Mobility of Non-Binary and Gender Nonconforming Individuals in Tampere Region: Issues around accessibility, harassment, and safety

Abstract

The gendered nature of travel behaviours and experiences have long been recognised in research and policy making. However, research on non-binary people and their mobility is scarce, as is the acknowledgement of a spectrum nature of gender within the transportation discipline. The objectives of the thesis are two-fold. This thesis presents the first systematic literature review of the mobility and travel experiences of non-binary people. To corroborate the findings of the review, a survey was developed, and quantitative and qualitative analysis of the responses performed. The review identified that, to date, the main research domains for non-binary people’s mobility considered issues of harassment and violence on public transit, fear, security measures, intersectionality, and strategies to deal with discrimination. The quantitative findings were scarce yet showed statistically significant higher odds of harassment on public transport by non-binary compared to men, yet lower than those of women. However, the qualitative analysis of the data showed very similar findings to those of the literature review, highlighting the importance of going beyond quantitative statistical analysis. The thesis highlights spatial and geographical constraints, such as immobility and accessibility, that non-binary people face when interacting with public transportation system. Strategies to improve mobility for the gender nonconforming community included upgrading public transport stations, increasing funding for public transportation, and providing gender diversity training for transit workers. The findings draw attention to the need for substantial further transportation research into the field. By including non-binary perspectives in transport research, a unique range of insights and experiences can be unlocked, while increasing inclusivity in transport research.