Im at a university that is relatively progressive. We have researchers in essentially every field, to some degree, it's a top university in North America, all of my classes on archaeology and anthropology have referenced papers published since 2020 alongside earlier papers, etc.
In particular, we've had a lot of discussions on modern concepts of intersectionality and marginalization. Talks on disability, poc, economic status, etc and how all of these different marginalizing factors come together to influence a person's privilege and vulnerabilities in society. A good number of these classes have mentioned trans people, at least in passing, and at least two have had more in depth discussions around trans people.
Out of all those classes and discussions, not a single one mentioned trans men or trans masculine people. Not. One. When I was early in my Bachelor's and things were still online from COVID, I took a course that was explicitly about the performance of femininity (a philosophy course, for approach and methods). We read about cis women. The we read about trans women. Then we wrote about the intersection and about how different people are expected to perform femininity from a very young age. Yet there was not a single mention of trans men.
As an archaeology student, this was not really part of my program. But at the time I was also very strongly questioning my gender. I wanted to learn about being a woman because I never actually felt like one. And I got a good look at all the structural ways in society that we make women perform, and how difficult it is to learn that as an adult, and how heavily policed it is, etc. But my burning question of "what about the people it's entirely wrong for? What about the trans men?" was never even approached or acknowledged.
If I were to take that class now, I would approach the professor about it. But at the time, I was new and shy and not used to voicing opinions to people in positions of authority. So I said nothing.
Again, this is at a top university with cutting edge research and awareness of current events and topics. If they're not discussing it, it might as well not exist in the academic sphere. THAT is how invisible trans men are. And unfortunately, it means it's up to us to change that, even as much of the world turns against trans people. Even when, for many of us, it would be more comfortable to just go stealth and allow ourselves to disappear. We need the visibility because without it we have no rights, no health care, and no support. And that is something that claims lives.
