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A review by wrentfree
Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation by S. Bear Bergman, Kate Bornstein
3.0
I really liked the authenticity and reading queer writers. I think I had different expectations going in, that the pieces would align with my understanding of what radical queerness should look like, but the pieces are just as flawed and complex as their respective authors and myself and it's extremely rare to find anyone who has the exact same politics as you anyway even in your close circles.
I think I also hoped to see my story. I didn't, but that's not a failing of the book. I think queer stories that follow my trajectory are common, but queer media likes to focus on certain narratives and timelines when it comes to being trans. The first time I read a queer journey that made me say, "That's me!" came from a book about the very real dangers and harm of militant, patriarchal Evangelicalism because she had the same background I did. Gender Outlaws was offered to me as a queer resource where I might see myself reflected, but I didn't. What I did take away is that gender queerness and folks' journies all look different.
I think I also hoped to see my story. I didn't, but that's not a failing of the book. I think queer stories that follow my trajectory are common, but queer media likes to focus on certain narratives and timelines when it comes to being trans. The first time I read a queer journey that made me say, "That's me!" came from a book about the very real dangers and harm of militant, patriarchal Evangelicalism because she had the same background I did. Gender Outlaws was offered to me as a queer resource where I might see myself reflected, but I didn't. What I did take away is that gender queerness and folks' journies all look different.