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mothreadsbookssometimes's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Inverse Cowgirl is a must-read memoir for LGBTQIA+ (especially the “I”) folks and allies. Inverse Cowgirl is Weigel’s memoir of being an activist around the world, coming out as intersex, and working in the Texas political world. Weigel writes about travel, spirituality, mental health, politics, and a thousand other things, and she masterfully ties being intersex into every anecdote (it’s not a bad thing, I promise).
The first half of the book was thoroughly interesting. Weigel brilliantly combines her personal experiences with scientific facts and psycho-sociological observations about society’s view of intersex people (and of minorities in general). Weigel’s anecdotes vary so broadly in topics: bullying in adolescence, studying abroad in Brazil, working in politics, and coming out as intersex.
Weigel does an excellent job at raising the voices of minorities throughout the book, always crediting the people who helped her while she was both struggling and succeeding.
Also, Inverse Cowgirl covers the topic of trauma in a fantastic way. It is not necessarily a book about trauma, but trauma is interwoven into the major experiences of Weigel’s life (that she writes about, at least). They write optimistically, acknowledging that these traumatic events and feelings happened and shaped her life, but never going into extreme detail.
My one complaint is that in the final few chapters, the story started to drag and I found it more challenging to stay engaged with the book. I appreciated the chapter for being an overview of where Weigel’s life is now, but there were several sections that I felt could have been dispersed throughout the rest of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Infertility, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Alcohol, Medical content, Addiction, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
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