Maya Chew
Academic and research departments
Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences.About
My research project
Understanding the Life Course of Older Trans Women in MalaysiaMaya's research explores the ageing experiences of older transgender women in the Global South, with Malaysia as the focal region.
The LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia is highly marginalised, given the political exertion for conformity to cisheteronormativity, i.e. subscription to traditional gender norms where sex, sexuality, and gender identities are perceived to be immutable. Consequently, persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly trans women, is widespread and often sensationalised in the media. Trans women, being highly visible, endure significant stigmatisation, and those lacking the means to integrate into society experience significant societal discrimination.
This research draws on intersectionality and decolonial epistemologies to understand trans identity and the inequalities experienced in a culturally divergent space from the Global North. Set against the backdrop of a complex and challenging Malaysian sociopolitical climate, the research explores the questions of how we define normativity and how these definitions shape the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, specifically trans women in the Global South, specifically in Malaysia. Maya's utilises a novel River of Life qualitative methodology that visually maps the life course.
Maya is a Fellow of the Centre of Excellence on Ageing, a partner of the UN-affiliated Global Initiative on Ageing Foundation (GIA), and the recipient of the 2024/25 ESRC IAA Commercialisation Fellowship, supporting Professor Amelia Hadfield in developing the Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE).
Supervisors
Maya's research explores the ageing experiences of older transgender women in the Global South, with Malaysia as the focal region.
The LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia is highly marginalised, given the political exertion for conformity to cisheteronormativity, i.e. subscription to traditional gender norms where sex, sexuality, and gender identities are perceived to be immutable. Consequently, persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly trans women, is widespread and often sensationalised in the media. Trans women, being highly visible, endure significant stigmatisation, and those lacking the means to integrate into society experience significant societal discrimination.
This research draws on intersectionality and decolonial epistemologies to understand trans identity and the inequalities experienced in a culturally divergent space from the Global North. Set against the backdrop of a complex and challenging Malaysian sociopolitical climate, the research explores the questions of how we define normativity and how these definitions shape the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, specifically trans women in the Global South, specifically in Malaysia. Maya's utilises a novel River of Life qualitative methodology that visually maps the life course.
Maya is a Fellow of the Centre of Excellence on Ageing, a partner of the UN-affiliated Global Initiative on Ageing Foundation (GIA), and the recipient of the 2024/25 ESRC IAA Commercialisation Fellowship, supporting Professor Amelia Hadfield in developing the Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE).
University roles and responsibilities
- Business Director, Centre for Britain and Europe
My qualifications
Affiliations and memberships
ResearchResearch interests
- Gender
- Queer Studies
- Cultural Gerontology
- Postcolonialism
- Politics
- Social Policy
Research projects
'Unseen Surrey: An Exploratory Overview of the NEETs Crisis’ is a cutting-edge report, commissioned by Peter Cluff, the brand-new High Sheriff of Surrey, to explore the critical challenges that lead young people (specifically between the ages of 16-18) to become ‘not in education, employment or training’, the risk factors that lead to these NEET outcomes.
The project was commissioned by the Surrey County Council with the aim to drive economic development of the county through cross-sector collaboration.
A review of the Surrey Food Supply Chain and relevant stakeholders, i.e. farmers, sellers, and local government policy. Collaborative project with MHA Bakertilly for the Rural Policy Group (RPG).
Research interests
- Gender
- Queer Studies
- Cultural Gerontology
- Postcolonialism
- Politics
- Social Policy
Research projects
'Unseen Surrey: An Exploratory Overview of the NEETs Crisis’ is a cutting-edge report, commissioned by Peter Cluff, the brand-new High Sheriff of Surrey, to explore the critical challenges that lead young people (specifically between the ages of 16-18) to become ‘not in education, employment or training’, the risk factors that lead to these NEET outcomes.
The project was commissioned by the Surrey County Council with the aim to drive economic development of the county through cross-sector collaboration.
A review of the Surrey Food Supply Chain and relevant stakeholders, i.e. farmers, sellers, and local government policy. Collaborative project with MHA Bakertilly for the Rural Policy Group (RPG).
Sustainable development goals
My research interests are related to the following:
Publications
As part of Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies [CABS] 30th anniversary celebrations, the panel session on the 3rd October 2025 organised in collaboration with ERA: the Emerging Researchers in Ageing Committee of the British Society of Gerontology and co-led by Sam Toolan [CABS, The Open University] and Dr Amy Prescott [Brunel University of London and ERA Chair] explored the future of gerontological research, policy, and practice against the backdrop of global demographic change. It brought together emerging leaders to identify critical priorities for action and innovation. The discussion considered how the field can confront new challenges and harness opportunities to influence how societies support ageing populations in meaningful and sustainable ways.
Additional publications
- Chew, M. and Goh, J.N. (2026). Reconceptualizing Nyah Gender Presentations in Later Life: Malaysian Trans Women, Transitioning, and Health, in A.C. Santos (Ed.) A Research Agenda for Sexuality and Aging. Edward Elgar.
- Chew, M. and King, A. (2026) Queering Cultural Gerontology, in Twigg, J., & Martin, W. (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Cultural Gerontology (2nd ed.). Routledge.
- Chew, M., Baxter, R., Pemble, C., Joshi, M., Tavener, P., Prescott, A., Valpuesta, D. M., Toolan, S. (2025). Growing Older in a Changing World: What's next for gerontology? Priorities for research, policy and practice. The Open University. Media. http://doi.org/10.21954/OU.RD.30307369.V2
- Chew, M. (2025) 'Reconceptualising Gender Expressions of Older Trans Women in Malaysia', at the Evidence-based Care for Aging Trans and Non-binary People Workshop, 31 March-3 April 2025, Lorentz Center at Universiteit Leiden, the Netherlands.
- Chew, M. (2024) 'Life course of Ageing Trans women: Sociohistorical Influence in later Life', at the Health and Social Needs of the Gender Diverse Conference, 9-10 November 2024, Penang, Malaysia.
- Chew, M. (2024) Trans Ageing in Malaysia: Navigating Challenges in Later Life, 1st International Forum on LGBTQI+ Ageing in Southern Europe, 30 Sep-1 Oct, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
- Chew, M. (2024) 'Disparities of Ageing Trans Women in the Global South: The Malaysian Context', at the symposium panel on Not Just for the Queers: The Salience of Research on LGBTQ+ Ageing for Generalist Gerontology and Geriatrics, and Transforming the World, 27th Nordic Congress of Gerontology, 14-17 June, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm.
- Chew, M. (2023) Ageing Trans Identities: Understanding the Life Course of Older Malaysian Trans Women. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7986276
- Coffman, J., Chew, M., Tweedie, R., Hadlock, A. (2016) Balik Kampung: Memories of Fulbright ETAs in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: MACEE.