Can a [Thai] Trans Speak?: Finding a Way to Subjectivity Through My Queer Archives

• In Event: Can the (Southeast-Asian) Women and Transgender Speak?: Autoethnography at the Margin by Four Thai Feminists

Abstract

As a Thai Trans [Kathoey] person, I am critically aware of the Trans movement in Thai society. Academic work on Trans activism in Thailand is lacking, especially in the field of Transgender history. Following Stoler’s (2002) proposal to move from archive-as-source to archive-as-subject, my presentationl illustrates a shift from Kathoey positioning and research methodology from previous studies on Kathoey history to my approach of re-examining my personal archives -- my elementary school notebooks -- by applying Queer and Feminist archival theory. Researching personal archives contribute a significant step to transforming positions from Kathoeys being recorded to being historical recorders.

Presenter

• Chanathip Suwannanon, Thammasat University