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By Rebecca, June 1, 2011 12:39 pm

If you want to participate, you only have until 6/3/11 to do so!

I was recently contacted by Jeremy Mann, a researcher I met last year. He’s currently working on an awesome-sounding project to demonstrate the lack of trans and gender-varient folks in history and archives. I’ll let him explain:

I am currently working on research that calls attention to the lack of space and concern in history and archives for trans and gender-variant people.  My goal is to not only point out the ignorance, violence, and accountability surrounding this issue, but to also offer solutions to archivists for how they can better serve all people in safeguarding memory and the past, especially past struggles.  The struggle to be who you want to be in the face of constant oppressions should not be lost, forgotten, or lived over and over again.

Please help me in this research/activism by participating in a questionnaire I developed for the purpose of empowering the “subjects” by centering their voices in my work (rather than me speaking for others).  If you identify as transgender, transsexual, trans, and/or genderqueer, or cross-dressing is a significant part of your life, please take the time to help me keep historians and archivists responsible.

There is a horrific absence of trans and gender-variant people in US and global histories, especially archives.  People in power often use history as a tool to deny other people’s rights, such as gender expression or employment nondiscrimination.  When people and struggle are missing in history/archives, others take advantage of them.  Help me change this.

Here’s the documents you need:

• Consent Form
  • Trans History & Archives Consent Form (Word Document)
  • Trans History & Archives Consent Form (PDF)
• Questionnaire
  • Trans History & Archives Questionnaire (Word Doc)
  • Trans History & Archives Questionnaire (PDF)

You only need one of each, I’ve just included both formats in case one is easier than the other. Email completed forms to jmain@luc.edu by 6/3/2011!

Sorry for the short notice, but I hope you’ll be able to help with this project.

Comments (6)

By Rebecca, April 11, 2009 12:36 am

I admit it – I’ve used the word “tranny” both online and off, and even a few times on this blog. But, as I’ve been thinking more about the issue (and about how I feel about ‘fag,’ and the-N-word) I’ve come to the realization that I don’t like what it communicates.

At first, I wasn’t even sure what was making me uneasy. The idea of word reclamation is very attractive as a member of an opressed group, and there is something extremely powerful about turning a word on oppressors. Because, lets face it, “tranny” is not generally used in mainstream media as a positive term. With the exception of an Urban Dictionary link*, most of the top search results for “tranny” are sex sites, as good an example as any of the societal fetishization and objectification of trans women. Searching for “lesbian,” in comparison, brings up links to Wikipedia, Lesbian.com, resources about being gay, etc. That sends a very specific message about what being a “tranny” means, and could actually strengthen the argument that “tranny” should be reclaimed, or needs to be reclaimed. Which is what I used to think.

I’ve changed my mind.

Continue reading 'Using “Tranny”'»