Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye

12 reviews

tangleroot_eli's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

 This isn’t a happy book. Seven chapters detailing the ways trans folks in the UK are hard done by the government, the medical establishment, the media, and the feminist movement make hard reading for those of us who stand, and/or love those who stand, under the trans umbrella. Nor did I find it the straightforward, super-obvious roadmap to trans liberation that many of the blurb-writers claimed it to be. Still, Faye’s bold voice and unflinching critiques of both the forces that try to crush trans folks and the tactics that (mostly white, middle class, cishet) moderate liberals think will save us make this book a balm for what ails us. (Spoiler alert: it’s capitalism. Capitalism is what ails us.) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Forced institutionalization, Transphobia, and Medical content

Moderate: Hate crime, Drug use, Medical trauma, Racism, Xenophobia, Classism, Death, and Murder

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.

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Misogyny

Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma

Minor: Abortion and Addiction

emmalouisereads's review

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

This is a must read for trans allies in the UK. The book is well researched and cites sources, it will be a helpful resource to have if you’re ever have to debunk a TERF’s arguments.

I don’t know if it’s a book that’ll convince the average transphobe to change their mind. People who don’t know much about the difficulties trans people face (especially in the UK) will find this book enlightening.

I’m glad this book exists

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Rape, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Self harm, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Racism, Misogyny, and Hate crime

Content warnings are in the context of a non-fiction book

nialiversuch's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Classism, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Transphobia

Moderate: Body horror, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexism, Biphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Slavery

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Medical content, Misogyny, Classism, Transphobia, Homophobia, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Deportation, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Ableism, Child abuse, Abortion, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Rape

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Acephobia/Arophobia, Racial slurs, and War

hannahbailey's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Difficult to rate so I won't for now (may return later). Definitely worth a read, especially for those not particularly clued up on the 'transgender issue'.

My main takeaway, which was a point repeated throughout the book, was "trans liberation cannot happen under capitalism". Each chapter, whilst focusing on different elements of trans experience in our society, drives home this point. Everything leads back to capitalism (and the patriarchy). With these structures in place, cis people will continue to view trans people as 'other', 'abnormal', 'non-conforming' etc. The first two chapters were the most enlightening for me as Faye explores the impact of legislation and education (or lack thereof) enforced by the UK government over the last 40 or so years. It's common knowledge that the progression of trans rights is slow and often sabotaged by those on the extreme right-wing, but the latter chapters of this book detailing the sabotaging from within the LGBTQ+ community was also enlightening to read.

My one issue was how long the chapters were. Each chapter could have been trimmed down without losing any meaning. It would be great to see these chapters split into mini manifestos or pocket penguins as I think this would make them more accessible to a wider range of people. The chapter on class could have benefitted from more research to back up Faye's observations too

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Trafficking, Outing, Medical trauma, Hate crime, and Suicide

chorleychalk's review

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Murder, and Transphobia

Moderate: Dysphoria, Medical trauma, and Domestic abuse

amyflorence's review

challenging hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

Honestly one of the best non-fiction books I've read. Informative on both the realities of trans lives today and what can and must be done to counter the pervasive transphobia of our society. I have so many words but none will do them justice. Read this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Transphobia, Rape, Homophobia, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

Minor: Slavery

achingallover's review

challenging hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Classism, Body shaming, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Outing, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, and Transphobia