Profoundly Decolonizing?: Reflections on a Transfeminist Perspective of International Relations

In the interdisciplinary research area of Transgender studies, Transfeminist theoretical perspectives have witnessed much innovation over the last few years. This has culminated in an increase in the acknowledgement of Transgender people in the West, as well as a growing affirmation of gender-plural identities across the world. In the academy, however, Transfeminism continues to be sidelined, not making waves beyond the interdisciplinary research areas of Transgender studies and queer studies. The research field of international politics continues to subscribe to a cisnormative understanding of feminist politics. This article advances the point that Transfeminist thought, far from forming a fringe current, possesses the potential of being strongly informative, influential, and beneficial to the study of international relations and in advocating for comprehensive gender equality and justice agendas in world politics.