Work

Transgender History, Part I: An Anthropology of Gender‐Nonconformity Across Ages and Cultures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Transgender experiences have been attested since the dawn of civilization. Long before gender was reinterpreted as socially constructed and non-binary by 20th-century Western scholarship, concepts such as not belonging to the gender assigned at birth, transitioning, and being "neither a man nor a woman" integrated the belief systems and practices of various societies worldwide. This review examines anthropological and historical records of trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming behavior spanning six continents and five millennia. Moreover, we investigate how trans experiences interact with local traditions, family structures, laws, religions, and other social institutions. Finally, we explore trans-inclusive historiographical trends and discuss the relevance of transgender history awareness for professional and academic endeavors beyond the social sciences.

Source: Behavioral Sciences & the Law

DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2714

Authors: Rodrigo Fontenele, Margarita Abi Zeid Daou

Institutions: St. Elizabeths Hospital, Department of Behavioral Health, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Language: English

Topic: Gender and Feminist Studies

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W4406778680

FWCI: 14.83

Cites: 71

Cited by: 8

Related to: 10