and experiences apart from those of cis people (who identify with the sex they were born as), and that do not replicate the idea that there is a normative gender binary that is ‘natural and essential’. As a trans person who is active in organising, I am aware


of how, as trans individuals and communities, we have struggled and fumbled with language. I am personally grateful to people who took time to educate me, to help me notice the ways in which I too, even as a trans person, was easily re-centring gender essentialism when using phrases such as ‘biological’ or ‘natal’ sex, for example. I hope, therefore, we have communicated clearly and sensitively with our authors around the terminology they have chosen. I think the contributions explore the vast landscape in our field and also demonstrate how we can be in different places at different times. I was also aware of the emotional labour involved for me as a trans person when interfacing with colleagues on issues that directly impact my life and the lives of my friends and communities. I was already aware of this as a therapist. When I support clients in exploring gender and/or


sexuality, I often encounter individual, cultural and social trauma that can be close to or echo my own. I am also aware of how my visible trans identity can, at times, be centred in ways that strip my clinical experience and expertise and my scholarship, creating a level of epistemic injustice where my transness trumps my training, my work and my knowledge and is seen as a central bias, whereas someone’s cis identity might automatically confer a sense of ‘objectivity’ and competence, regardless of their training, experiences, expertise and work. I am glad to have the skills necessary for trauma stewardship, and, at the same time, I do wish we were all more mindful and intentional about the impact of our words and choices in the world so I would not need to use my skills as much or often, just to be able to do my job. As


systemic therapists, we know the same types of oppressions do not all equally impact us. We know systems shape us and shape our relational interactions. I believe it behoves us to keep listening and learning from one another and I surely hope the process of putting together this issue was part of this process of listening and learning from one another, for the benefit of all our clients. We did ask our authors to express in their bios their hope for the future of gender in systemic practices. My own hope is that the vast landscape of gender, in all its glorious hues, becomes such a fundamental part of systemic training and practices that a special issue, such as this, will no longer be needed because we all know and integrate all ways of being gendered in the world in our own practices, and because our own field is full of wonderful trans, non-binary and gender expansive therapists! Amanda: Your dream echoes mine in some ways. I believe systemic psychotherapy has many of the theoretical seeds required to develop a therapeutic landscape that integrates all ways of being gendered and attends to undoing the oppression that cis-normativity creates. I dream of queer-centric notions of gender and sexuality becoming embedded in our systemic trainings and professional conversations. I hope this issue of Context helps spur these conversations and challenges us to more inclusive and ethical practices when working alongside our trans, non-binary and gender expansive clients and colleagues, as well as their partners, families, friends and communities.


With hopeful hearts, Amanda and Alex


Reference Reynolds, V. (2010) Fluid and imperfect ally positioning: Some gifts of queer theory. Context, 111: 13-17.


Images and cover kindly donated by The Museum of Transology This bold, brave and profound collection of artefacts and photographic portraiture began with donations from Brighton’s


vibrant trans community and has grown into the largest collection representing trans people in the UK – if not the world. By exploring how the objects ref lect the participants’ self-determined gender journeys, the exhibition challenges the idea


that gender is fixed, binary and biologically determined, and gives trans people the space to display their own experiences with authenticity. The Museum of Transology is currently on until Summer 2018 at Spotlight Gallery, Brighton Museum.


2


Context 155, February 2018


Editorial


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64