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4.59 AVERAGE
4.59 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Informativa, interesante y muy bien escrito.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This was a brilliant book with a lot of important ideas and topics covered. I love that this book intentionally avoids focussing on the distracting talking points so often covered in the media (bathrooms, pronouns etc.), and instead talks about the real issues facing trans people today. The book is radical in its message, and doesn't flinch in the telling ("There can be no trans liberation under capitalism. This is a fact"). Shon Faye is also very clear on her background (white, educated etc.) but does try to include interviews, other perspectives, and research that allow the book to cover a wide range of issues that are faced by the full range of trans people today - with a focus on Britain but with a few looks more internationally (I remember politics in USA and Ireland being discussed). This is perfect for those looking to be a better ally - I'd love to say everyone should read this but I do warn that this book is not a 101 and jumps straight into the issues that are not talked about enough.
It is one of those books that everybody should read to be informed and get missing knowledge. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I see how many things were so wrong then. More work is needed still, though!
Firstly, thank you to publishers Allen Lane for providing me with a copy of this ebook via NetGalley.
Let’s get this out of the way first, shall we? The UK media, right now, is very hostile towards trans people. This hostility is fuelled by too many ‘high profile’ people pretending concern over what the inclusion of trans women means for ‘women’s issues/spaces’. A lot of this is a load of, well, rubbish. (I would use stronger words, but I am currently trying not to swear too much on the internet.) Personally, I don’t think a lot of these people should even be given airtime – there is no debate when it comes to human rights, the vast majority of ‘anti-trans’ accounts on platforms like Twitter are sock puppets and bots, and we cannot have equality without equality for all, okay? (And yes I could rant about this all day, especially with the way white cis women – and yes I am a white cis woman – tend to focus on issues that effect them without consideration for the variety of other people experiencing discrimination and hostility and, honestly, fellow cis white women? We have to do better. But anyway!)
Shon Faye has, in this brilliant book, outlined what it means to be trans in a transphobic society. If you are cis, I highly suggest you read this book. That goes even more if you think of yourself as an ally to the trans community. We need to be more aware of what people are going through. We have to understand the type of people standing against the trans community would see all of our rights stripped away, and even with that taken out of the equation, there is absolutely no reason trans men and women should have to deal with the kind of hate they get shown on a daily basis.
Faye puts the UK and especially the UK media under a microscope, demonstrating the idea that the current anti-trans rhetoric is a moral panic. Faye doesn’t only discuss how the treatment of trans people effects all people, but she discusses each issue put into the context of other issues in our society. She ties in the facts and figures with similar numbers among other marginalized groups, as well as highlighting various experiences of both trans men and women throughout the book. The arguments for justice put forth by Shon Faye are intersectional, and truly demonstrate the need for people to work together, to keep trans rights at the forefront when discussing other issues, as well.
Faye also, to put it bluntly, absolutely rips apart the arguments many anti-trans people use, in a way that is factual and elegant. Her writing skill is absolutely fantastic, and it’s hard not to see or understand the pain and anger she must have felt while compiling the information in this book. Importantly, too, Faye acknowledges her own privilege, all too aware she is in a more fortunate situation than others.
Again, this is a must-read book. There’s a strong power here, highlighted by the experiences of people Faye spoke to, from parents of a young trans child to a woman who transitioned as an OAP, to younger trans men seeking support and who need space to talk about their own issues, too. She never discounts the fact there are a many different experiences under the ‘trans’ umbrella, and she never fails to emphasise this point. She talks about education, representation in the media, healthcare, employment, sex work and other areas, while maintaining the argument “there can be no trans liberation under capitalism.”
Faye has put together a strong, well-written, powerful book, that, as the title suggests, carries an argument for justice, one we should all pay attention to.
Let’s get this out of the way first, shall we? The UK media, right now, is very hostile towards trans people. This hostility is fuelled by too many ‘high profile’ people pretending concern over what the inclusion of trans women means for ‘women’s issues/spaces’. A lot of this is a load of, well, rubbish. (I would use stronger words, but I am currently trying not to swear too much on the internet.) Personally, I don’t think a lot of these people should even be given airtime – there is no debate when it comes to human rights, the vast majority of ‘anti-trans’ accounts on platforms like Twitter are sock puppets and bots, and we cannot have equality without equality for all, okay? (And yes I could rant about this all day, especially with the way white cis women – and yes I am a white cis woman – tend to focus on issues that effect them without consideration for the variety of other people experiencing discrimination and hostility and, honestly, fellow cis white women? We have to do better. But anyway!)
Shon Faye has, in this brilliant book, outlined what it means to be trans in a transphobic society. If you are cis, I highly suggest you read this book. That goes even more if you think of yourself as an ally to the trans community. We need to be more aware of what people are going through. We have to understand the type of people standing against the trans community would see all of our rights stripped away, and even with that taken out of the equation, there is absolutely no reason trans men and women should have to deal with the kind of hate they get shown on a daily basis.
Faye puts the UK and especially the UK media under a microscope, demonstrating the idea that the current anti-trans rhetoric is a moral panic. Faye doesn’t only discuss how the treatment of trans people effects all people, but she discusses each issue put into the context of other issues in our society. She ties in the facts and figures with similar numbers among other marginalized groups, as well as highlighting various experiences of both trans men and women throughout the book. The arguments for justice put forth by Shon Faye are intersectional, and truly demonstrate the need for people to work together, to keep trans rights at the forefront when discussing other issues, as well.
Faye also, to put it bluntly, absolutely rips apart the arguments many anti-trans people use, in a way that is factual and elegant. Her writing skill is absolutely fantastic, and it’s hard not to see or understand the pain and anger she must have felt while compiling the information in this book. Importantly, too, Faye acknowledges her own privilege, all too aware she is in a more fortunate situation than others.
Again, this is a must-read book. There’s a strong power here, highlighted by the experiences of people Faye spoke to, from parents of a young trans child to a woman who transitioned as an OAP, to younger trans men seeking support and who need space to talk about their own issues, too. She never discounts the fact there are a many different experiences under the ‘trans’ umbrella, and she never fails to emphasise this point. She talks about education, representation in the media, healthcare, employment, sex work and other areas, while maintaining the argument “there can be no trans liberation under capitalism.”
Faye has put together a strong, well-written, powerful book, that, as the title suggests, carries an argument for justice, one we should all pay attention to.
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual violence
This was a great (and incredibly timely) read, I'd encourage anybody to pick this one up. Here are some thoughts:
Key Themes/Topics
- Debunking myths re. healthcare, hormone therapies etc.
- Gutwrenching stories and stats on the symptoms of oppression that trans people face daily, from mental health struggles, homelessness, harassment, abuse, murder, lack of access to services.
- The role of the mainstream media (connected to some of the richest and most powerful people in the world) and its role in perpetuating harmful stereotypes and a divide and rule narrative amongst ordinary people.
- The class divisions within movements against oppression and why class struggle and a vibrant trade union movement must be central in winning improvements in the living conditions of trans people.
- Why the feminist movement and trans rights movement are intertwined, rather than opposed to one another.
Review
This book was brilliantly educational, providing the answers you need to understand and explain why the fight for trans rights is so important, how victories can be won (partilicarly in relation to class organisation), and how to combat common myths and divisive sentiments perpetuated by the mainstream media.
However, I think the main downfall of the book is the line of argument relating to how rights can be won. The conclusion correctly begins with the line "There can be no trans liberation under capitalism. That is a fact." and it is a fact. However, it was quite confusing then to read the author argue that the British Labour Party has a significant role to play in this struggle, almost as a last hope, especially considering the right-wing turn the party has taken under Starmer - it is also Labour members who have participated in the public service cuts that are part of the problem (and are identified as being so in the early chapters). Yes, Faye then explains that, of course, we can't rely on parliamentary politics - this is important, but I feel it could've been strengthened by explaining the power that ordinary working class and oppressed people have to transform society rather than begrudgingly accepting the Labour Party as a vehicle. Whether the Labour or Conservatives in power, organisation, demonstrations, industrial action can - and do - have to be utilised to ensure that rights and services are protected. Without such pressure, neither of those parties will act.
Still, great read on the whole.
Key Themes/Topics
- Debunking myths re. healthcare, hormone therapies etc.
- Gutwrenching stories and stats on the symptoms of oppression that trans people face daily, from mental health struggles, homelessness, harassment, abuse, murder, lack of access to services.
- The role of the mainstream media (connected to some of the richest and most powerful people in the world) and its role in perpetuating harmful stereotypes and a divide and rule narrative amongst ordinary people.
- The class divisions within movements against oppression and why class struggle and a vibrant trade union movement must be central in winning improvements in the living conditions of trans people.
- Why the feminist movement and trans rights movement are intertwined, rather than opposed to one another.
Review
This book was brilliantly educational, providing the answers you need to understand and explain why the fight for trans rights is so important, how victories can be won (partilicarly in relation to class organisation), and how to combat common myths and divisive sentiments perpetuated by the mainstream media.
However, I think the main downfall of the book is the line of argument relating to how rights can be won. The conclusion correctly begins with the line "There can be no trans liberation under capitalism. That is a fact." and it is a fact. However, it was quite confusing then to read the author argue that the British Labour Party has a significant role to play in this struggle, almost as a last hope, especially considering the right-wing turn the party has taken under Starmer - it is also Labour members who have participated in the public service cuts that are part of the problem (and are identified as being so in the early chapters). Yes, Faye then explains that, of course, we can't rely on parliamentary politics - this is important, but I feel it could've been strengthened by explaining the power that ordinary working class and oppressed people have to transform society rather than begrudgingly accepting the Labour Party as a vehicle. Whether the Labour or Conservatives in power, organisation, demonstrations, industrial action can - and do - have to be utilised to ensure that rights and services are protected. Without such pressure, neither of those parties will act.
Still, great read on the whole.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment
Content warnings are in the context of a non-fiction book
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
fantastically written and so educational. i want to give a copy of this this book to everyone i know or run into on the streets.
informative
medium-paced