Photo credits: Betty Smart’26
By Isabel Dunn ’27
Staff Writer
The 2024-25 academic year marks the tenth anniversary of transgender and gender-nonconforming inclusive admissions at Mount Holyoke College. In celebration, a number of events dedicated to the trans, gender-nonconforming and nonbinary community are happening around campus under the name TGNC10. Also held on campus this semester is a class on transgender literature taught by Visiting Assistant Lecturer in English Dr. Jude Hayward-Jansen. Although Hayward-Jansen’s class was not created with TGNC10 in mind, its course goals are in line with the project’s mission: uplifting trans voices and celebrating trans stories.
In an interview with Mount Holyoke News, Hayward-Jansen said that they created the syllabus with a broad framework of trans literature in mind. “In the beginning of the course, we read a lot of autobiographies and memoirs, because a lot of the early texts that we have in trans literature were memoirs that were very much in conversation … with the medical field,” they said.
Later in the semester, the class will explore poetry by trans people. Hayward-Jansen wanted to highlight the trans poetics movement, as well as some local authors. The unit includes works from Samuel Ace, a judge from last year’s Glascock Poetry Contest, and Joy Ladin, who presented her new poetry collection “Family” at Mount Holyoke on Sept. 23.
One of Hayward-Jansen’s favorite works of trans literature, “Detransition, Baby” by Torrey Peters, is also featured on the syllabus. “I think [the book] has become like a real, foundational text, even though it’s not very old,” they said. “Torrey Peters does a really good job of giving a snapshot of trans femme life … and the difficulty of transition, that it’s oftentimes not just this joyous thing, but it's also something that has a lot of grief in it, and I think that's part of the story that doesn’t always get told.”
Hayward-Jansen noticed that young adult literature stood out as a notable sphere of emerging trans writing, and they wanted to present this trend in their class. “One of the things that we really see is that YA lit is kind of where a lot of queer and trans literature … is coming out,” they said. “It’s really exciting to see in young adult fiction.”
The growing inclusion of trans characters in young adult novels is evident. The year of 2024 alone has seen many young adult publications by trans authors. “Most Ardently” by Gabe Cole Novoa is a historical fiction retelling of “Pride and Prejudice.” Kacen Callendar’s “Infinity Alchemist” is the first book in a new fantasy series. “This Day Changes Everything” by Edward Underhill features a contemporary romance. Andrew Joseph White, who is known for his work in the speculative fiction genre, recently published his third novel, “Compound Fracture.”
When asked for their thoughts on why young adult literature has emerged as such a prominent space for trans literature, Hayward-Jansen said, “I think that YA literature is imaginative and creative in this way that really appeals to the trans experience as this very creative process of building bodies and building identities. So it seems like that would go really hand in hand.”
The course closes with another one of Hayward-Jansen’s favorite works of trans literature: “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi. “The main character kind of goes through a transition process, but also while they’re exploring their indigenous identity. So it really pairs those two things together,” Hayward-Jansen said.
Moving forward, Hayward-Jansen said that they are open to changes to the course. “I really want the second half of the class to evolve and evolve quickly. I’m very open to new titles, so I’m always seeking those out.”
The class will not be offered next semester, but Hayward-Jansen recommended looking into Associate Professor of English Andrea Lawlor’s Queer and Trans Writing course after Lawlor returns from their leave for the 2024-25 academic year.