“That’s all it takes to be trans”: counter-strategies to hetero- and transnormative discourse on YouTube

Abstract The discourse surrounding transgender people has for a long time been influenced by certain narrative practices necessary to authenticate people’s trans status medical professionals. This conventional (master narrative), based on ideals of hetero- and cisnormativity, led stereotypical representations identities. These largely continue exist today. Nevertheless, counter-discourse these is becoming more prominent. Particularly YouTube become an increasingly popular platform counter-discursive action. current case study therefore focusses two YouTubers who challenge the normative creating their own counter-discourse. address four major topics representation: ideal binary gender, heterosexuality, wish transition in order pass as cisgender, belief that have always identified other gender. creators recognise discursively reproduced stereotypes use combination five different strategies refute them: Inversion, Parody, Complexification, Shift , Personal Experience . Making strategies, subjects’ positive aims at presenting multi-faceted representation