Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye

23 reviews

seventhswan's review

challenging hopeful informative medium-paced

4.25

This was an interesting, important read, going slightly beyond Trans 101 but still serving as an excellent introduction to the key aspects of trans politics and rights. Nothing was particularly a surprise to me but I still enjoyed - and agreed with - Shon Faye's setting out of the relevant issues. Overall I'd have no reservations about recommending this book. However, I listened to the audiobook version and this really cemented that audiobooks aren't for me, as even on 1.5x speed the text took so much longer to get through than it would have done reading printed text. That isn't specific to this book, though, and the recording was clear and pleasant to listen to!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Hate crime

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual violence

pobi's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

It's a tough read because of the transphobia it discusses, but also it's general message is one of hope and progress. Sets out difficult to understand things very clearly and I definitely feel like I've learnt stuff. While focused primarily on Britain it does try to make the message more universal at times. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Deadnaming, Violence, and Transphobia

Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Police brutality, Dysphoria, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Hate crime

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. 

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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

neena12483939459's review

informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dysphoria, Medical content, Hate crime, Sexual violence, and Transphobia

groober's review

challenging medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Transphobia, Racism, Sexism, and Violence

punky__pie's review

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

It cannot be understated how well-researched and structured this book is. It defied all of my expectations. It manages to position transphobia as the central issue without approaching transphobia as a one-dimensional issue in society
If you have ever wanted to understand the challenges trans and non-binary folks in the UK face, this book is a fantastic read. Faye covers everything from class issues to medical discrimination and provides a lengthy bibliography at the end of the book, allowing the reader to verify claims. I don't think I can explain how amazing this book is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, Misogyny, Classism, Ableism, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Self harm, and Outing

Minor: Abortion and Violence

Unsurprisingly this book covers transphobia in great detail. Regardless of your position in society, if you are trans, you will likely find references to transphobia you've faced in your life in this book. BUT you can certainly skip sensitive chapters and still understand the book.

booksjessreads's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

This book is absolutely incredible. There is not much that I can say in a review here that will genuinely do this justice. I think it is all incredibly well researched and written, and is genuinely one of the best nonfiction books I have ever read. 

One thing that stopped me from giving it 5 stars, was how jam-packed it is with information. At the same time, this is also what I like about it. Let me explain. I tried to read the print copy of this in 2022 but it reads almost like a text book (please don't let this put you off though its amazing!) I found it super heavy, but since I liked what I read, I decided to just give it a break and come back to it. Later down the line, I picked up the audiobook and consumed it within a matter of days. Shon Faye narrates the audio and makes it such a rich experience. However, there was so much information that I occasionally felt overwhelmed. Although, I completely didn't mind since it was genuinely just so good. I think I am going to attempt the print edition next time I read it, so that I can go over anything that I missed. There is no doubt that this book is heavy, so I recommend you take your time.

This book is essential. I recommend this to anyone and everyone. It is written convincingly and contains such a diversity of sources to enrich the content and reading experience. Please just read it and take your time to digest it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Misogyny, and Homophobia

Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Medical content, Deadnaming, Murder, Violence, Outing, Suicide, and Death of parent

evanorlando's review

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

5/5 in the sense that every cisgender person should read this. It is brilliantly written and perfectly encapsulates the transgender experience in modern day. However, if you are a transgender person interested in social politics and your rights - like myself - you will find this an incredibly difficult read. If you are transgender, relatively informed and anti-capitalist in all the right ways, you probably won't gain any new insight into transgender liberation. And because of the nature of essay writing, there are tons of statistics relating to transgender suffering. It is for these very reasons I think anyone who has firsthand experience of transphobia or simply is transgender in the UKs currently political climate, should not read this book - if only for the sake of their own mental health as in short this book can appear a collation of our communities suffering. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

gay's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual violence

ishouldreadthat's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative medium-paced

4.5

A must-read book for anyone living in Britain or is curious to learn more about Britain's huge transphobia problem. Faye does a fantastic job with writing, as well as narrating, this book. It's one I can see myself rereading multiple times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Hate crime, Suicide, and Sexual violence