Transgender feminism

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to reflect on a case study highlighting the experiences of a trans woman engaging in sexual and reproductive health and rights spaces. It is through this woman’s experience that we begin to decipher and illustrate what it means to be a trans woman in post-apartheid South Africa. Core identity issues inherent in the transitioning phase are explored throughout this article. Curiously, trans people have remained an enigma to this day due to their relative invisibility, even within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexed community. Thus, this article highlights the gaps evident in the assimilation of transgendered women in South Africa in the presence of laws and organisations striving to empower minority groups. The authors wish to articulate trans women’s experiences of engagement in mainstream feminist spaces.