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This article seeks to reclaim Trans Studies as a space for political-theoretical practice committed to radical social transformation from its current state of superficiality and frustration. In a first step, the article proposes a critique of the 'gender identity' paradigm as a unique and fundamental contribution by Trans Studies scholarship, which exposes how the framework of 'gender identity' reproduces forms of othering, reductionism and coloniality. Building on this critique, the centrality of 'gender identity' as an analytical category in current Trans Studies writing becomes problematic and in need of explanation. In a second step, the article critically interrogates the impact of a liberal transgender rights project and its strategic notion of 'gender identity' on Trans Studies scholarship. It argues for the necessity to open up the political-theoretical imaginary of Trans Studies, explicitly including Marxist-feminist currents. The article finally proposes three political-theoretical commitments for Trans Studies.

This article seeks to reclaim Trans Studies as a space for political-theoretical practice committed to radical social transformation from its current state of superficiality and frustration. In a first step, the article proposes a critique of the 'gender identity' paradigm as a unique and fundamental contribution by Trans Studies scholarship, which exposes how the framework of 'gender identity' reproduces forms of othering, reductionism and coloniality. Building on this critique, the centrality of 'gender identity' as an analytical category in current Trans Studies writing becomes problematic and in need of explanation. In a second step, the article critically interrogates the impact of a liberal transgender rights project and its strategic notion of 'gender identity' on Trans Studies scholarship. It argues for the necessity to open up the political-theoretical imaginary of Trans Studies, explicitly including Marxist-feminist currents. The article finally proposes three political-theoretical commitments for Trans Studies.

Rezension zu: 1) Adrian de Silva: Negotiating the Borders of the Gender Regime: Developments and Debates on Trans(sexuality) in the Federal Republic of Germany. Bielefeld: transcript Verlag 2018. ISBN 978-3-8376-4441-8. 2) Tamás Jules Joshua Fütty: Gender und Biopolitik: Normative und intersektionale Gewalt gegen Trans*Menschen. Bielefeld: transcript Verlag 2019. ISBN 978-3-8376-4629-0.