Nada Chaiyajit - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Nada Chaiyajit

Research paper thumbnail of Intersections of LGBTI Exclusion and Discrimination in Thailand: the Role of Socio-Economic Status

Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2018

Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people... more Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Thailand experience discrimination and exclusion based on their non-normative sexes, genders, and/or sexualities. However, such studies have insufficiently analyzed how intersecting characteristics shape these experiences. We conducted 19 life story interviews with LGBTI individuals in Thailand to track how exclusion and discrimination are influenced by their socioeconomic status (SES). The study documented cases of discrimination and exclusion in education, employment, health care and insurance, housing, and financial institutions. Experiences of exclusion and discrimination were not universal but were profoundly shaped by an individual's SES. Participants with more economic and social capital encountered less anti-LGBTI exclusion and discrimination and had greater protective factors to negotiate any discriminatory experiences they encountered. Our findings point to the necessity of considering the role of SES in policy advocacy, development efforts, and future research on LGBTI issues in Thailand.

Research paper thumbnail of TLBz Sexpert! Providing online HIV prevention counseling to Thailand's transgender community to discuss the social, behavioural, legal and human rights factors influencing personal HIV risk

Research paper thumbnail of Sexperts! Disrupting injustice with digital community-led HIV

In addition to growing epidemics of HIV among men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders i... more In addition to growing epidemics of HIV among men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders in Thailand, a low awareness of how to access justice increases their vulnerability. This paper presents unique case studies of how two community-based and led organisations used social networking and instant messaging to address this problem. It describes and analyses how online peer-based HIV education and prevention was integrated with access to justice through free university-based clinical legal education (CLE). It argues that redesigning HIV prevention and education through digital technologies with marginalised gay men, other men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders is a sustainable community-based and led approach. Furthermore digital media offer strategic opportunities to overcome ongoing political violence alongside entrenched stigma and discrimination that disrupt denial of access to justice for populations disproportionately at risk of HIV.

Research paper thumbnail of Producing & integrating animations into online outreach to promote social justice, equity and access to HIV/AIDS prevention

While many transgenders, or 'lady-boys', have a high visibility and work in professions s... more While many transgenders, or 'lady-boys', have a high visibility and work in professions such as hairdressing, cabaret shows, and Thailand's sex industry, they still remain marginalised and stigmatised in Thailand. Drawing on data from a larger research study, we learned that trarisgenders face unique issues in regards to their legal rights and risk to HIV / AIDS. Transgenders are regularly victims of sex crimes and due to stigma and fear; often do not report these crimes to police. Most transgenders do not know their legal or human rights under Thai law, where to go for help when their rights are violated, or about the availability of Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after a sexual assault. We describe working with transgenders, through a unique international collaboration, to produce a context-specific animated film that supports their struggle for social justice and the protection of their human rights. The animation is a new, strategic screen-based resource that aims to empower transgenders in overcoming barriers that deny them equitable access to participation in social, economic, political and cultural relations in their local community. The animation is currently being distributed through peer outreach on mobile phones and MP3 players among the different transgender communities in Chiang Mai. Looking forward, we describe our plans to integrate the animations into a chatroom-based peer-education programme to promote equity, social justice and how to negotiate condom use to minimise the transmission of HIV among the target population.

Research paper thumbnail of TLBz Sexperts! Using information and technology to get to zero HIV infections among Thai transgender people

Digital Culture and Education, 2014

Currently, access to sexual health information that serves the needs of transgender individuals i... more Currently, access to sexual health information that serves the needs of transgender individuals is nonexistent or severely limited. With "Getting to Zero" as the official UNAIDS campaign to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, this lack of access to information coupled with immense stigma and discrimination among transgender individuals will not allow UNAIDS nor the world to achieve such impressive goals. This paper identifies gaps and challenges in HIV services for transgender individuals living in Thailand. Among other recommendations, the paper recognises the need for the 'de-coupling' of transgender services from those serving men who have sex with men. The paper describes an innovative communication technology project, the Thailadyboyz (TLBz) Sexperts! Program, a low-cost, transgender-led, community project offering accurate online transgender-specific sexual health information, social support and legal advice. The paper describes how the TLBz Sexperts! Program exemplifies the power of online communities and social networking platforms in reaching transgender individuals, especially when transgender community members lead in the design, development and implementation of such resources.

Research paper thumbnail of Intersections of LGBTI Exclusion and Discrimination in Thailand: the Role of Socio-Economic Status

Sexuality Research & Social Policy, 2019

Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people... more Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Thailand experience discrimination and exclusion based on their non-normative sexes, genders, and/or sexualities. However, such studies have insufficiently analyzed how intersecting characteristics shape these experiences. We conducted 19 life story interviews withLGBTI individuals in Thailand to track how exclusion and discrimination are influenced by their socio-economic status (SES).The study documented cases of discrimination and exclusion in education, employment, health care and insurance, housing, and financial institutions. Experiences of exclusion and discrimination were not universal but were profoundly shaped by an individual’s SES. Participants with more economic and social capital encountered less anti-LGBTI exclusion and discrimination and had greater protective factors to negotiate any discriminatory experiences they encountered. Our findings point to the necessity of considering the role of SES in policy advocacy, development efforts, and future research on LGBTI issues in Thailand.

Research paper thumbnail of Intersections of LGBTI Exclusion and Discrimination in Thailand: the Role of Socio-Economic Status

Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2018

Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people... more Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Thailand experience discrimination and exclusion based on their non-normative sexes, genders, and/or sexualities. However, such studies have insufficiently analyzed how intersecting characteristics shape these experiences. We conducted 19 life story interviews with LGBTI individuals in Thailand to track how exclusion and discrimination are influenced by their socioeconomic status (SES). The study documented cases of discrimination and exclusion in education, employment, health care and insurance, housing, and financial institutions. Experiences of exclusion and discrimination were not universal but were profoundly shaped by an individual's SES. Participants with more economic and social capital encountered less anti-LGBTI exclusion and discrimination and had greater protective factors to negotiate any discriminatory experiences they encountered. Our findings point to the necessity of considering the role of SES in policy advocacy, development efforts, and future research on LGBTI issues in Thailand.

Research paper thumbnail of TLBz Sexpert! Providing online HIV prevention counseling to Thailand's transgender community to discuss the social, behavioural, legal and human rights factors influencing personal HIV risk

Research paper thumbnail of Sexperts! Disrupting injustice with digital community-led HIV

In addition to growing epidemics of HIV among men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders i... more In addition to growing epidemics of HIV among men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders in Thailand, a low awareness of how to access justice increases their vulnerability. This paper presents unique case studies of how two community-based and led organisations used social networking and instant messaging to address this problem. It describes and analyses how online peer-based HIV education and prevention was integrated with access to justice through free university-based clinical legal education (CLE). It argues that redesigning HIV prevention and education through digital technologies with marginalised gay men, other men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgenders is a sustainable community-based and led approach. Furthermore digital media offer strategic opportunities to overcome ongoing political violence alongside entrenched stigma and discrimination that disrupt denial of access to justice for populations disproportionately at risk of HIV.

Research paper thumbnail of Producing & integrating animations into online outreach to promote social justice, equity and access to HIV/AIDS prevention

While many transgenders, or 'lady-boys', have a high visibility and work in professions s... more While many transgenders, or 'lady-boys', have a high visibility and work in professions such as hairdressing, cabaret shows, and Thailand's sex industry, they still remain marginalised and stigmatised in Thailand. Drawing on data from a larger research study, we learned that trarisgenders face unique issues in regards to their legal rights and risk to HIV / AIDS. Transgenders are regularly victims of sex crimes and due to stigma and fear; often do not report these crimes to police. Most transgenders do not know their legal or human rights under Thai law, where to go for help when their rights are violated, or about the availability of Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after a sexual assault. We describe working with transgenders, through a unique international collaboration, to produce a context-specific animated film that supports their struggle for social justice and the protection of their human rights. The animation is a new, strategic screen-based resource that aims to empower transgenders in overcoming barriers that deny them equitable access to participation in social, economic, political and cultural relations in their local community. The animation is currently being distributed through peer outreach on mobile phones and MP3 players among the different transgender communities in Chiang Mai. Looking forward, we describe our plans to integrate the animations into a chatroom-based peer-education programme to promote equity, social justice and how to negotiate condom use to minimise the transmission of HIV among the target population.

Research paper thumbnail of TLBz Sexperts! Using information and technology to get to zero HIV infections among Thai transgender people

Digital Culture and Education, 2014

Currently, access to sexual health information that serves the needs of transgender individuals i... more Currently, access to sexual health information that serves the needs of transgender individuals is nonexistent or severely limited. With "Getting to Zero" as the official UNAIDS campaign to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths, this lack of access to information coupled with immense stigma and discrimination among transgender individuals will not allow UNAIDS nor the world to achieve such impressive goals. This paper identifies gaps and challenges in HIV services for transgender individuals living in Thailand. Among other recommendations, the paper recognises the need for the 'de-coupling' of transgender services from those serving men who have sex with men. The paper describes an innovative communication technology project, the Thailadyboyz (TLBz) Sexperts! Program, a low-cost, transgender-led, community project offering accurate online transgender-specific sexual health information, social support and legal advice. The paper describes how the TLBz Sexperts! Program exemplifies the power of online communities and social networking platforms in reaching transgender individuals, especially when transgender community members lead in the design, development and implementation of such resources.

Research paper thumbnail of Intersections of LGBTI Exclusion and Discrimination in Thailand: the Role of Socio-Economic Status

Sexuality Research & Social Policy, 2019

Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people... more Previous studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in Thailand experience discrimination and exclusion based on their non-normative sexes, genders, and/or sexualities. However, such studies have insufficiently analyzed how intersecting characteristics shape these experiences. We conducted 19 life story interviews withLGBTI individuals in Thailand to track how exclusion and discrimination are influenced by their socio-economic status (SES).The study documented cases of discrimination and exclusion in education, employment, health care and insurance, housing, and financial institutions. Experiences of exclusion and discrimination were not universal but were profoundly shaped by an individual’s SES. Participants with more economic and social capital encountered less anti-LGBTI exclusion and discrimination and had greater protective factors to negotiate any discriminatory experiences they encountered. Our findings point to the necessity of considering the role of SES in policy advocacy, development efforts, and future research on LGBTI issues in Thailand.