Davy, Z and Steinbock, E. (2012). ‘‘Sexing it Up’: Notes towards Theorizing Trans Sexuality’. In Hines, S. & Taylor, Y. (Eds), Sexualities: Past Reflections, Future Directions. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan: 266-285.

In this chapter we suggest that the organizing medical concept of ‘transsexuality’ either overtly represses and denies sexuality as a factor in trans experience, or explicitly understands transitioning as originating in a hyper-sexuality. We track this representation of trans embodiment as a form of excessive sexuality in the pornographic imagination, particularly with regard to the mythic figure of the ‘she-male’ that overshadows the ‘he-female.’ Raven Kaldera and Hanne Blank suggest that the damaging impact of medical representations of hyper-sexuality on the cultural representation of transfolk, results in them being ‘pictured as cardboard cutouts with improbable anatomy who will fuck and be fucked by anyone, anything, anytime, in any way’ (Blank & Kaldera, 2002: 7). Yet, until recently, erotic material featuring FTMs was nonexistent, suggesting apparent lack of sexual interest. At issue is the lack of adequate erotic role models in sexually explicit representations as well as the lack of theoretical responsibility towards incorporating analyses of trans sexuality that begin from the transitioning body itself.

We argue that pornography provides a social space to explore and produce one’s sexual body that allows trans folk to move beyond what is commonly known as heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality and the mainstay of theorizations within both cultural and psychomedical research on trans sexualitites. 

Teaching Workshop

I am looking forward to providing a workshop entitled "Researching Trans People: Research Practices and Ethical Issues" (Dr Zowie DAVY, (University of Lincoln) Chair: Dr Mel Duffy, DCU at the
SELF, SELVES
AND
SEXUALITIES
8-10 MARCH 2012
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies
School of Nursing and Human Sciences
The Second Irish International
Conference in Sexuality Studies
I will explore the historical aspects of researching trans people and the relationships between gender and sexuality. I hope to move the gender/sexuality debate beyond a simplistic understanding researching binary genders and binary sexualities (hetero/homo/bi). I will utilize some aspects of Jacob Hale's rules for researching trans people that moves beyond historically restricted notions of trans sexualities and look at the intersections with a number of discourses, such as medicine, culture, sociology and so on to explore whether researchers can incorporate new methods and perhaps new ways of researching trans sexualities and what that might mean for our understanding of trans sexualities more generally. However, I will emphasize that researchers we must be aware of their political and theoretical positions whilst representing trans sexualities.

I hope that the workshop participants will generate innovative ways of looking at methods, data collection, and analysis that illustrates in the words of Sandy Stone (1991) a "wider spectra of desire" of trans sexualities.

Recognizing Transsexuals: Personal, Political and Medicolegal Embodiment

Sample pages for published titles are available to view online at: www.ashgate.com

‘This important and timely book speaks to the gap in the literature concerning trans people and

embodiment. Recognizing Transsexuals is theoretically sharp, drawing on the recent insights concerning

gender and politics that have developed within the trans communities and elsewhere. It will be of interest to

anyone concerned with gender equality, bodily change, and gender diversity.’

– Surya Monro, University of Huddersfield, UK

‘Recognizing Transsexuals resonates with current personal, political and institutional shifts around gender

diversity in the UK, Europe and North America. Its focus on trans embodiment and bodily aesthetics fills

a gap in trans studies literature, and offers a distinctive voice to work on gender and the body. Davy fuses

the personal and political to provide important theoretical and empirical reflections on issues central to

“recognition” debates.’ – Sally Hines, University of Leeds, UK

Teaching queer/trans sexuality

Recognition or redistribution friend or foe for queers?

Since ever i can remember the notion of "economic growth" has generally been seen the most desirable outcome for society, at least in the language that is used by economic reporters and politicians. However, the growth of the economy and the spread of prosperity in some quarters have increasingly been seen as problematic rather than positive. By defending economic growth, by highlighting the gains it has brought to humanity in terms of material wealth, technological progress, increased life expectancy and personal consumption, does this foreclose or enhance what others see as contributing to an individualist greedy culture, which damages relationships with each other and with the environment. Does money foster happiness or unhappiness? Does a societies economic growth lessen or widen inequalities and with whom? Do queers have a better life when the going is good, do women have a better life when the going is good, do ethnic minorities have a good life when the going is good? The questions posed, I believe must be as much philosophical as it is material and would look to the debate of recognition and redistribution for the answers:
Fraser, N. (1997). Heterosexism, Misrecognition, and Capitalism: A Response to Judith Butler. Social Texts, 52/53, 279-289
Fraser, N. (2003). Rethinking recognition: overcoming displacement and reification in cultural politics. In B. Hobson (Ed.), Recognition Struggles and Social Movements: Contested Identities, Agency and Power (pp. 21-32). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Honneth, A. (1995). The struggle for recognition: the moral grammar of social conflicts (J. Anderson, Trans.). Cambridge: Polity Press.
Honneth, A. (2001). Recognition or Redistribution: Changing Perspectives on the Moral Order of Society. Theory, Culture & Society, 18(2-3), 43-55.
McNay, L. (2008). Against Recognition. Cambridge: Polity Press.


You may wish to contribute to this debate in Leeds, UK @

Is Unfettered Growth Possible or Desirable?

This event is planned to start at 6:30 pm on Nov 15, 2010 at The Carriageworks (The Millennium Room)

School of Health and Social Care Seminar Series 2010-2011, University of Lincoln

School of Health and Social Care Seminar Series 2010-2011, University of Lincoln
This themed seminar series intends to bring together scholars, practitioners and activists who are working with feminist Intersectionality theory and feminist ethics in healthcare. The seminars will illustrate how intersectional approaches to healthcare can make an important contribution to knowledge and practice, which is crucial if quality improvement is to promote greater equity of healthcare provision. The speakers will be looking at theoretical, institutional, methodological and ‘case study’ approaches that speak to the multiplicity of voices who access/provide healthcare.

Wed 20th Oct 2010 Prof Janneke Van Mens-Verhulst (University of Utrecht)
"Improving health and social care with an intersectional approach to diversity"
Wed 16th Feb 2011 Dr Jo Gilmartin (University of Leeds)
“The impact of reconstructive surgery following massive weight loss on patients’ quality of life”
Future dates/speakers:
Wed 16th Mar 2011 Dr Ruth Deery (University of Huddersfield)
Wed 13th Apr 2011 Prof Nancy Harding (University of Bradford)
Wed 18th May 2011 Dr Ulrike Klöppel (Charité University, Berlin)

ROOM: ARM201, Architecture Building, Brayford Pool, University of Lincoln, (See number 9 on map) http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/maps/lincoln-city-centre.htm

PLEASE NOTE: Prof. Van Mens-Verhulst’s seminar will be from 12:00-13.30, all other seminars will be from 13:30-14:45

Thanks to Foundation for Sociology of Health & Illness

Equality Network - MSPs' motions on the Bishop's comments

 

Dear friends,

There have been lots of letters about Bishop Devine’s comments, in the Scotsman and Herald – see links below. If you wrote, thank you!

Three MSPs have submitted motions in the Scottish Parliament about the Bishop’s comments: Patrick Harvie, George Foulkes and Iain Smith. You can read the motions at the end of this email.

It is important that as many MSPs as possible support these motions. Would you please consider taking a few minutes to contact your MSPs?

We need to let MSPs know that the majority in Scotland disagree with the Bishop!

Everyone in Scotland has one constituency MSP and seven regional MSPs. Please consider emailing your MSPs to ask them to support one or more of the three motions – motion 1563, 1565 or 1572.

You can find out who your MSPs are by entering your postcode here:

www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/msplocator.htm

By clicking on each MSP’s name, you can then click on ‘Contact details’.

You can use the supplied email address to email in the normal way, or fill in the direct email form provided (which is slow!). In either case, you need to give your address and postcode, so that the MSP knows that you live in their constituency/region.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this!

Here are the letters in the Herald and Scotsman:

http://tinyurl.com/3d3o2a

http://tinyurl.com/39xpoq

http://tinyurl.com/2vuv7a

http://tinyurl.com/3chzgd

Yours for equality,

Tim Hopkins

Equality Network, 30 Bernard St, Edinburgh, EH6 6PR

www.equality-network.org

Email sent to: zowie.davy@ntlworld.com

The three Parliamentary motions are:

S3M-1563 Patrick Harvie: Homophobia Has No Place in Scottish Society - That the Parliament notes with weary dismay the most recent remarks made by Bishop Joseph Devine which suggest that LGBT communities should not be present at Holocaust memorial events; recognises in particular that many thousands of gay men were arrested, imprisoned and killed by the Nazi regime and that many of these were later rounded up and re-imprisoned by the allies, being seen at the time as "legitimate" targets; welcomes the significant progress which has since been made across Europe toward recognising the equal dignity and worth of all people regardless of sexual orientation or transgender identity; is concerned at further remarks by the Bishop which appear to encourage parents not to tolerate their gay, lesbian or bisexual children; believes that such remarks are homophobic and deeply harmful to society and to young LGBT people who are contemplating coming out to their families, and commits itself to continuing to work toward a society in which prejudice and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and transgender identity are a thing of the past.

Supported by: Ian McKee, Marlyn Glen, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Elaine Smith, George Foulkes, Bashir Ahmad

S3M-1565 George Foulkes: Un-Christian Remarks of Bishop Devine - That the Parliament expresses concern at the hurt which will be caused to gay people, and gay Catholics in particular, by the unfortunate, outdated and un-Christian remarks of Bishop Devine; believes that all enlightened Catholics reject all forms of prejudice including racism, sectarianism and homophobia, and acknowledges that we must all remember and learn from the past in order to equip ourselves with the tools to tackle prejudice in all its forms which includes acknowledging the rights of the LGBT community to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Supported by: Marlyn Glen, Margaret Smith, Patrick Harvie, Rhona Brankin, Iain Gray, Elaine Murray, Mr Frank McAveety

S3M-1572 Iain Smith: Dignity and Integrity for All - That the Parliament notes the lecture given by the Rt Rev Joseph Devine, Bishop of Motherwell, at St Aloysius’ College on Tuesday 11 March 2008; condemns his claim that homosexuals were not persecuted during the holocaust and his suggestion that the imprisonment of Oscar Wilde and other homosexuals was appropriate; observes that according to figures of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100,000 men were arrested as homosexuals by the Third Reich between 1933 and 1945 and that it is estimated that over 10,000 homosexuals died as a result of the Holocaust; further notes that in many countries homosexuality is today punishable by death or imprisonment, and urges all churches to defend the dignity and integrity of every individual regardless of sexual orientation.

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