Liberation Trans, beyond Pink or Blue/Liberation Trans, beyond Pink or Blue

In the chapter of her book Liberation Trans, beyond Pink or Blue (1998), Leslie Feinberg tackles the theme of unity in her closing speech at the 7th Annual Quer Graduate Studies Conference. Feinberg raises several important questions about the theories that we study and how we can put them into practice. In this way, she states that theories should be put to the test in reality. On the other hand, she states that one of the greatest contributions we can make as academics is to develop clear theories, and make sure that our history and theory is relevant and accessible to all those who are willing to take actions, that is, to apply these theories. On the other hand, she also invites us to ask ourselves what side of history we are on, and how this concept of unity, beyond the labels, can lead us to social and economic renewals. Feinberg asks us a series of interesting questions that lead us to reevaluate our role as researchers and historians, because many times we do not take into account our position when approaching the object of study or applying certain theories. I find it interesting to connect this article with the readings of the first week because again they allow me to evaluate how I am studying, analyzing and approaching the journals of the French traveling nuns. After reading, I discovered that after my first reading of the diaries I had fixed my historical position regarding the nuns and the Indians, dividing them between good and bad / blue and pink, without taking into account other key points about the context, customs, and political and social situations.

On the other hand, the chapter of Liberation Trans, beyond Pink or Blue, by Sandra Bartky on the control over the body as an object of domination helped me to understand the different panoptics to which the nuns were exposed to through domination their bodies exercised control over their actions, including their writing. In the same way this control not only came from their confessors and the Holy Inquisition, also but from themselves. I believe that this reading leads us to question ourselves about the parameters of beauty or femininity and how each one of us contributes to maintain those standards within the social when monitoring the fulfillment of these. Currently, social networks function as a kind of panopticon where our vigilantes / aggressors remain anonymous. However, it has also opened up a space for other types of discourse such as body positive, where we try to normalize bodies in all sizes. I wonder how transsexuals help or not help to reaffirm these feminine ideals linked with beauty. In the same way, how can we reformulate these patterns and open the dialogue to an inclusive and open femininity concept that can be adapted to all women without distinctions of race, education or social class?

• Feinberg, Leslie. Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue. Boston, Mass: Beacon Press, 1998. Print.