Trans Theory and Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

The limitations of feminist frameworks to conceptualize trans people’s unique experiences have led to an emerging trans theoretical framework, seeking to complicate theoretical understandings of gender to be inclusive of trans and nonbinary identities. In this paper, I provide support to this emerging theoretical framework by first illustrating how Black, Indigenous and queer feminist frameworks conceptualize engendered violence, highlighting the theoretical limitations when applied to trans experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). Subsequently, I re-examine trans IPV through a trans theory lens, demonstrating how complexities of trans identities and embodiment of gender necessitates a more comprehensive theoretical understanding of gender, and how trans theory can provide nuanced understanding.