Social Ontology
Social Philosophy
Social and Political Philosophy
, focusing on thesocial ontology
of trans gender categories. In other words, I investigate how social categories come into existence and what impacts they have on the lives of trans people. Currently, in my doctoral dissertation, I seek to highlight strategies of resistance to trans oppression in non-ideal contexts, mobilizing a conferralist framework.One of the premises of this research is that social categories are contextually variable. An attentive reader, upon realizing this, will suspect that characterizing gender in this way puts trans existence at risk: if social categories such as gender depend on the context in which they are instantiated, the criteria for membership in them are not constant. Therefore, a trans person will be subject to inappropriate categorization in hostile environments. This categorization will impose an inappropriate set of constraints on that person, which constitutes ontic oppression. This suspicion points to the problem that drives my investigation: how can the conceptual engineering of gender categories prevent oppression against trans people?
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Beyond Gender Decoloniality and interpersonal spatiality in Bettcher's theory
Beyond Gender
In the work Beyond Personhood, Talia Mae Bettcher adopts ontological pluralism and Lugones's decolonial critique to develop her theory of interpersonal spatiality. Bettcher advocates for the elimination of the modern/colonial gender system, which has shaped the notions of sex, gender, personhood, subject, and self. For Bettcher, this system is incapable of accounting for trans oppression and phoria, thereby contributing to the perpetuation of violence against trans people. In response to this problem, her work proposes an understanding of interpersonal relations centered on systems of boundaries that regulate relations of proximity, distance, and intimacy. This understanding, termed interpersonal spatiality, replaces the modernity-founded notion of personhood with interpersonal objects, which are, in turn, inherently relational and constructed by boundaries of access manifested through self-presentation. By prioritizing the relational aspect of social experience, this theory reveals how the systematic violation of boundaries of access structures trans oppression.
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Social ontology applied to the closet Andler's objection to the conferralism of Ásta
Social ontology applied to the closet
In analytical philosophy, specifically in feminist metaphysics, issues regarding the definition and foundation of social categories are subject to debate. Within this subfield, a debate has emerged between theories of social position and theories based on identity. Theories of social position understand social categories through limitations and freedoms that are associated with an individual through a particular category. On the other hand, identity-based theories focus on subjective experiences to answer this question. This paper focuses on a critique of the social position theory developed by Ásta. The critique points out an incapacity in categorizing queer sexual identities of individuals in the closet, which implies their systematic exclusion from queer spaces. According to Ásta's theory, social categories are conceived as being variable depending on the context in which their conferral occurs. However, according to Andler, this way of conceiving social categories leads to the exclusion of individuals with queer sexual identities, because it presupposes that the individual must present a certain sexual orientation for the conferment of a specific sexual identity. But, as this paper explains, Ásta's theory does not posit the relationship between sexual orientation and sexual identity as an inherent part of the conferment process.
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Beyond writing
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I am the founder and coordinator of this reading and discussion group, which addresses the intersection of social ontology and gender. It was founded upon the realization that undergraduate philosophy curricula do not adequately cover gender-related themes. Therefore, this initiative seeks to assist students in developing a foundational lexicon for critical engagement with the subject. Currently, the group is institutionally affiliated with the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). Participants from various universities gather in biweekly meetings to study and debate.
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This project seeks to consolidate an open directory of Brazilian women philosophers. Through this initiative, we hope to foster a transformation regarding the participation and retention of women within the national landscape of academic philosophy, a field historically dominated by men. The project is supported by FAPERGS and UFSM; I serve as the developer of its online platform and as a member of the organizing team.
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This project aims to consolidate a center for philosophical studies dedicated to combating oppression in social contexts. Within this group, I work as a researcher and designer.