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You may have seen this announcement about books by women and AFAB folks who wrote under masculine pen names being republished with the authors' legal names. Much has already been said but I'll add something for my museum friends here. https://twitter.com/WomensPrize/status/1293477837702336512
It may feel feminist to "reclaim" historical figures under their legal, women's names. They might have been women undercover: banned from enlistment, shut out of publishing, blocked from med school.
HOWEVER they might not have been women at all. They might have been queer/trans.
HOWEVER they might not have been women at all. They might have been queer/trans.
Sometimes butch dykes, genderqueer afabs, and trans men are born with names that don't fit their gender. Publishing under another name may have been an act of self-expression for these authors instead of an act of self-suppression.
When these authors chose their pen names they had women contemporaries who published books, enlisted in the military, and practiced medicine under their legal names. It's lazy to assume all AFAB authors who used pen names were forced to in order to follow their publishing dreams.
When we interpret the story of a person assigned female at birth who had a male persona, we have to acknowledge there might be something queer there.
People always ask for "evidence" for queer history. Well here's some evidence! This is a sign to look closer.
People always ask for "evidence" for queer history. Well here's some evidence! This is a sign to look closer.
