Towards trans-feminist coalitions in the post-Yugoslav space : building feminist radical solidarities

Pan, Maja (author)

The conflict between trans-inclusive and trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) has recently erupted in the post-Yugoslav space, adding to the urgency of embracing trans-feminism. In order to forge the ground for such a feminist orientation, this paper interweaves two theoretical reflections: the subject of feminism, and the historical lesbian experience of becoming ‘included’ with/in it. Beginning with the idea that, similarly to trans, it also took time and effort for lesbianity (see discussion on this concept in the article) to be recognised as a ‘legitimate’ subject of feminist emancipation, I extend Wittig's negation of lesbian womanhood to trans women. With this in mind, I argue that feminist radical solidarity requires an open-ended, liminal conception of gender. I then draw upon nine interviews with predominantly cis-gender lesbian activists from the post-Yugoslav space to explore the ways in which they endeavoured to bring about feminist radical solidarity in their activist engagement. I conclude that solidarity rather than normative inclusion that we, lesbians, fought for as feminists, should eventually be put at the service of trans-feminism. Like that, trans-feminism can become an integral part of women studies, trans women can be recognised as subjects of feminism, and trans persons embraced as our political and personal allies.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sociology of culture, feminism, lesbian activism, solidarity, TERF, post-Yugoslav space, exclusionary politics, trans activism
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 131-147
• Numbering: Vol. 30, iss. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-146037
• UDC: 141.72:305
• ISSN on article: 1350-5068
• DOI: 10.1177/13505068221087335
• COBISS.SI-ID: 103830019
• Publication date in RUL: 18.05.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: European journal of women's studies
• Shortened title: Eur. j. women's stud.
• Publisher: SAGE
• ISSN: 1350-5068
• COBISS.SI-ID: 17488221

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: sociologija kulture, feminizem, lezbični aktivizem, solidarnost, TERF, postjugoslovanski prostor, politike izključevanja, transaktivizem