Visible name changes promote inequity for transgender researchers.

Leo Chan Gaskins,Craig R Mcclain

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3001104

Leo Chan Gaskins, Craig R Mcclain

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001104

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Abstract

Allowing for invisible name changes is a matter of dignity for trans researchers. This would prevent their own publication record from outing them without their consent. A single, centralized name change request through ORCID iD would alleviate the burden of changing each publication individually.

Highlights

Academia are antithetical to misgendering or dead naming transgender colleagues. This policy is embedded into how transgender academics are forced to interact with their publishing records. This ability to protect and control personal information as a transgender academic is vital to the safety, longevity, and growth of their careers
While we appreciate the concept of the “permanence of the scholarly record,” in order to create an ethical publishing space that is safe for all individuals, academic journals should not act as gatekeepers for a transgender person’s ability to protect and control their own information and narrative
While journals can adopt individual processes to allow for invisible name changes, which we support, this still places considerable burden on an academic to work through these varying processes at each journal

Summary

Introduction

This policy is embedded into how transgender academics are forced to interact with their publishing records. This ability to protect and control personal information as a transgender academic is vital to the safety, longevity, and growth of their careers. An academic that comes out as transgender and changes their name after having published using their dead name faces only 3 options that are unacceptable.

Results

Conclusion