Elle (short for Samu/elle) Striewski is an incoming DPhil student in Political Theory at the Department of Politics and International Relations. Their doctoral studies are generously funded by the Rhodes Scholarship and the David N. Lyon Scholarship in Politics, awarded by Oriel College to support research into ‘the politics of sex and gender identities in diverse societies’.
Elle’s doctoral research explores solidarity and its relationship to critique, with the aim of better understanding the role this dynamic plays in collective emancipatory politics. They examine how theorists associated with the Frankfurt School have conceptualised solidarity, drawing on feminist, queer and trans*, postcolonial and decolonial theories, and critical race theory to criticise the normative and political limitations of these accounts.
Among Elle’s broader research interests are theories of drag, (queer) solidarity with Palestine, and questions pertaining to queer and trans* studies, including bi+temporality, pronominal interpellation and trans* derecognition. Together with Jenny Schrödl, they are co-editor of the forthcoming volume Drag, hier und heute! Zur Vielfalt von queeren Geschlechterinszenierungen in der Gegenwart (Berlin, Neofelis), on contemporary drag in German-speaking countries. They are also preparing a second edited volume, together with Luce deLire, on Critical Trans Theory.
Alongside their academic work, Elle writes journalistically on and engages in queer and left politics in Germany and across Europe. Since early 2026, they are an executive board member of IGLYO, the world’s largest member-based LGBTQIA+ youth organisation, representing over 150 member organisations in 40 countries across Europe.
Research interests:
Social and Political Philosophies of Solidarity
Critical Theories and the Frankfurt School
Queer and Trans* Studies
Publications
Forthcoming
[1] Drag, hier und heute: Zur Vielfalt von queeren Geschlechterinszenierungen in der Gegenwart, Berlin: Neofelis. Volume on the contemporary drag scene in Germany co-edited with Jenny Schrödl.
[2] "Interpellative Co-Autorschaft: Geschlechtergerechte Anrede als Rechtfertigungsfrage" (2026) in: gender(n)? Positionen zu einer erregten Debatte, ed. by B. Kleiner, J. Leinius, and H. Liedke, Bielefeld: transcript.
[3] "No Time for Bisexuality? Bi+temporalities and the History of the German Bi+ Movement" (2026) in: Routledge International Handbook of Bisexuality, ed. by H. Bowes-Catton and K. McLelland, New York/London: Routledge.
[4] "Organic Intellectuals in Drag: Notes towards an Embodied Trans* Anarchism" (2026) in: Routledge Companion to Drag, ed. by M. Edward, S. Farrier, and G. Sterk, New York/London: Routledge.
[5] "Performing Femininities with Drag and Dance" (2026) in: Agitate!, Special Issues on "Pedagogies of Hope," ed. by M. Chan and A. Dibavar. Co-authored with Ina Jochum.
[6] "Notes on Queer Un/worlding" (2026) in: Queer Hope and Futurity: Locating Otherwise in the Global South, ed. by A. Dibavar, A. Q. Munhazim, and A. Mehta, New Brunswick, NJ: Rutger University Press. Co-authored with Murat Adash,Benjamin Busch, Will Fredo, Tomaso de Luca, Slavna Martinovic, and Paloma Portela.
Academic Writings
[7] "Trans Philosophy’s Dysphoric Politics of Derecognition" (2026) in: TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, Vol. 13, Issue 2 on "Trans Philosophy," ed. by T. M. Bettcher and P. Zurn, pp. 266–271. Review of Paul B. Preciado’s "Dysphoria Mundi" (2025).
[8] "Von Innen Durcharbeiten und Verlernen" (2025) in: Gender(ed) Thoughts, Working Paper Series, Vol.1, Göttingen, pp. 21–24. Response to Anile Tmava's "Beyond a 'sack for carrying things': Der exotisierende Blick auf Burrnesha in hegemonialer Wissenschaft und Film."
[9] “Women, Animals, Food: Planetary Perspectives” (2024) in: Comparative Woman, Vol. 2, Issue 2 on "Conflict: Continuing the Conversation," 12 pages. Analysis of the planetary ecofeminist ethics of nurturing in Mahasweta Devi’s "Pterodactyl, Pirtha, and Puran Sahay" (1995) and Margaret Atwood’s "The Year of the Flood" (2009).
[10] “The Poiesis of Susceptibility: Langston Hughes and Queer Black Friendship” (2023) in: Currents: A Journal of Young English Philology Thought and Review, Vol. 9 on "Solidarity—Conflict," Toruń, pp. 97–105. Analysis of Langston Hughes' "Poem” (1925).
Semi-Academic Writings
[11] "Problematising Genealogy is to History what Psychoanalysis is to the Practical Self-Relation" (2026) in: Oxford Political Review. Interview with Amy Allen on her work since "The End of Progress" (2016)..
[12] "Overcoming Injustice" (2025) in: Oxford Political Review. Interview with Sally Haslanger on her Benjamin Lectures (2023).
[13] "Kommunikatives Handeln beim Frühstück danach: Mit Habermas durch den Trubel nicht-monogamer Beziehungen" (2025) in: prae|faktisch: Ein Philosophieblog. Blog entry on Habermasian discourse ethics and polyamory.
[14] "Der Duce ist tot – lang lebe der Duce!" (2025) in: Spit on Hitler’s Grave, Exhibition curated by KreativKraftwerk e.V. and shown in Berlin from September 19–24. Comment on Mussolini's grave.
[15] “Dadaoutai: Vaterschaft denken mit Stromae und Derrida" (2024) in: anwesenheitsnotiz (student journal), Vol. 13, pp. 30–57. Essay on deconstructing fatherhood.
[16] “Drag Wars, oder worum es wirklich geht, beim Gender Wahn” (2023) in: philou (student journal), Vol. 13, Issue on "Education," Aachen, pp. 38–41. Analysis of the drag bans in the US and in Germany.
[17] "Diversifying Cultural Norms, or Being Nonbinary” (2023) in: philou (student journal), Vol. 12, Issue on "Diversity," Aachen, pp. 22–25. Essay on the politics of being non-binary.
Journalistic Writings
[i] "Britische Medienhetze: Der tragische Fall Jason Arday" (August 24, 2026) in: der Freitag, co-authored with Luis Prenninger. Comment on structural racism and the British media's coverage of Jason Arday.
[ii] "Bi+ Relationships Meet-Up: Beziehungschaos nach Coming Out?" (July 1, 2026) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Feature on a regular meet-up in Berlin for bi+ people in straight-passing relationships.
[iii] "Trans Kinky Skillshare: Von Consent bis Aftercare" (December 3, 2025) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Feature on a safer space and skillshare for kinky trans* people in Berlin.
[iv] "INTA* Pride: Sichtbar, selbstbestimmt und solidarisch" (August 29, 2025) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Feature of the third Berlin trans* pride.
[v] "Sex-Tech Innovation: Wenn Machtverhältnisse reproduziert werden" (August 8, 2025) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Cover story on technological developments and their effect on sex and sex work.
[vi] "Lang lebe die Tunte!" (June 20, 2025) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Op-Ed on the political legacy of street drag.
[vii] "Trans* im TV: Wie Schauspieler*innen für Sichtbarkeit kämpfen" (March 31, 2025) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Feature of two German trans* actors for Trans* Day of Visibility.
[viii] "Lamin Leroy Gibba über TV-Erfolg 'Schwarze Früchte'" (Jan 31, 2025) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Interview with the creator of Germany's first predominantly Black and Queer TV show.
[ix] "Woher kommt der Begriff FLINTA* – und wie sinnvoll ist er?" (Oct 17, 2024) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Op-Ed on the history and value of the term FLINTA*.
[x] "'Barbie': Feministisch oder nur neoliberal?" (July 25, 2024) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Review of Greta Gerwig's movie "Barbie."
[xi] "Alfonso Pantisano: 'Euer Kampf ist auch mein Kampf!'" (July 20, 2024) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Interview with Berlin's first Queer Commissioner.
[xii] "Lichtenberger Initiative für trans*, inter* und nicht-binäre Personen" (Dec 8, 2023) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Feature of a local Berlin trans* community organising space.
[xiii] "Theorie und Praxis des feministischen Streiks" (Nov 13, 2023) in: Missy Magazin. Interview with Argentinian feminist scholar-activist Verónica Gaga.
[xiv] "Drag Race Germany: 'Wir müssen nicht offensiv politisch sein, es passiert einfach!'" (Sept 26, 2023) in: SIEGESSÄULE. Interview with the hosts of Drag Race Germany.
[xv] "Plädoyer für eine offene Gesellschaft: Warum Oskar und Anna mutige Menschen an ihrer Seite brauchen" (July 7, 2023) in: EXPRESS. Op-Ed on anti-queer prejudices.
