-
A Transgender Gaze at Genesis 38
- Author(s):
- Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies (view group) , Samuel Ross
- Date:
- 2020
- Group(s):
- Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies
- Item Type:
- Article
- Tag(s):
- Genesis 38, Tamar, transphobia, transgender gaze, queer interpretation, Queer and gender studies, Biblical studies
- Permanent URL:
- http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/wbs2-qj93
- Abstract:
- While queer interpretation of the Hebrew Bible has begun to flourish, readings which focus particularly on trans and gender-diverse experiences remain lacking. In this article, I offer a trans reading of Gen 38, the Judah and Tamar narrative, drawing the text into dialogue with a trans hermeneutic. This allows me to reflect on trans and gender-diverse experiences while also shedding new light on the biblical narrative. In the course of this reading, I focus on three narrative aspects which I believe are particularly relevant to trans and gender-diverse lives: Tamar’s precarity, her engagement in sex work, and the complexity of her motives for doing so. This reading is intended to counter transphobic uses of the Bible, contributing to a growing body of trans affirmative biblical studies and providing some new answers to questions about the text.
- Notes:
- Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies 1.2 (Spring 2020), pages 25-39
- Metadata:
- xml
- Status:
- Published
- Last Updated:
- 3 years ago
- License:
- Attribution-NonCommercial
- Share this:
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2.-sam-ross-final-25-39.pdf