Examining the impact of the UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of ‘sex’ in everyday life (Ref:260202, RIP-RAP-25-03)

Project Title:

Examining the impact of the UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of ‘sex’ in everyday life

Project Supervisor:

Dr Jamie Chan, j.s.chan@brighton.ac.uk.

Institution:

Centre of Transforming Sexuality and Gender (CTSG), University of Brighton

Placement Period:

Placement Starting window 1st April – 10th May 2026; available part-time at 0.5 FTE for 3 months. Placement will be hybrid or remote

How to Apply:

Send a CV and covering email to Dr Jamie Chan copied to scdtp@soton.ac.uk outlining their interest in the position and highlighting relevant expertise and experience.

Deadline to Apply:

2nd February 2026

Placement Details:

Project description

This research project investigates the impact of the recent UK Supreme Court ruling that defines ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 as sex assigned at birth. Given that appearance often functions as a visual cue that signals an individual’s identities including gender and sexuality (Rule, 2016), it is often the first source of visual information others use to make assumptions or judgements in everyday interactions. As such, the ruling may have significant implications for individuals whose gendered self-presentation and appearance do not conform to normative expectations, including transgender, non-binary and intersex individuals (as well as cisgender individuals). Existing literature on discrimination, dehumanisation and objectification highlights how different forms of oppression (e.g., cisnormativity, transphobia) play a role in shaping physical, mental, and social outcomes particularly through appearance-related self-surveillance. This cognizance-based self-surveillance is rooted in an avoidance of stigma, harassment, and violence, and experienced as a heightened sense of vigilance over the way one appears to others (Chan et al., 2024), which negatively impacts wellbeing (Riggle et al., 2021; Moradi, 2013). Recent findings suggest that the ruling has lead to exclusion, segregation, harassment and violence affecting not only non-binary, intersex, transgender, but also cisgender individuals (TransActual, 2025). This study, therefore, aims to examine how this recent legal shift has shaped experiences of hypervigilance and wellbeing amongst those whose self-presentation and appearance are not perceived by others as conforming to ‘normative’ gendered experiences.

RAP work to be undertaken

1. Conducting literature review on: i) objectification theory, with a focus on cognizance-based self-surveillance amongst trans, non-binary and intersex individuals; ii) and the relationship between hypervigilance and wellbeing.
2. Supporting data analysis on data collected from an online survey between November 2025-April 2026 (using R or SPSS) including: i) quantitative analysis using R or SPSS, following pre-registered analytical procedures, and ii) qualitative analysis using reflexive content analysis.
3. Assisting with research dissemination including contributing to the writing up of research outputs (e.g., Method and Results section in a journal article) and presenting findings to internal (e.g., the CTSG) and external audiences.

Anticipated benefits for the student

• Opportunity to engage with timely and socially relevant research examining the impacts of the recent UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010.
• Relevent experience for students considering future careers in social science research, gender studies and/or policy research.
• Hands-on experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. For students new to reflexive content analysis, this will be a valuable addition to their skillset, enhancing their research portfolio.
• The student will join a supportive, interdisciplinary research centre (CTSG) that prioritises advancing positive, impactful and sustained change relating to sexual and gender diversities.
• Opportunities to network with researchers across disciplines and methodological approaches, potentially leading to future research collaborations.
• Named author in the resulting journal article submitted for publication.

Anticipated benefits for host

• Dedicated support for key aspects of the project, which will accelerate the progress of data analysis and dissemination.
• Valuable supervision experience for an early career researcher
• Reinforcement for the centre’s commitment to supporting early career researchers and contributing to timely research on gender and sexuality.

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• Foundational knowledge of both statistical and qualitative research (essential)
• Experience in using statistical computing programmes (e.g., R, SPSS, Jamovi), and conducting reflexive content analysis (desirable)
• Excellent writing, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a hybrid research environment (essential)

Supervised by Dr Jamie Chan at Centre of Transforming Sexuality and Gender, University of Brighton. Contact j.s.chan@brighton.ac.uk

(Ref:260202, RIP-RAP-25-03)
 

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