Jack Halberstam navigates the tensions between trans* theory and feminism.

In the last decade, public discussions about transgender issues have increased exponentially. However, with this greater visibility has come not only power but also regulation, both for and against trans people. What was once considered an unusual or even unfortunate disorder has become an accepted articulation of the embodiment of gender, as well as a new space for activism and political recognition. What happened in recent decades to drive such an extensive rethinking of our understanding of gender embodiment? How did a stigmatized identity become so central to subjective articulations in the United States and Europe? And how have people responded to the new definitions?