Family and Institutional Barriers to Formal Education among Transgender Individuals in Tehsil Mardan, Pakistan

Abstract

Access to formal education remains a persistent challenge for transgender individuals in Pakistan despite recent legal recognition of gender diversity. This study examines the family and institutional barriers that restrict educational participation among transgender individuals in Tehsil Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Drawing on quantitative data collected from transgender respondents, the research highlights how family rejection, violence, and withdrawal of emotional and financial support intersect with discriminatory practices within educational institutions. The findings demonstrate that exclusion from education is not an individual failure but a structurally produced outcome shaped by rigid gender norms, patriarchal family systems, and non-inclusive educational policies. By situating the experiences of transgender individuals within broader frameworks of social exclusion and gender regulation, this study contributes to limited empirical literature from Pakistan. The paper underscores the need for family-level sensitization and institutional reforms to ensure equitable access to education and social inclusion for transgender populations.