Abstract:This essay explores trans womanhoods in Roanoke, Virginia, in the 1970s and 1980s, with a particular focus on the experiences of Black transfeminine people. The author argues that people of diverse genders and experiences of transness—from drag queens to trans sex workers—became women within certain contexts. Their life stories therefore contribute to broader understandings of southern women’s history. This essay focuses on the lives of three Black queens in Roanoke who participated in an oral history initiative with the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project. Through a study of transfeminine people’s lived experiences with changing dress and language as well as sisterhood, motherhood, and their own changing bodies, the author concludes that womanhood is an expansive historical category that includes more than just women.

中文翻译：

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如何成为一个女人

摘要：本文探讨了 1970 年代和 1980 年代弗吉尼亚州罗阿诺克的跨性别女性，特别关注黑人跨性别者的经历。作者认为，不同性别和变性经历的人——从变装皇后到变性性工作者——在某些情况下成为了女性。因此，她们的生活故事有助于更广泛地了解南方妇女的历史。本文重点介绍罗阿诺克三位黑人皇后的生活，她们参与了弗吉尼亚州西南部 LGBTQ+ 历史项目的口述历史倡议。通过对变性人改变着装和语言以及姐妹情谊、母性和她们自己不断变化的身体的生活经历的研究，作者得出结论，女性身份是一个广泛的历史类别，不仅包括女性。