Orbits: Conceptual Limits to Queer Science

Every other week “The Transgender Question” makes a reappearance, as social commentators and political activists attempt to advocate for or against the continued existence of transgender people in society. Despite constituting less than one in 200 Americans, transgender people are highly salient to the public conscience. Given the highly sensitive social and political circumstances of this group, and the potential for science to be misconstrued in the service of various political agendas, research into Queer topics must be especially cognizant of how studies are designed, carried out, and how results are framed. This project builds on Queer Theory to present a modular framework to inform empirical investigations in Queer Science, providing a conceptual foundation for carrying out high quality, inclusive, and communicable research.