The Economic Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Malay Trans Women in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Syed Mohideen Fathima Begum , Baharom Nizam , Abu Baharin Mohamed Fakhri , Abang Abdullah Khadijah Hasanah , Mokhtar Rafidah Hanim , Daud Zainora 
Published: June 2024

Abstract: The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on societies worldwide. The implementation of a nationwide lockdown as a measure to control the spread of disease has resulted in economic instability, which has had a significant impact on the livelihood of the general population, particularly vulnerable groups such as transgender women or trans women. The primary objective of this study was to explore the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Malay transgender women within the context of the lockdown measures implemented in Malaysia. This study employed in-depth interviews, using a semi-structured interview protocol, to gather data from a sample of eleven local Malay trans women residing in southern Malaysia. By identifying and describing emergent patterns across data through the search for implicit and explicit themes pertinent to the study's objectives, thematic analysis was utilised. This study identified seven prominent themes: (1) job struggle and loss of income; (2) forced to use saving to survive; (3) food insecurity due to severe financial constraint; (4) impact on accommodation; (5) financial burden to support others; (6) reliance on aid and (7) reluctance in getting financial aid due to presumed stigma and discrimination. This study provides evidence that the implementation of lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the economic well-being of Malay transgender women in Malaysia. Further research is needed to explore the post-pandemic status of individuals, with a special focus on their health and psychosocial well-being.

Abstrak: Wabak COVID-19 telah memberi kesan yang mendalam kepada masyarakat di seluruh dunia. Pelaksanaan perintah berkurung di seluruh negara adalah langkah untuk mengawal penularan penyakit, namun telah mengakibatkan ketidakstabilan ekonomi, yang telah memberi kesan besar kepada kehidupan penduduk umum, terutamanya kumpulan yang terdedah seperti wanita transgender atau juga dipanggil wanita trans. Objektif utama kajian ini adalah untuk meneroka kesan ekonomi akibat pandemik COVID-19 terhadap wanita transgender Melayu semasa sekatan perjalanan yang dilaksanakan di Malaysia semasa pandemik tersebut. Kajian ini menggunakan temu bual mendalam, menggunakan protokol temu bual separa berstruktur, untuk mengumpul data daripada sampel daripada sebelas wanita trans berbangsa Melayu tempatan yang menetap di selatan Malaysia. Bagi analisis data, pengkaji telah mengenal pasti dan menghuraikan corak yang timbul merentas data melalui pencarian tema tersirat dan eksplisit yang berkaitan dengan objektif kajian, dan analisis tematik telah digunakan. Kajian ini mengenal pasti tujuh tema utama yang timbul: (1) berjuang mendapatkan pekerjaan dan kehilangan pendapatan; (2) terpaksa menggunakan simpanan untuk terus hidup; (3) kesukaran mendapatkan makanan kerana kekangan kewangan yang teruk; (4) kesan ke atas penginapan; (5) beban kewangan untuk menanggung orang lain; (6) kerbergantungan kepada bantuan dan (7) keengganan mendapatkan bantuan kewangan kerana dianggap stigma dan diskriminasi. Kajian ini membuktikan bahawa pelaksanaan langkah berkurung semasa pandemik COVID-19 memberi impak yang besar terhadap kesejahteraan ekonomi wanita transgender Melayu di Malaysia. Penyelidikan lanjut diperlukan untuk meneroka status pasca-pandemik individu transgender, dengan tumpuan khusus pada kesihatan dan kesejahteraan psikososial mereka.