Participatory action research (PAR) and Community-based participatory research (CBPR) prioritize collaborative research approaches with the goal of social transformation. Themes from this qualitative study of 15 early career social work PAR and CBPR scholars indicate that they are strongly motivated to pursue these methodologies because of their own experiences with disempowerment as well as their connection to social work values. Participants reflected upon their experiences with marginalization (due to observed and unobserved identities/experiences), which fostered a commitment to emphasizing power sharing and elevating marginalized voices. Additionally, identity played a role in how researchers experienced doing PAR/CBPR. Researchers described being simultaneously an insider and outsider in the communities in which they worked, especially the ways that their status as university researchers impacted their positioning in the communities they considered their own. This article explores how identity motivates and presents challenges that scholars must navigate when pursuing PAR/CBPR. Additionally, findings indicate that some scholars who hold marginalized identities experience increased vulnerability within academia when they engage in PAR/CBPR. Such experiences may impact whose voices are represented in the body of social work literature.

The social and health care needs of transgender people is a growing focus within social work literature. Attention to social and physical health disparities suggests that transgender-affirming services are an often unmet need. As ways to improve services are explored, attention must be paid to the diverse identities of transgender people. Although a large number of transgender people identify as nonbinary, the majority of research has examined the experiences of transgender men and women, thus often overlooking the unique experiences of those whose gender is outside of a dichotomous binary. A stronger understanding of the experiences of people who identify as nonbinary is essential for advancing affirming social work policies and practices. This photovoice study examined identity support and stigma faced by nonbinary young adults. Participants identified several themes related to seeking care from service providers and described the presence of assumptions contributing to their identities being pathologized. Findings show that nonbinary young people, like their binary transgender peers, experience discrimination in their interactions with providers and society more generally. However, the binaristic assumptions that are described add an important dimension to existing literature. Overall, the findings call for an increasingly queer understanding of gender among social work scholarship and practice.

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Trans-affirming providers play significant roles in the health and wellbeing of nonbinary individuals. Yet, healthcare mistreatment is well-documented among gender-diverse patients, leading to clients withholding information and avoiding care for fear of experiencing bias. Concurrently, healthcare providers report feeling ill-equipped to serve nonbinary patients, often perpetuating cisnormative binary attitudes. The literature has established the challenges to accessing healthcare and the need for gender-affirming care. However, little is known about nonbinary people’s perspectives on how best to deliver gender-affirming care that is inclusive of nonbinary patients. This participatory action PhotoVoice study identified community member recommendations for healthcare providers to bolster the wellbeing of nonbinary individuals through improved access to gender-affirming healthcare. Data were collected through group discussions, photography, and photo-elicitation interviews. Drawing upon research results, the authors identify recommendations for improving interpersonal care, increasing access to gender-affirming care, and advocating for related environmental and policy changes.