Connecting Trans and Critical Animal Studies in an Age of Authoritarianism

Organized by Valerie Sofie Tollhopf and Eva Meijer
13 April, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam

This symposium aims to investigate connections, overlaps and tensions between critical animal studies and trans studies.

Currently, there is some engagement with animal studies and posthumanism from a trans studies perspective, and there is some acknowledgement of trans studies from a critical animal studies perspective. However, critical animal studies? engagement with trans studies remains scarce and at times theoretically shallow, in that it draws on trans studies discourses in a tendentially superficial way. Trans studies? discussion of nonhuman animals does not always conceptualize their position in critical (political) terms.

With this symposium we aim to foster a dialogue between trans studies and critical animal studies. This is beneficial for both fields: CAS can gain important perspectives on a so far under-theorised axis of domination (one that plays an important role in current processes of fascisation and must thus be part of comprehensive political analyses). Trans studies can expand on its current involvement with animal studies, adding a more critical stance towards human-animal relationships and an all too peaceful notion of ?entanglement?, which considers the material conditions of animal struggles.

We also aim to conceptualize and foster political solidarity. In the current age of authoritarianism, both trans studies and critical animal studies are under threat. Furthermore, under the rise of right-wing extremism trans people worldwide are increasingly met with hostility and violence. While not obscuring the differences, better understanding processes of othering and objectification can help shed light and fight the oppression of both groups.

We invite abstracts for 20 minute presentations on the following and related themes:

• Animalization, dehumanization & (racialized) transness
• New materialist and other (e.g. historical materialist) approaches to trans and critical animal studies
• Decolonial and Indigenous approaches to trans and critical animal studies
• ?Trans? nonhuman animals, gender nonconforming animals, multispecies trans solidarity
• Queer and trans ecology approaches
• Trans studies and critical animal studies from a social movement perspective
• Considering trans people and animals jointly in the current political climate (e.g. further exploration of notions like ?soy boy? as fascist imaginary of racial and gendered degeneracy, tied to the consumption of plant-based protein)
• Historical perpectives on trans-animal topics - e.g. animal experimentation in endocrinology, the interconnected emergence of the taxonomies of race, species, and gender
• Relations of trans people and nonhuman animals to capitalist relations, to production and reproduction; commonalities and (substantial) structural differences; potential modes of alliance
• Anthropodecentering trans studies: What is at stake by including critical engagement with animals in the field? What are potential objections to the conjunction?
• Total liberation approaches / anarchist perspectives on the connection between trans and critical animal studies
• Trans-exclusive genealogies of critical animal studies via ecofeminism & how to engage with that
• Queering and transing critical animal studies
• Joy, possibility, fluidity, utopia: How to live differently with ourselves and others.

In addition to academic presentations, we also invite artists, activists and organizers to send proposals for presentations. Please note that there is no financial support available for showing art works or performances. The deadline for abstracts is January 15th 2026. You can send your abstract of max. 300 words to transanimalstudies gmail com, mailto:transanimalstudies gmail com. This is an in person event and there is no opportunity to present or attend online.