TRANSlation · Trans in Translation: Multilingual practices and local/global gender and sexuality discourses in Polish transition narratives

Trans in Translation: Multilingual practices and local/global gender and sexuality discourses in Polish transition narratives

TRANSlation examined gender transition narratives shared by Polish creators on blogs and YouTube. Specifically, it focused on the use and role of multilingual resources in trans-creating a new language of gender and sexuality within the Polish transgender community. While people transcending gender systems of their cultures have always existed, they have not always had the language to verbalize their feelings and experiences. The modern definition of transgender as part of a person’s identity, and an earlier understanding of “transsexuality” as a medical disorder, have arguably developed in the West (predominantly in English-speaking cultures). Due to the global domination of the US-American culture, and the privileging of “Western” knowledges, these discourses have functioned as role models for countries and cultures aspiring to be “modern” to follow. Hence “Western” (itself a contested term) cultural discourses circulate globally as universal knowledge, while cultures not (fully) subscribing to them are often considered as lagging behind, not modern or progressive enough. The Internet is a place where this Western discursive dominance can be observed – but also questioned and challenged. TRANSlation aimed to resist viewing Polish transgender discourses as “Western” inventions “imposed” on the local trans community, by tracing the history of Polish transgender discourses against the background of Poland’s modern history and its place along the West/East divide, and by redefining multilingual practices as linguistic resources used strategically by Polish transgender social media users in order to represent their experience in personal, individual, subjective, and localized ways. The overarching goal of TRANSlation was to offer an important contribution to the social and scientific understanding of this experience through an exploration of the creative language of transition stories within the Polish socio-cultural context. Gender transition in Poland is challenging due to the lack of a gender recognition law and a national protocol of trans-specific healthcare. Through the study of transition narratives, TRANSlation explored – and confirmed – the need for the introduction of modern gender recognition laws and medical transition standards that do not reproduce outdated ideas, are culturally sensitive and individually customizable. This position was reiterated in various communication and public engagement activities conducted with LGBTQ+ and transgender rights NGOs and activists in both Poland and the UK, where the project was based.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union