Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism

by Patrick Califia-Rice

Hailed a 'revolutionary antidote to America's growing sexual conservatism', Califia is the most outspoken and intelligent commentator on sexual politics writing today. Sex Changes combines his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573440728
• ISBN13: 9781573440721
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Cleis Press
• Length: 309 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful Evaluation

Pat does a really great job at evaluating the literature written by and about the transsexual over the years.She starts with the well-known early transfolk who pushed the limits so that everyone else would have an easier time, such as Christine Jorgenson, Jan Morris, and Mario Martino - and highlights the differences between each autobiography. She heads through material written by the first doctors involved, and manages to show how it's both forward-looking and stereotype-promoting at the same time.Of course, she can't leave out the backlash against transsexuality promoted by people such as Janice Raymond - and deals with them sharply, in the process, showing her own evolution from being in the trans-hating group, to being supportive. She even gives reasons why the trans-hating feminists may be undermining their own movement.She then looks at how gay historians have downplayed the role of trans folk, and then hits the next generation of biographies, such as Renee Richards and Mark Rees, and shows how they are written differently, emphasising points not covered in the first wave.Her attempt to deal with literature on the partners of the transgendered suffers from the lack of literature in this area - forcing her to deal with a book on the partners of transvestites. She might have done better to just avoid this, since it doesn't really match the rest of her book.Then current and future activism is covered, mentioning reactions to tragedies such as Brandon Teena and Tyra Hunter. Her look into the future only handles Kate Bornstein's Gender Outlaw, however, and doesn't get a true variety of literature as in other chapters.Overall, a high quality book, worth reading, with a few hiccups in it.

Great, honest, generous book

I found the book well written, accurate, and eye-opening, and it's the ideal book for a gender crosser to put in the hands of her gay and lesbian friends--or enemies. The hostility that a minority of readers feel towards it is hard to understand. Most people, like me, love it.

I Couldn't Put this one DOWN!

Literally read the entire thing in one sitting. A good, balanced view of transgender and the gender community at large. My partner is now devouring this book, cover to cover.

Honesty look at the history of transsexualism.

Ms. Califia approaches the history and politics from the viewpoint of what many would call a radical feminist lesbian dyke. While all of these terms do apply to Ms. Califia her book provides insight and compassion not found in similar works. Her outlook on the politics of transsexualsim and her treatment of the subject shows she has spent a lot of time with transsexuals. Her doubts about her own gender identity might be one reason for her outlook. That isn't important. What is important is the way she treats the "transphobic" and the medical community at large. I hope to have the chance to meet her one day and say thanks for understanding and caring. This is a definite book to add to your buy list.

Honest Social History

This is a great book on transsexuality, and to a lesser extent, on transgenderism. While Califia spends (understandably) a lot of time on the loudest and most transgressive transsexuals, she gives everyone a fair hearing in a way that most reviews of the subject don't. I did not feel she had an axe to grind in any direction, but was motivated by honesty and a fierce protectiveness. This is the first book on gender politics which I felt I could give to anyone of fair mind who was new to the subject