Supporting transgender students: Chinese school social workers as transgender allies

Very few publications have examined support programs for transgender students; none of them have addressed the issue under the Asian Chinese cultural context, where transgender equality and transgender allies have been community concerns in recent years. By increasing the knowledge and understanding on transgender allies, educators and school social workers would be in a better position to enhance their frontline practice. This chapter considers the unique position of school social workers as allies supporting transgender students encountering transgender prejudice in Hong Kong schools. The author begins the chapter by discussing previous research about transgender students in the international and regional contexts and the roles played by allies in supporting these students. Themes that emerged from one Hong Kong study on social workers as transgender allies will be summarized, especially on their trans-inclusive strategies of supporting transgender students in schools. Recommendations for school counselors to support transgender students are made. Copyright © 2018 selection and editorial matter, Kerry J. Kennedy and John Chi-Kin Lee; individual chapters, the contributors.