Inquiry: ‘Please select your gender’. Genderqueer access to SUD treatment in South Africa

Abstract

Mental health practitioners do not pay much attention to the meaning impressed upon clients when an intake form states Please select your gender. Generally, there are only two options to choose from: male or female. However, increasingly, not everyone conforms to binary notions of sex and gender. This article is about how intake forms at substance use disorder (SUD) treatment centers are likely, inadvertently, creating structural barriers for the genderqueer population’s treatment seeking behavior. The main questions addressed were (1) how gender inclusive is your treatment centers’ intake form? (2) How knowledgeable are you about gender diversity? The purpose of the study was to find out to what extent intake forms affect genderqueer individuals to access treatment and, to create awareness about gender diversity. Qualitative research methodology, using focus group discussions was the approach to answering the research questions. Six focus groups (N=48) discussions were transcribed and thematically analyzed using the Braun and Clarke approach. The article’s main findings were theoretically framed using social constructionism. Findings presented these main themes: (1) Gender Inclusive Intake Forms (2) Gender Diversity in SUD treatment, (3) Need for Gender Literacy and Gender Responsive Training. Overall, the findings indicate that mental health practitioners need to adjust their intake forms to be more gender diverse. In conclusion, intake forms are used for various purposes by treatment centers, but mostly for funding and surveillance purposes. Recommendations are that policies are inclusive of gender affirming language and intake forms templates are gender inclusive.