Trans and Gender-Related Writing

Here is a list of books I've either read, heard good things about, or want to read. I was going to write reviews, but decided it would be more time-friendly to just link to amazon.com for information. If you know of any good books I'm missing, or want to submit a review, feel free to email me.

 

General Gender Info/Gender Theory

 

Alexander, Jonathan & Karen Yescavage (eds). Bisexuality and Transgenderism: Intersexions of the Others.

A variety of essays by different writers on a diverse spread of gender-related topics.

 

Bernstein Sycamore, Matt. Nobody Passes: Rejecting the Rules of Gender and Conformity.

 

Bloom, Amy. Normal: Transsexual CEOs, Crossdressing Cops, and Hermaphrodites with Attitude.

Stories about different individuals from a variety of gender identities.

 

Bornstein, Kate. Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us.

Great book that discusses why gender is not simply a binary system. This book is unique because, more than anything, it talks about being “genderqueer,” or not identifying completely with either sex. Suggests that gender is a spectrum, and no one really falls at the far ends of “male” or “female,” but are spread out between the two extremes.

 

Bornstein, Kate. My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely.

 

Brown, Mildred L. & Chloe Ann Rounsley. True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism--For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals.

 

Burke, Phyllis. Gender Shock: Exploding the Myths of Male & Female.

Discusses the implications of and alternatives to our society’s binary system of gender.

 

Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity.

 

Devor, Holly. FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society.

An excellent and comprehensive book about FTM development throughout the lifespan

 

Devor, Holly. Gender Blending: Confronting the Limits of Duality.

 

Girshick, Lori B.Transgender Voices: Beyond Women and Men.

 

Halberstam, Judith. In a Queer Time and Place: Transgender Bodies, Subcultural Lives.

 

Namaste, Viviane. Invisible Lives: The Erasure of Transsexual and Transgendered People.

 

Rudacille, Deborah. The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism, and Transgender Rights.

 

Serano, Julia. Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity.

 

Stryker, Susan & Stephen Whittle (eds.).The Transgender Reader.

 

Wilchins, Riki. Queer Theory, Gender Theory: An Instant Primer

 

Wilchins, Riki. Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender.

 

 

Families, Friends, and Significant Others

 

Boenke, Mary. Trans Forming Families: Real Stories About Transgendered Loved Ones, 2nd Edition.

Book focusing on basic trans information, dealing with feelings that come up after learning that someone you know is trans, and coming to terms with having a trans family member. Very family-friendly

 

Boyd, Helen. She's Not the Man I Married: My Life with a Transgender Husband.

Boyd describes the impact her partner’s gender identity has on their relationship, and coming to terms with having a transgender partner.

 

Brill, Stephanie & Pepper, Rachel. The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals.

**This is an excellent book - it would be the first book I'd recommend to parents and health professionals working with trans children. This book is miles beyond any similar books with it's comprehensive, up-to-date, and accurate information that shows an extensive knowledge of and respect for the trans community.**

 

Howey, Noelle. Dress Codes: Of Three Girlhoods--My Mother's, My Father's, and Mine.

Memoirs written by the daughter of an MTF transsexual woman who began her transition after raising children and living for a long time in the role of father and husband

 

Howey, Noelle. Out of the Ordinary: Essays on Growing Up with Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Parents.

 

Pratt, Minnie Bruce. S/he.

Pratt, a poet/essayist and partner of Leslie Feinberg, shares essays about her experiences relating to gender.

 

 

Health/Medical

 

Bockting, Walter O. & Joshua Goldberg (eds.). Guidelines for Transgender Care.

 

Brill, Stephanie & Pepper, Rachel. The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals. (see review in previous section)

 

Burdge, Barb J. Bending gender, ending gender: theoretical foundations for social work practice with the transgender community.

 

Cohen-Kettenis, Peggy T. & Friedmann Pfafflin. Transgenderism and Intersexuality in Childhood and Adolescence: Making Choices

 

Ettner, Randi. Gender Loving Care: A Guide to Counseling Gender-Variant Clients.

Contains very basic information about transgender issues that therapists should be aware of when counseling trans clients.

 

Ettner, Randi, Stan Monstrey, & Evan Eyler (eds.). Principles of Transgender Medicine and Surgery.

 

Israel, Gianna E. Transgender Care: Recommended Guidelines, Practical Information, and Personal Accounts.

 

Kotula, Dean. The Phallus Palace: Female to Male Transsexuals.

Essays by FTMs, therapists, and doctors about transitioning, personal experience, surgery, and other miscellaneous topics.  This is a really useful book because it addresses so many aspects of being FTM.

 

Leli, Ubaldo & Jack Drescher (eds.). Transgender Subjectives: A Clinician's Guide.

 

Lev, Arlene Istar. Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working With Gender-Variant People and Their Families.

**An interesting book speaking to a variety of common concerns often presented by trans individuals seeking mental health services. Lev emphasizes the therapist’s role in “co-authoring” a trans narrative and addresses several misconceptions about trans clients. One of the few books specifically focusing on working with trans individuals in psychotherapy. If I had to recommend just one book to someone in the mental health field, this would be it.**

 

Makadon, Harvey J. et al. (eds.) Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Health.

 

Mallon, Gerald P. Social Services With Transgendered Youth.

 

 

Legal Issues

 

Aguirre, Abby. Transgender homeless seek safety.

 

Burda, Joan M. Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Clients: A Lawyer's Guide.

 

Currah, Paisley, Richard M. Juang, & Shannon Price Minter(eds.). Transgender Rights.

 

Hunter, Nan D., Courtney G. Joslin, & Sharon M. McGowan. The Authoritative ACLU Guide to the Rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals, and Transgender People.

 

Walworth, Janis. Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide.

 

Weiss, Jillian. Transgender Workplace Diversity: Policy Tools, Training Issues and Communication Strategies for HR and Legal Professionals

 

 

Historical/Political

 

Califia, Patrick. Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism.

A history of the trans movement in the U.S.

 

Feinberg, Leslie. Transgender Warriors : Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman.

Trans individuals throughout history

 

Meyerowitz, Joanne. How Sex Changed: A History of Transsexuality in the United States.

 

Stryker, Susan. Transgender History.

 

 

Trans Experiences/Narratives

 

Ames, Jonathan (ed.). Sexual Metamorphosis: An Anthology of Transsexual Memoirs.

A survey of excerpts about transgender experiences spanning more than a century, ranging from case studies written in 1886, to the autobiography of Christine Jorgensen, to a selection from She’s Not There, by Maine’s own Jenny Boylan.

 

Beam, Chris. Transparent: Love, Family, and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers.

 

Blumenstein, Rosalyne. Branded T.

 

Boylan, Jennifer Finney. She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders.

Boylan recounts personal experiences during her gender transition.

 

Cameron, Loren. Body Alchemy: Transsexual Portraits.

Book of photographer Loren Cameron’s portraits of FTM transsexuals with brief personal stories and information (and pictures) regarding various surgical options.

 

Cromwell, Jason. Transmen and FTMs: Identities, Bodies, Genders, and Sexualities.

 

Diamond, Morty. From The Inside Out: Radical Gender Transformation, FTM and Beyond.

Poetry and essays by trans individuals on the FTM spectrum.

 

Green, Jamison. Becoming a Visible Man.

Trans-activist Green’s autobiography.

 

Jones, Cindi. Squirrel Cage.

 

Jorgensen, Christine. Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography.

 

Kailey, Matt. Tranifesto.

 

Kane-demaios, J. Ari & Vern L. Bullough (eds.). Crossing Sexual Boundaries: Transgender Journeys, Uncharted Paths.

 

Nestle, Joan, Clare Howell, & Riki Wilchins. Genderqueer: Voices from Beyond the Sexual Binary.

Stories sharing a variety of individuals’ explorations of gender identity.

 

O’Keefe, Tracie & Katrina Fox. Finding the Real Me: True Tales of Sex and Gender Diversity.

Numerous essays written by transgender individuals about their personal experiences.

 

Rose, Donna. Wrapped In Blue: A Journey of Discovery.

 

Rubin, Henry. Self Made Men: Identity, Embodiment and Recognition Among Transsexual Men.

 

Sullivan, Louis. From Female to Male: The Life of Jack Bee Garland.

 

Valerio, Max Wolf. The Testosterone Files: My Hormonal and Social Transformation from Female to Male.

The title describes it well enough!

 

Zander, Erica. TransActions.

 

 

Spirituality/Religion

 

Angelo-Cummings, Mark. The Mirror Makes No Sense. 

 

Sheridan, Vanessa. Crossing over: Liberating the Transgendered Christian.

 

Tanis, Justin Edward. Trans-Gendered: Theology, Ministry, and Communities of Faith.

 

Tigert, Leanne McCall & Maren C. Tirabassi. Transgendering Faith: Identity, Sexuality, And Spirituality.

 

 

Misc.

 

Feinberg, Leslie. Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue.

Transcripts of several of Feinberg’s speeches on a variety of topics.

 

 

Fiction

 

Bohjalian, Chris. Trans-Sister Radio.

Great novel about the transition of a MTF transwoman and how this process affects her relationships and life. (Written by the author of Midwifes)

 

Feinberg, Leslie. Drag King Dreams.

 

Feinberg, Leslie. Stone Butch Blues.

Novel about one transgender FTM becoming an adult in the late 1960s.  This is probably the most famous book with an FTM subject.  Feinberg is a well-known trans activist and incredibly inspirational speaker.  All hir books are highly recommended.

 

Tremain, Rose. Sacred Country.

Story about an FTM transgender person’s childhood in 1950s England. (Note: I haven’t read this book for a very long time, but I remember it seemed very slow-paced and I found the narrator to be rather emotionless.)

 

Wittlinger, Ellen. Parrotfish.





(c)Maine Transgender Network, Inc., 2009

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