June is traditionally international pride month, a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ lives and promote the ongoing fight for greater freedoms and understanding. For history lovers, it is a chance to explore often overlooked and sometimes underappreciated historical perspectives from this community. However, currently, trans persons have been the focus of a slew of negative press and attention. In this climate of rising anti-trans sentiment, it is important to listen to the stories of trans persons and look at historical examples of trans lives. We spoke to four academics about the importance of studying trans history, how the concept of gender has shifted, and their hopes for the future.
How has the idea of gender identity changed through history?
Kit Heyam: The term 'gender identity' and indeed, the use of the word 'gender' to specifically talk about male, female and related categories - only dates back to mid-20th century Western sexology. Prior to that in Western culture, what we now call gender was inextricably entangled with other aspects of our experience like our sexuality, our dress, and our social role and that's still the case in many cultures today. This means there's so many fascinating histories of gender nonconformity which are too messy to fit into modern/Western trans categories - but which still show us that gender has never been fixed, uncontested, or tied to the body.
Denne historien er fra Issue 131-utgaven av All About History UK.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 131-utgaven av All About History UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SIEGE OF TOULON
TOULON, FRENCH REPUBLIC SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1793
REDISCOVERING THE FORGOTTEN LIVES OF QUEER MEN
We speak to the editor of a groundbreaking new collection that uncovers what life was like for gay men when homosexuality was illegal in Britain
FEMALE PHYSICIANS OF THE MIDDLE AGES
Determined to make a difference despite the male dominance of the medical world, these pioneering women overcame numerous obstacles in their efforts to aid the infirm
"EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE DAVID, NOBODY WANTS TO BE GOLIATH"
Author Terry Deary discusses his career, writing history, the success of Horrible Histories and his new book
THE FALL OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
How military errors and a failure to modernise helped to bring down the tsars
“lo Saturnalia!"
What was the 'Roman Christmas\"?
VICTORIAN UNDERWORLD
Discover the gangs that lurked down the dark alleys of 19th century Britain
A HISTORY OF FEASTING
Brian Hayden explains the social, political and cultural importance of these grand occasions
JAPAN HAD INVADED INDIA?
In 1944, the war in South Asia reached a critical moment as Japanese offensives threatened Allied control of north-eastern India and beyond
BATTLE OF EYLAU
PREUSSISCH EYLAU, EAST PRUSSIA (NOW BAGRATIONOVSK, KALININGRAD OBLAST, RUSSIA) 7-8 FEBRUARY 1807
