In 2016 Brazilian transgender activist and writer Amara Moira published her memoir titled “What if I was a prostitute” in which she wrote about her experiences as a prostitute in the city of São Paulo and raised questions related to transphobia and prostitution. Published in a country that, statistically, is considered one of the most transphobic in the world, the book gained a lot of recognition. It is also the central topic of today’s conversation with Luciana Namorato, Professor of Literature in Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University Bloomington, who tells us that "Brazil is a country of contradictions because it is primarily known in the world for its black, queer and transgender people, yet refuses to give them rights."

In this episode we focus on the issue of transphobia in Brazil and worldwide; we discuss the differences between autofiction and fictionalized autobiography, and how trans-activists use this literary genre to express themselves. Professor Namorato explains terms such as transfeminism, and putafeminismo, which is specific to Brazil and crucial for understanding Amara Moira's memoir.

Host: Maria Łusakowska, Faculty of Modern Languages at the University of Warsaw

Guest: prof. Luciana Namorato, Indiana University Bloomington

Articles mentioned: 

Brazil continues to be the country with the largest number of trans people killed

Report: Brazil has highest number of trans people killed in 2022

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