Just One of the Guys?: Transgender Men and the Persistence of Gender Inequality [Paperback]

Kristen Schilt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2011

The fact that men and women continue to receive unequal treatment at work is a point of contention among politicians, the media, and scholars. Common explanations for this disparity range from biological differences between the sexes to the conscious and unconscious biases that guide hiring and promotion decisions. Just One of the Guys? sheds new light on this phenomenon by analyzing the unique experiences of transgender men—people designated female at birth whose gender identity is male—on the job.

Kristen Schilt draws on in-depth interviews and observational data to show that while individual transmen have varied experiences, overall their stories are a testament to systemic gender inequality. The reactions of coworkers and employers to transmen, Schilt demonstrates, reveal the ways assumptions about innate differences between men and women serve as justification for discrimination. She finds that some transmen gain acceptance—and even privileges—by becoming “just one of the guys,” that some are coerced into working as women or marginalized for being openly transgender, and that other forms of appearance-based discrimination also influence their opportunities. Showcasing the voices of a frequently overlooked group, Just One of the Guys? lays bare the social processes that foster forms of inequality that affect us all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Truly innovative, courageous, and rigorous. Just One of the Guys? will spark a lot of dialogue and some contentious discussions. Kristen Schilt has taken an ethnographic and interview-based approach to understanding the workplace inequalities facing a highly understudied population, and the results are sobering and unexpected. This is an indubitably creative and original book." - Shari L. Dworkin, University of California, San Francisco"

About the Author

Kristen Schilt is assistant professor of sociology at the University of Chicago.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (February 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226738078
• ISBN-13: 978-0226738079
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book and resource May 12, 2011

By Lou

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dr Schilt did a great job with her research of trans men in the work place. She has wonderful hints to help get co-workers to transition with you.
I'm glad I have added this book to my library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable teaching tool November 28, 2011

By Brittany Machado

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I used Dr. Schilt's book in a gender course I teach, and I am so grateful for this book! It vividly illustrates any points I can try to make about gender inequality through the case study of transmen in the workplace. Drawing on a rich body of cultural theory and field dad, this is a teaching tool that is not to be passed over!

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculous price for a Kindle Book! August 25, 2012

By Chris Sterling

Format:Paperback

This book sounds like an excellent subject and I really wanted to read it. But I wanted to buy the Kindle version of this book, as these are usually cheaper and therefore I can afford them. I was shocked to see that the Kindle version is almost as expensive as the print version. As someone who has worked in publishing and is still up to date, I know perfectly well that the cost price of a Kindle book is negligible compared to a print book. Therefore, the Kindle price seems to me to be ludicrous, and I will not be able to buy or read this book.
I was tempted to rate this as 1 star due to the price, but I am not rating it as a 1-star because I don't want to undermine the author's hard work. But really! Please set fair prices ...