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Cited by 2Ethics and Social Impacts of AILGBTQ Health, Identity, and PolicyInnovative Human-Technology Interaction

Trans Data: A Research and Design Agenda from Trans Activists' Transformative Data Science

Open access
Doğan, Amelia Lee, Stevens, Nikko, D'Ignazio, Catherine·2025·Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
DOI 10.1145/3757682
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Abstract

Trans activists play a deeply important role in caring for and advocating for the transgender community using data. Through an interview study with 16 trans activists working in trans-led and trans-serving organizations in the United States, we document how they use restorative/transformative data science processes of resolving, researching, recording, and refusing and using data. We incorporate their data practices with trans technology and trans competent interaction design approaches to propose a research agenda for trans data : materially improve trans lives, cross data boundaries, and constantly engage in power analysis. We expound on how a trans data research agenda can benefit data advocacy and CSCW research and design.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Through interviews with 16 US-based trans activists, this paper documents how their data practices align with restorative/transformative data science stages—resolving, researching, recording, and refusing and using data. It proposes a “trans data” agenda: materially improve trans lives, cross data boundaries, and constantly engage in power analysis.

Key findings

Across 13 interviews with 16 trans activists from trans-led and trans-serving organizations, participants’ data practices mapped onto four restorative/transformative data science stages: resolving, researching, recording, and refusing and using data.

  • Resolving was iterative and often prompted by external pressures to legitimate organizations to funders, the state, or non-trans audiences; researching was embodied and triangulated from lived experience and contextual sources; recording involved collecting “just enough” data and sometimes unstructured or living records; refusing/using included principled refusal and using data to reframe narratives and reform policies.
  • The paper proposes three characteristics of trans data: it materially improves trans lives, it crosses boundaries, and it requires constant power analysis.
  • The authors argue trans data expands prior data advocacy and CSCW/HCI frameworks by centering trans technology and trans-competent interaction design.

Methods

Qualitative interview study: the second author contacted 67 trans-led and trans-serving organizations and conducted 13 semi-structured Zoom interviews with 16 US-based trans activists in fall 2023; interviews lasted 48–82 minutes, and participants were offered at least $100 compensation, with some declining, requesting higher amounts, or asking for donation to trans fundraisers/organizations.

  • Analysis used grounded theory and multi-grounded theory: the first two authors independently open-coded the first ten transcripts, built a codebook incorporating restorative/transformative data science stages, and coded interviews in Impact Mapper, with some disagreements retained or double-coded.
  • No formal demographic information was collected; self-disclosed participant details included trans women, men, and nonbinary people across the contiguous US, varied education levels, and Asian, Black, white, Latine, and mixed-race backgrounds; organizations included state-level trans organizations, history projects, care organizations, a media organization, and an education organization.

Limitations

Stated in the paper: participant demographic diversity is not representative of the broader US or global trans community; the US focus reinforces over-emphasis on US trans populations; findings represent only a small portion of trans activist experiences; and the authors do not heavily engage critical data studies literature.

  • Stated in the paper: despite recruitment efforts, participants skewed younger, white, and (trans)masculine.
  • Evident in the text: the sample is small (16 activists across 13 interviews), and the decision not to collect formal demographic information—made to protect anonymity and information autonomy—limits demographic analysis and generalizability; recruitment also drew critiques about university–participant power dynamics and trans communities being overstudied and underresourced.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1145/3757682

Cites

76 of 76 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 97 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Participants with embodied knowledge still engage in more traditional research practices, like triangulation-cross-source comparison and verification of information.

    “Participants with embodied knowledge still engage in more traditional research practices, like triangulation-cross-source comparison and verification of information.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For participants, contextual knowledge involves being a trans person with lived experience working with and for other trans people.

    “For our participants, that contextual knowledge involves being a trans person with lived experience working with and for other trans people.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Resolving was not a one-time process, but a continued, iterative process that happens throughout an organization/project's lifecycle.

    “Even after activists begin using data in their activism, resolving was not a one-time process, but a continued, iterative process that happens throughout an organization/project's lifecycle.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Resolving was a day-by-day process without an endpoint.

    “We repeatedly observed that resolving was a day-by-day process without an endpoint.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For many participants, the resolve to want to work with data as part of their theories of change emerged after they became activists.

    “For many in our group, the resolve to want to work with data as part of their theories of change emerged after they became activists.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 53
  • May combine two claims. 34

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Findingnone given

    Outside pressures often make activists resolve to use data to legitimize themselves.

    “We also note how outside pressures often make activists resolve to use data to legitimize themselves”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Nell triangulates data from letters with PREA facility audits to support correspondents' claims and demonstrate deficiencies in official data.

    “Through an agonistic data practice [20], she processes letters and the data within them, and then triangulates these data with PREA facility audits, in part to support her correspondents claims, and in part to demonstrate deficiencies in the official data.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [20]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    Resolving to do activist work and use data is a constantly evolving process.

    “and that resolving to do activist work and use data is a constantly evolving process.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Many of our participants wanted to remain anonymous, including some requesting direct quotes or identifiable details not be used in research materials.

    “Many of our participants wanted to remain anonymous, including some requesting direct quotes or identifiable details not be used in research materials.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The participants are transgender women, men, and nonbinary people; live across the contiguous US; have varied educational levels from high school to graduate degrees; come from a variety of racial backgrounds, including Asian, Black, white, Latine, and mixed race backgrounds.

    “Beyond confirming that they are over 18 and identify as trans (however they define it), any demographic information that we know about them was self-disclosed: our participants are transgender women, men, and nonbinary people; live across the contiguous US; have varied educational levels from high school to graduate degrees; come from a variety of racial backgrounds, including Asian, Black, white,”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    From our interviews, trans activists had deep and rich data practices, which resonated with the restorative/transformative data science processes.

    “From our interviews, we found trans activists had deep and rich data practices, which resonated with the restorative/transformative data science processes proposed in [26].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Among the participants, most refused or used data to reframe and reform.

    “Among our participants, we found most of them refused or used data to reframe and reform.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Many of the study's participants' responses demonstrated an understanding of the immense vulnerability that trans communities experience, and that this vulnerability extends to data.

    “Many of our participants' responses demonstrated an understanding of the immense vulnerability that trans communities experience, and that vulnerability extends to data.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In recording, activists made strategic, political choices about what data to collect and also recorded data outside conventional structured formats.

    “In recording, we saw activists making strategic, political choices about what data to collect and also recording data outside conventional structured formats.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Findingnone given

    The image illustrates the triangulation method used by activists in their research.

    “This image illustrates the triangulation method used by activists in their research.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Activists are already challenging power in their work and conducting power analyses.

    “Activists, like the participant, are already challenging power [25] in their work and conducting power analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [25]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    When considering the recording strategy, activists not only translated stories and unstructured data into structured data but also incorporated political decisions to protect the trans community, demonstrating a distinct approach to trans data.

    “When considering the recording strategy [26], activists not only translated stories and unstructured data into structured data but also incorporated political decisions to protect the trans community (e.g. by not asking about gender identity or not recording information) demonstrating a distinct approach to trans data.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Other times, participants refused data to focus on their activist work or to align with their motivating principles.

    “Other times, they refused data to focus on their activist work or to align with their motivating principles.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Findingreasoning

    To reach these goals, participants constantly resolved to a politics of trans liberation.

    “To reach these goals, participants constantly resolved to a politics of trans liberation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Participants saw recording data as a pragmatic choice to keep their services accessible and reachable to trans participants, choosing to collect just enough data to keep their organizations running.

    “With these participants, we saw recording data as a pragmatic choice, to keep their services accessible and reachable to trans participants, but choosing to collect just enough data to keep their organizations running.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The importance of research in restorative/transformative data science lies in understanding that contextual knowledge is invaluable expertise.

    “The importance of research in restorative/transformative data science lies in understanding that contextual knowledge is invaluable expertise.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The second and third authors' university institutional review board deemed the study exempt.

    “The second and third authors' university institutional review board deemed the study exempt.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Because the trans community in the US is both small and relatively well-networked, we did not collect formal demographic information from our participants.

    “Because the trans community in the US is both small and relatively well-networked, we did not collect formal demographic information from our participants.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The trans community in the US is relatively well-networked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Restorative/transformative data science follows an iterative, cyclic process where actors resolve to do the work, research information about the issue, record data about the issue, and then refuse and use the data to mobilize.

    “Restorative/transformative data science follows an iterative, cyclic process where actors resolve to do the work, research information about the issue, record data about the issue, and then refuse and use the data to mobilize (for more see 2.3.2 and Table 2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Trans activists enrich data activist practices by centering the trans community in their work and utilizing principles from trans technology and trans competent interaction design.

    “Additionally, we demonstrate how trans activists enrich data activist practices by centering the trans community in their work and utilizing principles from trans technology [43] and trans competent interaction design [3].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [43]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    By studying joy, researchers are able to understand more nuanced experiences of marginalized populations.

    “Additionally, they assert that, by studying joy, researchers are able to understand more nuanced experiences of marginalized populations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [81]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The two coders each coded half of the interviews before reviewing each other's codes.

    “The two coders each coded half of the interviews before reviewing each other's codes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Before the interview, we reviewed privacy, safety, and anonymity protocols with participants, and answered questions until they were comfortable signing the informed consent document.

    “Before the interview, we reviewed privacy, safety, and anonymity protocols with participants, and answered questions until they were comfortable signing the informed consent document.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The resolving process describes the ways activists create a theory of change to address the problems they face.

    “The resolving process describes the ways activists create a theory of change to address the problem(s) they face [26].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Trans communities are regularly oriented towards challenging power and building transformative agendas to end violence, shift the distribution of material resources, and/or ensure equal rights.

    “Finally, as the long history of trans activism demonstrates, trans communities are regularly oriented towards challenging power and building transformative agendas to end violence, shift the distribution of material resources, and/or ensure equal rights.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Embodied, contextual knowledge is deeply important to trans activists and only comes from the process of being an activist over time.

    “These instances show how embodied, contextual knowledge is deeply important to trans activists and only comes from the process of being an activist over time.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Our research expands restorative/transformative data science by examining how embodied experiences shape research, how resolving is not only a political choice but also an informatic choice, and how recording can occur through more than counting.

    “Our research expands restorative/transformative data science [26] by examining how embodied experiences shape research, how resolving is not only a political choice but also an informatic choice -a choice to start producing data, and how recording can occur through more than counting, i.e. through archiving and documenting unstructured forms of data.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The trans community is numerically small (approximately 3% of all United States adults, or 1.3 million people), and it is even smaller within specific professions and avocations.

    “While the trans community is numerically small (approximately 3% of all United States adults [63], or 1.3 million people [49]), it is even smaller within specific professions and avocations.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [63]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [49]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Previous CSCW and HCI research had highlighted activism was part of how trans people made decisions about technology but had never focused on it specifically.

    “Furthermore, previous computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and human-computer interaction (HCI) research had highlighted activism was part of how trans people made decisions about technology but had never focused on it specifically [60,77].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [60]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [77]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Despite our best efforts to recruit a diverse group of participants, our participants skewed younger, white, and (trans)masculine.

    “Despite our best efforts to recruit a diverse group of participants, our participants skewed younger, white, and (trans)masculine.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The important work on queer data does not wholly or fully capture a trans sensibility of data.

    “As Keilty acknowledges, the important work on queer data does not wholly or fully capture a trans sensibility of data, the focal point of our work.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [55]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In the recording stage, activists transform unstructured information into structured data comprised of fields and values, cases, and categories.

    “In the recording stage, “activists transform unstructured information into structured data compromised of fields and values, cases, and categories” [26].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Prior HCI and CSCW research has noted activism as an important priority for trans users, but our study is the first to examine trans activists' data practices.

    “While prior HCI and CSCW research has noted activism as an important priority for trans users [60,77], our study is the first to examine trans activists' data practices.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [60]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [77]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Restorative/transformative data science puts information in the service of healing and harm-reduction (restorative) as well as social transformation and liberation (transformative).

    “Restorative/transformative data science puts information in the service of healing and harm-reduction (restorative) as well as social transformation and liberation (transformative).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Data feminism uses an intersectional feminist lens to analyze data's uses and functions and establishes seven principles for practice.

    “Data feminism uses an intersectional feminist lens to analyze data's uses and functions and establishes seven principles for practice [27].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [27]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The authors chose to keep certain code disagreements to engage in multiplicity, situatedness, and multiple truths.

    “Being mindful of the data feminism principle to embrace pluralism, the authors chose to keep certain code disagreements to engage in multiplicity, situatedness, and multiple truths [54].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [54]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    As of mid 2025, there have been over 950 anti-trans laws at the state level in the US, and the federal government is attempting to write trans people out of American society.

    “As of mid 2025, according to Trans Legislation Tracker, there have been over 950 anti-trans laws at the state level [88] and the federal government is attempting to write trans people out of American society [10,15,56].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [88]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [10]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [15]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [56]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Most trans people prefer being trans, and by embracing their identity, individuals deepened their connections with themselves and with their wider trans community.

    “In their study of joy, Shuster and Westbrook [81] found most trans people prefer being trans and that by embracing their identity, individuals deepened their connections with themselves and with their wider trans community.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [81]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When activists engage in the research process, they often immerse themselves in the context and build intimacy with the data.

    “When activists engage in the research process, they often immerse themselves in the context and build intimacy with the data [26].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Premisereasoning

    Within trans discourse and trans theory, challenging binaristic approaches is an obvious epistemological step, given that the spectrum of transness itself is a challenge to the gender binary.

    “Within trans discourse and trans theory, challenging binaristic approaches is an obvious epistemological step, given that the spectrum of transness itself is a challenge to the gender binary.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The first two authors completed independent open gerund coding of the first ten transcripts and then met to discuss codes and themes.

    “The first two authors completed independent open gerund coding of the first ten transcripts [75] and then met to discuss codes and themes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [75]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The second author wrote the interview guide from a trauma-informed perspective, being mindful to not probe about traumatic events, gender dysphoria, or their personal experiences with transphobia.

    “The second author wrote the interview guide (available in supplemental materials) from a trauma-informed perspective, being mindful to not probe about traumatic events, gender dysphoria, or their personal experiences with transphobia.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    During second round coding, the coders met regularly to refine the codebook and discuss diverging viewpoints.

    “During second round coding, the coders met regularly to refine the codebook and discuss diverging viewpoints.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    A trans data system would be successful only insofar as it contributes to restoring life, living, vitality, rights, and dignity for trans people.

    “That is, a trans data system would be successful only insofar as it contributes to “restoring life, living, vitality, rights, and dignity” [26] for trans people.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    Outputs might also be unconventional compared to traditional data visualizations, including physical forms.

    “Outputs might also be unconventional compared to traditional data visualizations, including physical forms [51].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [51]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    CSCW researchers will need to work with trans communities to co-develop ways of measuring, piloting, and validating success metrics for any given system.

    “In practice, CSCW researchers will need to work with trans communities to co-develop ways of measuring, piloting, and validating success metrics for any given system.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Not all data advocacy research may be generalizable to other communities and populations.

    “We specifically want to point out that not all data advocacy research may be generalizable to other communities and populations—for example, we would expect Canadian climate justice activists [31] to differ from American trans activists.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [31]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Much of the HCI literature focuses on users of a system-understanding their motivations, needs, and actions in a given domain-while non-use literature focuses on contextualizing the people and communities who are not using systems.

    “While much of the HCI literature focuses on users of a system—understanding their motivations, needs, and actions in a given domain—non-use literature focuses on contextualizing the people and communities who are not using systems [9,76].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [9]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [76]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationown data

    Researchers and designers must support advocates' choices to adopt alternatives to rigid data structures from input to output.

    “First (1), researchers and designers must support advocates' choices to adopt alternatives to rigid data structures from input to output.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Adopting this orientation means that the evaluation criteria of any system are based on its material impact.

    “Second, (2) adopting this orientation means that the evaluation criteria of any system are based on its material impact.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    To insist that trans data materially improve our lives interferes with the hegemony of scale prevalent in most computer science literature.

    “First, (1) to insist that trans data materially improve our lives interferes with the hegemony of scale prevalent in most computer science literature [47].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [47]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The ability to implement and deploy this modification swiftly could act as a significant form of harm reduction in some communities.

    “The ability to implement and deploy this modification swiftly could act as a significant form of harm reduction in some communities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Studies of trans data and trans technologies would benefit from connecting with existing literature on non-use.

    “First (1), we advance the idea that studies of trans data and trans technologies would benefit from connecting with existing literature on non-use.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationcitation

    Drawing on transfeminism, trans data emphasizes multiplicity, reworking, going through, and occupying multiple categories and boundaries.

    “Drawing on transfeminism, we emphasize trans data's multiplicity, reworking, going through, and occupying multiple categories and boundaries [3,58].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [58]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The demographic diversity of the study's participants is not representative of the broader trans community either within the US or globally.

    “the demographic diversity of our participants is not representative of the broader trans community either within the US or globally.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Trans data can be used to assess interactions between trans people and data production, collection, manipulation, and analysis.

    “Trans data can be used to assess interactions between trans people and data production, collection, manipulation, and analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The concept of trans data builds on existing CSCW and HCI frameworks of trans technology and trans competent interaction design.

    “We also illustrate how a concept of trans data builds on existing CSCW and HCI frameworks of trans technology and trans competent interaction design.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    For D'Ignazio, the refusing and using data process has five purposes: to repair and heal communities, to remember people, to reframe media and cultural narratives, to reform state policies and practices, and to revolt in large public demonstration.

    “For D'Ignazio [26], this process has five purposes: “to repair and heal communities, to remember people... to reframe media and cultural narratives... to reform state policies and practices, and to revolt in large public demonstration” (emphasis original).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [26]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    A trans data research agenda can contribute to broader research and design areas, including data advocacy research and CSCW research.

    “We demonstrate how a trans data research agenda can contributed to broader research and design areas, including data advocacy research and CSCW research.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Data storage systems are typically standardized, structured and rigid in terms of assigning a single data type to a single column.

    “Data storage systems are typically standardized, structured and rigid in terms of assigning a single data type to a single column.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    Data activism and advocacy research loses its significance if it fails to expand our community's life chances.

    “Additionally, we emphasize that data activism and advocacy research loses its significance if it fails to expand our community's life chances [83].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [83]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    Paying attention to constantly changing contexts and politics of information points to how designers and researchers must adopt the activists' articulation work of power analyses.

    “Paying attention to constantly changing contexts and politics of information [79] points to how designers and researchers must adopt the activists' articulation work of power analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [79]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study's findings represent only a small portion of trans activist experiences, even amongst its participants.

    “our findings here represent only a small portion of trans activist experiences, even amongst our participants.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    These principles can help guide the design of information collection and retrieval systems from the start or be used to analyze existing data practices.

    “These principles can help guide the design of information collection and retrieval systems from the start [4] or be used to analyze existing data practices [40].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [4]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [40]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Trans data principles have implications for the design and research of systems that center trans people.

    “Building on the previous frameworks of trans technology and trans-competent interaction design, trans data principles have implications for the design and research of systems that center trans people (for a summary, see Table 4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Trans data resonates with queer data's priorities of messiness and incorporates aspects of shifting and crossing over, which are integral to being trans.

    “This resonates with queer data's priorities of messiness [40,55] and also incorporates aspects of shifting and crossing over, which, for many of us, are integral to being trans [54,59].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [40]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [55]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [54]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [59]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    These may be systems that take flexible and extensible data inputs such as for embodied knowledge.

    “These may be systems that take flexible and extensible data inputs such as for embodied knowledge [11,70].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [11]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [70]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Engaging with these power analyses is often the activists' articulation work of completing daily tasks like planning, organizing, monitoring, evaluating, adjusting, coordinating, and integrating activities.

    “Engaging with these power analyses is often the activists' “articulation work” of completing “daily tasks like planning, organizing, monitoring, evaluating, adjusting, coordinating, and integrating activities” [29].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [29]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Counterdata requires researchers to think about data through a political lens.

    “Similarly, counterdata [68] requires researchers to think about data through a political lens.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [68]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Data advocacy research could support these activists in making decisions about whether or not data might be useful to their organizing.

    “Data advocacy research could support these activists in making decisions about whether or not data might be useful to their organizing.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Most technology is not explicitly designed to consider trans users, nor to consider whether participants have the capacity to use informatic tools within existing structural conditions.

    “Most technology is not explicitly designed to consider trans users [3,62], nor to consider whether participants have the capacity to use informatic tools within existing structural conditions [28,50].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [3]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [62]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [28]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [50]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    Some data should not be collected.

    “Finally, (2), some data should not be collected.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationnone given

    A continual orientation to power considers the structural conditions under which users are interacting with the system.

    “Second (2), a continual orientation to power considers the structural conditions under which users are interacting with the system.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    Flexibly designed systems could adjust data requirements as trans communities' safety needs evolve, following principles of contextual integrity.

    “Flexibly designed systems could adjust data requirements as trans communities' safety needs evolve, following principles of contextual integrity [60].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [60]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study's focus on US-based trans activists reinforces the over-emphasis on US trans populations.

    “our focus on US-based trans activists reinforces the over-emphasis on US trans populations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    These approaches expanded to include unstructured data formats, demonstrating that a trans technology approach to restorative and transformative data science upholds expansive definitions of data and counterdata throughout the data science lifecycle.

    “These approaches expanded to include unstructured data formats, demonstrating that a trans technology approach to restorative and transformative data science upholds expansive definitions of data [27] and counterdata [68] throughout the data science lifecycle—an approach that data advocacy and CSCW research could adopt.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [27]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [68]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

76 of 76

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Activists' community contributions are frequently immeasurable, both rhetorically, and by being incommensurate with the logics of counting.

    “Activists' community contributions are frequently immeasurable, both rhetorically, and by being incommensurate with the logics of counting.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The trans community in the US is relatively well-networked.

    “Because the trans community in the US is both small and relatively well-networked, we did not collect formal demographic information from our participants.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There is a history of exploitative research with trans participants.

    “The disclosure was created to help trans participants make informed decisions about research participation due to a history of exploitative research.”
3 of 3

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Marika Cifor, Patricia Garcia, TL Cowan, Jasmine Rault, Tonia Sutherland, Anita Say Chan, Jennifer Rode, Anna Lauren Hoffman, Niloufar Salehi, and Lisa Nakamura. 2019. Feminist Data Manifest-No. https://www.manifestno.com
  2. Alex Hanna and Tina M Park. 2020. Against Scale: Provocations and Resistances to Scale Thinking. In CSCW '20: Reconsidering Scale and Scaling in CSCW Research (CSCW Workshop '20). https://doi.org/static/pdf/Against_Scale.pdf
  3. Mariame Kaba, Tamara K. Nopper, and Naomi Murakawa. 2021. We do this 'til we free us: abolitionist organizing and transforming justice. Haymarket Books, Chicago.
  4. Michelle Hyun Kim. 2019. The Okra Project Is Feeding Their Black Trans Siblings, One Meal at a Time. Them (Nov. 2019). https://www.them.us/story/okra-project Section: tags.
  5. Seyi Olojo. 2024. Counterdata. In Keywords of the Datafied State, Jenna Burrell, Ranjit Singh, and Patrick Davison (Eds.). Data & Society, 171-181. https://datasociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Keywords_Counterdata_Olojo_04242024.pdf
  6. Tobias Raun. 2020. Out online: trans self-representation and community building on YouTube (first issued in paperback ed.). Routedge, Taylor & Francis Group, London NY.
  7. Susan Stryker. 2004. Transgender Activism. In GLBTQ.COM. QLBTQ, Inc. http://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/transgender_activism_S.pdf
  8. Trans Legislation Tracker. 2025. 2025 Anti-Trans Bills: Trans Legislation Tracker. https://translegislation.com

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Doğan, A. L., Stevens, N., & D'Ignazio, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Publisher
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Published
2025-10-16
Volume
9
Issue
7
Pages
1-21
ISSN
2573-0142 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1145/3757682
OpenAlex
W4415250968
Semantic Scholar
9ba30bfc5a186caf7a883171ef683237f4a40e52
Cited by
2
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 2
FWCI
2.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Funders
National Science Foundation (2213826)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
Keywords
power analysis, research agenda, computer-supported cooperative work

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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-11-04.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-11-04.

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