Desire, Refusal, World-Making, and Underworlding: Transfeminist Praxis as a Transfemme Educator in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Work

Transfeminism as a critical theory is widely underutilized within diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in higher education. As a way to reimagine critical approaches to gender education in cocurricular spaces, this article conceptualizes a transfeminist praxis to be adopted and adapted by DEI educators. The development of this praxis draws from contemporary scholarship on transfeminism, research on the mechanisms of trans oppression in higher education, and the author's experiences with DEI educational efforts. Foregrounded in these theoretical and experiential threads, a transfeminist praxis is articulated with emphasis on the components of desire, refusal, world-making, and underworlding. By conceptualizing a transfeminist praxis, the article invites DEI educators to consider how transfeminism can inform their orientations and work to encourage campus constituents toward trans/gender liberation.