Telling Trans Stories: (Un)doing the Science of Sex

This chapter contributes to an emerging body of trans theory which has offered a critique of the dematerialisation of the trans subject within queer theory and has ‘established what was effectively a new paradigm for the conceptualization and study of transgender phenomenon’ (Ekins and King 2006: 21). It is concerned with the ways in which transgendered identities are realised and expressed. It takes as its focus a participatory arts project entitled Sci:dentity, which was aimed at young trans people. The paper explores the ways that the project opened up a space where gendered identities were formed relationally with others. It explores the artwork that emerged from the project, which is concerned with gendered relations in the social world. It foregrounds young trans people’s experiences of gender relations in their everyday life, and examines the various ways that trans lives are storied. The chapter asks: what is at stake in listening to these stories for our theorisation of trans lives and the consequences of gendered relations