The posttranssexual turn: a critique of select 21st century american trans life narratives

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the process of trans becoming and trans identity construction in select 21 st century American trans life narratives. The objective of the study is to problematise the nuances in the construction of the 21 st century American trans subjectivity pertaining to the notions of gender identity, corporeality, and desire. This research tackles issues related to the problematic representation of gender essentialism and transnormativity in the early American trans life narratives and examines the subsequent shift towards a reconceptualization of these concepts in the 21 st century. The study investigates the posttranssexual negation of gender binary and stereotyping, the wrong body model of trans subjectivity, and heterosexual hegemony in the select texts to evaluate their potential as transformative and reverse discourse using textual analysis and auto/biography method as research tools. Based on an analysis of select 21 st century American trans life narratives written by Kate Bornstein, Jamison Greene, Janet Mock, Jacob Tobia, and Meredith Talusan, the research concludes that these texts function as reverse discourse and challenge heteronormative hegemony. Unlike the classical stories of gender migration that promoted transnormativity, these life narratives are representative of the emergence of a novel gender paradigm aimed at challenging the conventional heteronormative agenda and reconfiguring its norms within the realm of trans identity politics. There is a post-structuralist reconceptualization of biological essentialism, gender identity, and role as well as sexuality evident in these narratives that question the absurdity of the reinvigoration and reappropriation of heteronormativity in trans identity construction.