Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen (Sexual Minorities in Historical Context) [Paperback]

Richard F. Docter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2007 | Series: Sexual Minorities in Historical Context

Discover the remarkable woman behind the legend.

Discover Christine Jorgensen’s remarkable, inspirational journey to become the woman she always knew she should have been. Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen provides fascinating insights about the woman who opened doors—and minds—on behalf of sexual minorities. This book chronicles Christine’s drive, ability to solve problems, immense determination, and just plain luck as she transformed herself into her true gender—and reveals facets of her personality previously undisclosed by other biographies of her life.

Christine Jorgensen was a major contributor to the unfolding of the so-called sexual revolution in America. Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen is the story of one courageous individual overcoming personal and social barriers, enduring the difficult compromises that needed to be made, and the ultimate realization of goals. This revealing warts-and-all biography tells Christine’s real story while examining the history of transsexuality in western societies, the medical intervention provided to her, and insightful profiles of Alfred C. Kinsey, Georges Burou, Harry Benjamin, and Christian Hamburger. The appearance and characteristics of cross dressers are also discussed, as well as their lifestyles are contrasted with transsexual persons. This biography serves to illustrate the challenge to lessen discrimination against all LGBT persons—and the struggle that still lies ahead.

Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen explores:

• the supportive and high functioning family in which Christine grew up
  
• Jorgensen’s struggle with homosexual feelings deemed unacceptable by society
  
• Jorgensen’s young adult years while presenting as a man
  
• the steps in his/her transsexual self-identification
  
• Jorgensen’s determination to redefine himself/herself through medical intervention
  
• why Dr. Christian Hamburger in Copenhagen took an interest in Jorgensen’s case
  
• the previously unrevealed story of Jorgensen’s revelations to a news reporter that led to international headlines
  
• how Jorgensen developed a profitable nightclub act
  
• the conflicts that accompanied the writing and publication of her autobiography
  
• Jorgensen’s love/hate personality characteristic and its effect on personal relationships
  
• much more!
  
  

Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen is eye-opening, thought-provoking reading perfect for transsexuals and prospective transsexuals; those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or as cross dressers; mental health professionals; sociologists; educators; students; social workers; civil rights attorneys; and cultural anthropologists.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The most famous transsexual before the term came into use, Christine Jorgensen caused a sensation in the 1950s when newspapers headlined her as the "Sex-Change Freak." She would now be treated very differently, and the hook in Docter's thought-provoking, smoothly written biography is its portrayal of troubled young George, who struggled to accept what he first thought was his homosexuality and, later, gender identity issues (another term then unknown). So intent was he on denying attraction to men and suppressing "perplexing thoughts" that he presented himself "as a far more typical young man than he ever acknowledged to himself." After 30 months of surgery and hormone treatments in Denmark, "Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty," the New York Daily News screamed on December 1, 1952. Pioneers, for that is what 26-year-old Jorgensen was, by definition descry no easy paths and must forge them. Nowadays, former NBA superstar Dennis Rodman can ride his motorcycle to a book signing while wearing a stunning wedding gown. A thoroughly understandable, believable retelling of a once-extraordinary story. Scott, Whitney --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen offers a more studied examination of the state of transsexuality than most biographies offer....An excellent guide for college-level holdings specializing in alternative social issues." - Diane C. Donovan, The Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 355 pages
• Publisher: Harrington Park Press (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560236671
• ISBN-13: 978-1560236672
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,453,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Biographies & Memoirs > Transgender

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The First Famous Gender-Bender, February 7, 2008

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Mal Schoen (Northern California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen (Sexual Minorities in Historical Context) (Paperback)

I've long felt it was high time someone wrote a comprehensive biography of Christine Jorgensen. As the book itself says, many people under thirty, including the transgendered, have never heard of Jorgensen. When I was growing up she was usually the punchline to a joke. As a teenager I read her autobiography (which I now learn was ghostwritten by someone else) but Jorgensen was not the most honest or forthcoming celebrity. Dockter's new book is really quite good, covering a lot of territory in her unusual life.
My only complaint was that the last chapters seemed rushed, and her ultimate death in 1989 was handled very quickly and unsatisfyingly. But the rest of it was detailed and thoughtful, with some interesting surprises along the way. Ms. Jorgensen would probably be horrified by the secrets revealed but would also be glad that her mystique lingers on, nearly 20 years after her death.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A more studied examination of the state of transsexuality than most biographies offer, March 4, 2008

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen (Sexual Minorities in Historical Context) (Paperback)

BECOMING A WOMAN: A BIOGRAPHY OF CHRISTINE JORGENSEN offers a more studied examination of the state of transsexuality than most biographies offer, focusing on the sociology and science issues as much as the biographical factors involved. Thus BECOMING A WOMAN, with its scholarly approach, becomes much more the item of choice for the college-level health or sociology library than for the general-interest collection, with its chapters on psychology, social interactions, and Jorgensen's struggles within larger contexts of social definitions. An excellent guide for college-level holdings specializing in alternative social issues.