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bronzeageholly's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
A stark and striking look at the facts and figures regarding the moral panic around trans people (mostly focusing on the UK, but with brief look at the USA).
Shon Faye writes incredibly well, succinct and clear, with inarguable analysis and case for improving the lives of trans people. I would advise reading this book as a whole to understand the links between each social issue thoroughly. Yet, I would also suggest picking up the specific chapters that you may feel you lack a full awareness of (e.g., homelessness or incarceration or domestic violence). Each picks apart and expertly counters misinformation and shares the reality of living as a trans person in the UK.
While I whole-heartedly recommend this book, it is also very very hard-hitting. It took me a long time to read due to needing to take a lot of breaks. Please be aware of any trigger warnings when you pick up this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Classism, Body shaming, Police brutality, Misogyny, Dysphoria, Outing, Lesbophobia, Hate crime, Death, Violence, Rape, Racism, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Sexism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
ramreadsagain's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
" It is therefore regrettable that some feminists happily align themselves with Conservative politicians, who have repeatedly supported austerity policies that disproportionately harm working-class and disabled women, all because trans women fall outside of their personal definition of womanhood, and that this is the hill on which they have chosen to die. "
This is a book that I will definitely keep coming back to as a source of knowledge, hope, and references for further reading. It expertly covers important aspects of the trans experience, from childhood and medical barriers, to sex work, classism, and solidarity (and lack thereof).
The final two chapters in particular are incredibly well-writen and if you don't want to tackle the entire book I'd at least suggest you read those two. They are an excellent takedown on transphobia within the LGBT+ community and within feminism (namely, why TERFs are dragging all women down), proving again and again that no socialist movement can gain traction by leaving trans people behind.
My only main criticism of the book is due to a slight miss-selling of the content done by Shon herself. I acquried my copy of the book at a talk she gave, in which she described the book as explaining how trans liberation would be to the benefit of everyone in society. While this was certainly present in the final two chapters I would have liked more discussion of this within earlier chapters particularly when it comes to class struggles and healthcare.
I would also like more paragraph breaks lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Misogyny
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Abortion and Addiction
pachelrooley's review
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
This book is important, informative, compassionate and insightful on it's topic, refusing to engage with devaluing arguments and instead clearly and methodically showing exactly how the systems in the UK today impact trans people, and points a path to how this can change in the future. Most of all though, this book is absolutely exquisitely written. I tend to have a hard time finishing non-fiction even if I find the topic interesting, but this book was so engaging, the pacing so well done, the links between topics so seamless that it was as easy to read as a book on difficult topics could ever be. I really look forward to reading more from this author!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Homophobia, Hate crime, Bullying, Alcohol, and Addiction
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