Transgender Refugees and the Imagined South Africa

Thursday 6 June, 17.15 -18.30

9783319926681 copy

The Beyond the Binary Project, Oxford Queer Studies Network and the African Studies Centre are delighted to welcome Dr B Camminga to present their recent book Transgender Refugees and the Imagined South Africa: Bodies Over Borders and Borders Over Bodies (Palgrave 2018). This first in-depth study of the lives of transgender asylum seekers from the African continent living in South Africa centres on the experiences and narratives of people it terms 'gender refugees'. It tracks the conceptual journeying of the term 'transgender' from the Global North - where it originated - along with the physical embodied journeying of transgender asylum seekers from countries within Africa to South Africa and considers the interrelationships between the two.

Following the presentation, Dr Camminga will be in discussion with Ruth Ramsden-Karelse, DPhil researcher in the Faculty of English and Literature, followed by a Q & A. Attendees will then be able to view the Lande: The Calais 'Jungle' and Beyond exhibition until 19.00.

B Camminga (they/them) is a Postdoctoral Fellow, African Centre for Migration & Society, Wits University. Their research interests include: transgender rights in relation to migration and asylum; the bureaucratisation of sex/gender; and transgender history in South Africa.

Please note that entry is via the Robinson Close entrance to the Museum, off South Parks Road. This is a public event and all are very welcome. If you have any queries, please contact ruth.ramsden-karelse@merton.ox.ac.uk.