Language, Power, And Identity: A Sociolinguistic Study Of Transgender Representation In Select Indian English Autobiographies

Abstract

This paper examines transgender representation in Indian English autobiographical literature through a sociolinguistic lens, focusing on the interplay of language, power, and identity. By analyzing select autobiographies I Am Vidya (2013), Me Hijra, Me Laxmi (2015), The Truth About Me (2010), and We Are Not the Others (2021) the study highlights how transgender authors use language as a medium for self-representation, resistance, and community advocacy. These narratives foreground personal experiences while situating them within broader social, cultural, and regional contexts, demonstrating the performative and constitutive role of language in identity formation. The paper argues that autobiographical writing not only asserts individual agency but also fosters collective identity, challenges heteronormative discourse, and reshapes literary and sociolinguistic understanding of marginalized communities. The study underscores the need for further research on gendered language and the sociopolitical dimensions of transgender narratives in South Asia.