Erika Cosenza and Maitén Vargas

Re-Thinking Professional Ethics in a Non-Binary Context

In the beginning of the 21st century the question of gender identity and sexuality has gained visibility in many parts of the world. The ongoing fight of women movements and the LGTBIQ+ community for their rights has also raised awareness on the relation between power, language, and recognition. In the quest for inclusion, people have begun developing different linguistic, cultural and political strategies to identify and name themselves.
Translation studies have recently acknowledged translators are meaning creators and cultural mediators, deeply affected by subjectivity, personal stands, and context; however, the question of ethics is still focused on fidelity and respect to norms of tradition, and established practices.
How do we translate, for instance, a text by a non-binary individual written in the first person? What do we do if we receive the assignment to translate a famous artist who announces themselves as a non-binary person and asks to be addressed with the English singular “they”? Are we prepared? Do we have the required skills? Does it clash with our personal values?
This work aims at rethinking translation ethics and practice in light of the recent changes on how people think and talk about identity, gender, and sexuality.

BIOGRAPHY

Erika Cosenza (she/her) has been a freelance translator and a proofreader & editor for 20 years.
She has started her career as a translator for an NGO advancing women’s rights. Gender issues, feminism, and inclusion have always been present both in her work and in her personal life. She believes in putting her profession at the service of the causes she considers to be fair. She is IAPTI’s Co-Head of Gender, Diversity and Inclusion
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she currently lives in a small beach-town near Barcelona, Spain, where she facilitates a feminist book club and various workshops.

Maitén Vargas has been a freelance translator, interpreter, and proofreader since 2011. Through her work at different international NGOs and agencies, she has specialized in gender issues, sexual and reproductive rights and health, migration and education, among other fields. As assistant trainer of Translation of Social Sciences, part of her theoretical and practical work focused on the importance of including texts on gender identity and expression to empower students and create social change. She is member of the Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires and the ATA, and Co-Head of the Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Chapter at IAPTI and a feminist activist.