Hello! My name is Tate Johanek (he/they), I am a recently graduated MA in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) program at Ohio State. I received my BA in Gender Studies with a minor in Writing from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. My research interests include homosocial spaces, queer/trans theory, gender performativity, and gender/sexual identity negotiation. My thesis explores femme presentations of transmasculinity on TikTok and aims to understand how the app’s multimodality supports the destabilization of the gender binary, specifically in regards to masculinity.

My previous work has explored how the liminal environments of sleepovers both directly and inadvertently create spaces for queerness, of which I have an article published with the Anthropology of Children and Youth Interest Group (ACYIG)’s bi-annual publication, NEOS. I also co-wrote a book chapter with my undergraduate mentor, Dr. Krista Benson, on how to implement the TTRPG game Thirsty Sword Lesbians into one’s curriculum. The chapter explains the game’s function as a classroom activity to support student learning regarding inclusion and diversity. In the future, I hope to explore healthcare disparities experienced by black trans disabled individuals as well as continuing to investigate homosocial spaces.

My career interest centers around teaching and being able to implement feminist, decolonial pedagogy. I hope to one day be a WGSS professor with the goal of supporting working-class students with navigating academic spaces both inside and outside of the classroom. I would also enjoy volunteering with local trans organizations to support trans community members in receiving gender-affirming care and challenging anti-trans legislature.

Outside of academia, I enjoy writing creative non-fiction as a hobby. I hope to eventually submit some of my work for publication to share my transmasculine perspectives and experiences on girlhood. I also enjoy creating art through painting, digital art, and graphic design. I believe that I am able to convey the passion I have for my community through my art because most of my pieces are constructed for family, friends, or feminist activism. I am always happy to follow-up with any additional inquiries you may have through my email, johanek.4@osu.edu, or my LinkedIn at Tate Johanek.