Epistemologies, Methodologies and Ethics of Academic-activist Knowledge Production from Trans* Perspectives. Researching Trans* - being Researched as Trans*

In the last decades, a broad academic-activist knowledge production from trans* perspectives has emerged. This perspective breaks with a historical discursive exclusion of trans* people, a reduction of trans* voice to the role of ‘research subjects’ or ‘testimony’, as well as dynamics of pathologization and psychiatrization in research practices. Within the field of trans* knowledge production, a wide range of reflections on epistemologies, methodologies and ethics can be found, contributing new perspectives to existing discussions on research reflexivity in Social and Political Sciences. The review of trans* knowledge production reveals the presence of some of the following questions, which at the same time may serve as starting point for a shared discussion in the Panel. To which degree trans* perspectives contribute new epistemologies, methodologies and ethics to the field of Social and Political Sciences? Which new conceptualizations regarding gender expressions / identities are introduced? Do these new conceptualizations influence research methodologies? How to introduce non-binary gender concepts and categories in the field of Social and Political Sciences? Are there specific ethical aspects to be taken into account in trans* research? Which ethical reflections are contributed by the double experience of ‘researching trans*’ and ‘being researched as trans*’? How to avoid dynamics of pathologization and psychiatrization in trans* research? How to reduce social inequalities and discursive exclusion related to gender expression / identities in the field of Social and Political Sciences? How to bridge the academic-activist gap? Does the double academic-activist background include a specific ethico-political responsibility? Which are the role and social utility of trans* research? Which place has a self-reflection on the own gender expression / identity in trans* studies? How to develop a trans* knowledge production from a depathologization perspective?