The document summarizes a research project conducted in Zaragoza, Spain about how trans Spaniards construct national identities. The researcher interviewed 4 trans Spanish natives through a local LGBT+ community center and attended events to learn about their sense of belonging and how everyday experiences related to broader personal beliefs about superficial versus deeper national identity. While difficulties included finding participants and language barriers, the researcher was ultimately able to draw interesting conclusions and felt a sense of achievement in exploring this topic as part of her study abroad experience.

1. ¿Cómo construye la gente trans
Española identidades nacionales en
la España contemporanea?
Claire St John Eve
How do trans Spaniards construct
national identities in contemporary
Spain?

2. My project..
• Was conducted in Zaragoza, Spain.
• I chose this topic as I was starting to become
interested in gender studies, and the
ethnographic approach because I wanted to talk
to people!
• Interviews with 4 Spanish natives who identified
with the term ‘trans’, found through a local LGBT+
community centre.
• I also attended events at the group ‘trezciclo’ at
the centre.

3. Findings
• Link between feelings of
belonging and a strong
sense of national identity.
• The everyday and was
closely related to broader
personal beliefs.
• Superficial national
identity and deeper
national identity.

4. Difficulties
• Finding participants and motivating myself
• Trying to relate to people who were not very
receptive to my research
• Using Spanish

5. Successes
• I was able to gather enough data to come up
with some interesting conclusions – I would
love to come back and research this subject
again in more depth in postgraduate study.
• I was able to explore life in another country
and the YARP was a really integral part of my
year abroad.
• The sense of achievement I felt at the end of it
all.