A review by jugglingpup
Trans Power: Own Your Gender by Juno Roche

1.0

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I got an ARC of this book.

Here we go again. I just don’t seem to learn. I saw trans and I immediately wanted to read the book. I didn’t notice who the author was, that was my big mistake. If I would have place that name, I would not have wanted to read this book.

So all of the issues I had in the first book Roche wrote are alive and well in this book too. I started to get into the book, I was not 100% agreeing with Roche but I was loving the chance to see her view. Then BAM! Graphic description of her “wanking” and why the term “wanking” is more accurate than masturbating, because of sexism. I did not need to know or want to know what Roche’s erogenous zones are. This book is about claiming trans as an identity, not about the masturbation habits of one person.

So I started to skip pages and pages and pages. 20% into the book the first interview happened. By this point I am already over the book. This could have been a powerful book about accepting yourself and not limiting yourself, instead all I got was annoyed that Roche yet again made everything about her genitalia and sex. I get that sexuality is a huge part of identity. I have had my issues finding labels and communities that fit me. My transition is not about my sex life. It is not about my sexuality. I would not try and convince someone they are perfect by giving them graphic descriptions of my nipples.

Roche and I appear to be on totally different wavelengths, despite having similar ideas based on the backs of her books. I have been uncomfortable identifying as male or as a man for about a decade now. I have felt that trans has been a better label for me. So I can see where she is coming from, but her methods of explaining it have pushed me so far away that I won’t be able to see her point any more. Others seem to really like her book and this book in particular. I will be avoiding her for a while. I will try again in a few years. Kate Bornstein and I weren’t a good match for a long time. Now she makes perfect sense. So maybe Roche will be the same way. If my views change or my comfort level with surprise graphic details of someone else’s sex life and body, I will be sure to come back and update everyone.