Creative Research Methods in Trans Studies

9th Nordic Trans Studies Conference, December 8-9, 2025, Örebro University

How do you use - or would like to use - creative methods in trans studies? How do researcher-artists create amid the sometimes-conflicting requirements of academic research, art, and activism?

Traditionally, academic research reporting is expected to be clear and concise. The reader should easily understand the researcher’s interpretations and analyses. In artistic practices, however, we often value ambiguity and the possibility of multiple interpretations. Furthermore, in activist discourses, simplifying complex information is sometimes needed for the message to be impactful. Trans studies is academic and political. When we employ artistic methods within trans studies, we position ourselves at the intersection of research, art, and politics. How do we navigate these different ways of knowledge production?

We invite the participants to ponder these questions using creative methods. Instead of a traditional academic presentation, we would like you to make a performance related to your topic or (artistic) method of research. Alternatively, you may tell a story that illustrates a dilemma, question, or suggestion you want to discuss. The performances can be, for example, a slideshow, spoken word, stand-up, dance, etc. You can also use this workshop to try out a method you have not worked with before.

We are looking for short 5-minute stories/performances so that we have plenty of time for conversations after each participant. We wish to receive proposals that include a short description of your performance/story and its themes.

Bios

Kaarna Tuomenvirta (they/them) is a doctoral researcher in Gender Studies at the University of Helsinki. They research how trans people experience the gender assessment period in Finnish gender identity clinics. They held creative writing workshops for the participants and used poetic methods in analysing interviews.

Utu-Tuuli Jussila (they/them) is a doctoral researcher in gender studies at the University of Helsinki. They focus on visual representations of non-binary genders and use artistic research methods, mainly collaborative self-portraiture photography.