Trans is an umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.

The word trans can be used without offence (as an adjective) to describe a person who:

• Is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of reassigning the person’s sex by changing physiological or other attributes of that sex; and/or
• Identifies as someone with a different sex from that in which they were born, but who may have decided to undergo/not undergo medical treatment.

It is important to recognise that while some trans people do seek medical or surgical transition others do not.

Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender, third gender, bi-gender, trans man, trans woman, trans masculine, trans feminine and neutrois.

You’ll meet lots of different people at university with different backgrounds and characteristics to your own.

You may not fully understand why or how some people are different from you but it is very important to treat everyone equally and with respect. Treat people how you would like to be treated.

Bradley didn’t treat Emma and Aisha with respect. He didn’t fully understand Emma’s transition process. Perhaps he should have listened more carefully to the advice of his friends in terms of how to sensitively handle the subject/treat Emma.

Bradley’s comments about Aisha are also stereotypical of ‘laddism’ or ‘lad culture’.

‘Lad culture’ is an undefined term which has recently come into common usage. It has been used to describe how certain male (but not always just male) or ’laddish’ behaviours and cultures, particularly evident in UK universities, are operating to make female students feel less comfortable on campus.

Laddish behaviour can take many forms – club and society initiations, crude banter, use of social media to embarrass or “shame” girls (usually but not exclusively), sexist or inappropriate language or behaviour towards women, excessive drinking and in the worst cases, harassment or violence etc.

Seen by some as just a bit of fun, ‘lad culture’ has been criticised by others as at best being dismissive and objectifying towards women and at worst glamorising the sex industry and normalising sexual assault. It has been linked to a broader ‘sex object’ culture which has been identified in some student communities.