The Invisible Killings: The Epidemic of Transfemicide by Martina Semino

Abstract

The killing of transgender women is a widespread social problem throughout the world. Nonetheless, these crimes are often made invisible by their mislabeling and the lack of research surrounding them. This paper provides a contribution which explores the reconceptualization of the killing of transgender women from anti-trans hate crimes to transfemicide. This paper uses a case-study approach to analyse the killings of transgender women in Argentina and specifically the case of Diana Sacayàn and its judgment. By exploring the differences that arise between naming the murder as a hate crime, femicide or transfemicide the paper positions itself in the politics of naming. Indeed, the argument is made that transfemicide is the only term able to capture the unique experiences of transgender women because of their inherent intersectional identities and the continuum of violence and discrimination they face in their day-to-day life often ending in their murder.