Chantal Zabus

Chantal Zabus is a Professor of Postcolonial Literatures and Gender Studies at the Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Paris, France, and a Senior Scholar with the Institut universitaire de France (IUF). She serves as Editor-in-Chief of Postcolonial Text, the first online journal founded in 2004 dedicated to postcolonial literatures.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, United States (1988)
• MA, University of Saskatchewan, Canada (1980)
• BA, Université de Liège, Belgium (1978)

Professor Zabus specializes in postcolonial transgender studies, with a focus on narrative modes across different cultural contexts. Her research explores the intersections of postcolonial theory, gender studies, and queer theory, particularly examining how transgender identities are represented and understood in non-Western contexts. She is a leading scholar in post-queer theory and post-identity politics, challenging traditional frameworks of identity and representation.

Her scholarly contributions include significant edited volumes that have shaped contemporary discourse in her fields of expertise. Her work demonstrates a consistent focus on expanding the boundaries of postcolonial and gender studies to include diverse, global perspectives on transgender experiences beyond Western-centric frameworks.

Among her notable recognitions:

• Senior Scholar, Institut universitaire de France (IUF)

As Editor-in-Chief of Postcolonial Text, Professor Zabus has established a premier platform for postcolonial literary scholarship. Her editorial leadership has significantly contributed to the development of postcolonial studies as a dynamic interdisciplinary field.

Professor Zabus is currently researching transgender and transsexualism in non-Western contexts, continuing her commitment to expanding the geographic and cultural scope of transgender studies and challenging Eurocentric perspectives in the field.