The Epistemology of the passing

ten analytical notes on trans (in) visibility experiences

Abstract

This article presents ten analytical notes on the experience of the “passabilidade trans” (trans passing), that is, of people who are assigned to be of one sex when they are born and, at different times in their lives, intentionally or unintentionally, “passar por” (to pass for) someone of another sex. These experiences are analyzed here based on the understanding that they characterize a historical regime of (in)visibility (recognition). The theoretical framework involves theories and studies feminist, postcolonial, transfeminist, queer, decolonial, among others. The discussion points to a regime of (in)visibility that is fundamentally about sex, in addition to suggesting that “passabilidade” involves trans and non-trans people. It is concluded that these are intersectional experiences of gender, sexuality, race/color, class and other social markers.