
Luma defended a thesis in education at UFC (Federal University of Ceará) on transvestites in schools, in 2012. The following year, he joined Unilab’s permanent staff.
“It was very difficult to be the first to occupy this space and to place the theme as relevant in the scientific field because the existing research on transvestites and transsexuals in the human sciences was initially conducted in the field of prostitution”, says the professor.
“When I start to take another look at the perspective I had experienced, and that there were transvestites and transsexuals not only in large cities, but also in rural areas, I start to translate knowledge that was not known at the time. scientific knowledge.”
Luma began his academic career in the biological sciences. The issues that emerged related to sexuality led the professor to link biological knowledge with the human sciences. One of the points raised was to demystify the idea that transvestites are directly linked to the field of prostitution.
“It couldn’t be the only place it was being disseminated in common sense and science,” says Luma.
“It was challenging to bring this theme from within the school space to the field of science, because it was not considered something scientific and relevant.”
According to the professor, there is a portion of researchers and scientists who are still conservative, who influence both the recognition of the theme and the opening of the possibility for transvestites and transsexuals to exercise their dynamics as scientists.
“When people are not aware of this new knowledge, this dynamic becomes a little complicated. It is one of the aspects that still greatly impacts the reality of transvestites and transsexuals who experience the space of science.”
The scientist still perceives a process of discrimination and distrust, in addition to the attempt to produce ‘distrust’ in the process.
“Today we find transvestites and transsexuals who have broken a little with this due to the openings produced in the course of our history, through the struggle of movements, which have a very strong influence on the struggle for public policies, for rights, for inclusion. is satisfactory.”
Another obstacle encountered by these groups in the academic world is the use of the social name, despite a resolution from the Ministry of Education, approved in 2018, which authorizes its use in enrollments at educational institutions in the country.
“There is still difficulty internally because a bureaucracy is created for the recognition of this gender identity. It was enough to recognize what the person wants”, he says.
This also occurs within the professional environment. According to Luma, there are still scientists who ignore the social name, making dialogue difficult and inhibiting people.
“Many scientists who still do not have the openness to understand the question of the philosophy of difference, cannot treat their trans colleague in the way they identify themselves, as they present themselves. They choose to bring traditional issues, not recognizing the advances that biological science has produced”, says Luma.
The presence of transvestites and transsexuals in spaces that until then were taboo promotes an epistemological change, not only in the production of knowledge, but also in people, according to the Unilab professor.
“People begin to demystify their myths and live with that body that was marginalized. It is already a learning experience, it produces a transformation.”
