Yael Armangau

Yael Armangau is a Lecturer in the Sociology Department at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès and a PhD student supervised by Michel GROSSETTI and Julien FIGEAC at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Solidarity, Societies, Territories (LISST). Their academic work focuses on the intersection of trans studies, digital media, and social support networks.

Armangau's research interests center on Trans Studies, Sociology of Networks, Gender Studies, Social Support systems, Sociology of ICT, Transfeminism, and Sociology of Health. Their work examines how trans communities organize support networks both online and offline, with particular attention to Facebook groups as spaces for information sharing, emotional support, and resistance against medical institutional barriers. They investigate how trans people navigate the 'therapeutic shield' in France, create safe digital spaces, and develop trans-specific ethics of care.

Analysis of Armangau's publications reveals a consistent focus on trans communities' self-organization through digital platforms. Their research demonstrates how trans individuals bypass institutional barriers by creating peer support networks, sharing medical knowledge, and developing collective strategies for navigating gender transition. A key theme across their work is the concept of 'trans ethics of care' that emerges within online communities as an alternative to traditional medical pathways.

Armangau teaches across multiple levels of sociology education, including Introduction to Field Research in Sociology (Bachelor's), Reflections on the Inclusiveness of Feminist Issues (Master's), Introduction to Trans Studies (Master's), and Trans Health (Master's). Their teaching reflects their research interests, particularly in trans studies, gender, and research methodology.

As a PhD candidate, Armangau's thesis titled "Gender bifurcations: challenges and support networks for trans people" combines traditional sociological methods with digital humanities approaches to analyze trans journeys and their challenges through support networks. Their research employs mixed methods including interviews, questionnaires, data extraction, and network analysis to understand how trans people access social solidarity.