Gender, Transgender and the Middle Ages with Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt
Dec 7, 2023
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Scholars of trans and genderqueer scholarship in medieval studies, Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt, discuss the meaning of terms like 'trans' and 'cis,' explore transgender and gender identity in relation to medieval thought, analyze gender representation in medieval literary texts, examine the story of a transgender saint facing transphobic structures, and delve into the complexities of gender assignment in saints' narratives.
Trans and genderqueer scholarship in medieval studies explores the fluidity of gender in texts.
Understanding trans identities involves recognizing gender as a spectrum and not dependent on medical processes.
Medieval hagiography celebrates transness, affirming the authenticity of trans lives and challenging transphobic narratives.
Deep dives
The importance of trans and gender-queer scholarship in medieval studies
Trans and gender-queer issues have become significant in both society and medieval studies. Scholars are exploring terms like trans and queer and their application to the past. The episode focuses on trans and gender-queer scholarship, particularly in medieval hagiography. It discusses examples of saints whose gender is fluid and examines the relevance of modern and medieval readers bringing their own experiences to the interpretation of texts. The episode emphasizes the importance of responsible and inclusive approaches to understanding trans and gender-queer subjects in medieval studies.
Understanding trans and cisgender identities
The episode provides an overview of terms like trans and cisgender to help listeners understand the concepts. It explains that being transgender means identifying with a gender different from the one assigned at birth, while being cisgender means identifying with the gender assigned at birth. The episode also highlights that gender is a spectrum that includes non-binary and agender identities. It emphasizes that being trans is not dependent on medical processes, but is about knowing one's identity and living authentically.
Challenges in studying transness in the Middle Ages
The episode explores the challenges of studying transness in the Middle Ages. It mentions the reinterpretation and editorial interventions in manuscripts, which can shape the understanding of gender-related texts. The episode stresses the importance of critically reading these texts and recognizing the potential biases introduced by editors. It also discusses the limited presence of personal narratives and the need to examine literature, particularly hagiography, for traces of trans lives and experiences.
Transness as a celebrated aspect of saints' lives
The episode highlights the celebration of transness in medieval hagiography. It discusses saints whose gender is revealed or transformed at the end of their lives, and notes society's attempts to reassign their gender through narratives and editorials. The episode emphasizes that the authenticity of these saints' transness is affirmed by their lives and relationships within religious communities. It argues that their transness was seen as holy and endorsed by God, challenging modern transphobic narratives and affirming the celebration of trans lives in medieval texts.
Approaching medieval texts with personal perspectives
The episode encourages listeners to trust their own interpretations and engage with medieval texts from personal perspectives. It advocates for allowing texts to inspire feelings and connections based on individual experiences. The episode also suggests seeking out scholarly interpretations and engaging in intellectual discussions to understand different readings and expand the possibilities of interpretation. It highlights the importance of active engagement and co-creating meaning with medieval texts.
In the past few years, trans and genderqueer issues have come to the forefront both in society and in the way scholars are approaching medieval studies. But what do these terms mean? And how do we apply them responsibly to the past? This week, Danièle speaks with Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt about trans and genderqueer scholarship in medieval studies.
