Book recommendations on trans issue

[Gurdjieff]

Hi all

I’ve just finished Helen Joyce’s excellent book Trans. I wanted to find an interesting/informative book that takes the “pro TWAW” stance but wasn’t sure where to start. Eg the new Shon Faye?

Not for spurious balance, but just like to read around the subject.

Can anyone recommend such a book?

If you find one that does make clear consistent logical sense and without poor/false stats do let us know!

Shon Faye's did sound entertaining, from brief excerpts/reviews.

In all honesty, OP, I would like to read an interesting/informative book on the subject too. If you find one, I look forward to hearing about it.

They fall into two broad categories:

Butleresque academic gobbledegook that can't define its fundamental terms and distinctions, and first or third person solipsistic personal memoirs of what was like to grow up/come out/discover your gender identity, again, whatever that is.

I read half of Whipping Girl by Julia Serano. I liked her writing before that but didn't afterwards. I also picked up What's the T by Juno Dawson but it's not surprising I was so put off as it's aimed at teens - I wouldn't necessarily like a book of views I agreed with aimed at that age group.

I'm bad at actually getting on with reading these works but I want to read Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, TransLiberation by Leslie Feinberg - both a bit older - and Shon Faye's book. I picked up Transgender Marxism by Jules Joanne Gleeson and Elle O'Rourke but decided it would give a very skewed view to a beginner.

More generally, Against White Feminism by Rafia Zakaria and The Trouble with Mainstream Feminism by Alison Phipps are written by women who would see trans rights and women's rights as effectively inseparable I think.

I bought a cheap 2nd hand copy of Trans Britain by Christine Burns, but honestly haven't managed to get round to reading it yet, because I think it will make me cross!

Thanks everyone. Definitely feels like there’s a gap. I will try Shon Faye and report back.

I’m probably not a good fit for the more academic stuff like Butler etc.

Sorry to jump on, but dies anyone know if Helen Joyce's book will be available on audible anytime soon ?

Might be worth asking her directly. She seems to respond to DMs on twitter etc.

Can very much recommend it. It’s admirably clear and concise, restrained as well.

Christine Burns will tell you how we ended up here, from the TRA perspective.

I think she said she is narrating the audiobook herself. She has a lovely voice.

Helen Joyce, for the avoidance of doubt

Not sure if this is the sort of book you mean. But l read " Conundrum " by Jan Morris. Found it very informative.

About a third of the way through Gender Outlaw. It lists a lot of writers so could be a signpost to other things to read. Must have been groundbreaking when it came out and not shy of graphic descriptions of genital surgery and sexual response, to quite an uncomfortable degree. Interesting that Kate Bornstein now identifies as nonbinary.

The thing I want to understand more clearly is how the changing of language (eg deletion of “women”) and insertion of natal males into female spaces is justified from a TRA perspective.

Whenever I try to read up on that it’s dismissed or wafted away, which is frustrating. There must be some strong reasoning for those things and why we should all acquiesce in them, but I haven’t read about it.