
The Criterion: An International Journal in English
Cultural Studies
Margins within Margins: Intersectionality and the Literary Erasure of Transgender Sex Workers in LGBTQ+ Narratives
Abstract
This paper explores the intersectionality and literary erasure of transgender sex workers within LGBTQ+ narratives, focusing on the compounded forms of marginalization these individuals face due to the intersections of gender identity, race, class, and sexuality. By analyzing both historical and contemporary representations, it highlights the absence or misrepresentation of transgender sex workers in literature and media, while emphasizing the importance of their inclusion in creating more authentic, diverse, and inclusive narratives. The paper also discusses the role of activism, community organizing, and artistic resistance in reclaiming these narratives and challenges the prevailing stereotypes of transgender sex workers as victims. Finally, it calls for further intersectional research and educational initiatives to improve the visibility and representation of transgender sex workers within both literary and social frameworks, offering a path toward greater empowerment and social justice.
Keywords
transgender sex workers, LGBTQ+ narratives, intersectionality, literary erasure, representation, media, social justice.
How to Cite
Ayushi, Dr. Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhaat. “Margins within Margins: Intersectionality and the Literary Erasure of Transgender Sex Workers in LGBTQ+ Narratives.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 917-951. ISSN: 0976-8165.
