My dissertation, entitled ‘The Virtual Archive of Gender,’ focuses on the intersection of gender and photography in France, beginning from the 19th century. Its primary objective is to illuminate the significant role of gender/queer photography in not only illustrating but also constructing notions of gender and sexual minorities. To achieve this, I introduce an original method that combines visual and conceptual thinking, utilizing montage and demontage of images, ideas, and texts to deconstruct prevailing images of gender and sexual identities and then creatively reassemble them to present broader and more diverse representations.  

My current research project draws upon my dissertation. I investigate the depiction of the intersex figure in photography during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in France and the present day. I aim to unveil historical portrayals of the intersex figure and generate new photographic representations that challenge gender discrimination. I propose that photography’s emergence played a crucial role in making the intersex person a visible and contentious subject, questioning binary gender norms. Investigating the visualization of the hermaphroditic figure in the 19th century, alongside its significance in medical discourse and popular culture, illuminates contemporary movements and their evolving visibility.