“You can’t understand me!” It was a remark that had echoed in the back of his mind for years, one that seemed to have come from every woman he’d ever known. It was a push-off: both a shield and a challenge. It was a remark that would drive Mike Reynolds to begin a very strange adventure indeed. “It made me want to find some answers to some serious social questions... What is gender? How is our sense of our gender built? Why does our sense of gender separate us from each other so completely? Can someone’s sense of self change over time simply by changing the group of gender symbols he or she presents to others? What new social expectations would be placed on that person? How would that person deal with them? Above all...how would it feel? There was really only one way to find out.” In the fall of 2001 Mike became Lisa Anne Weber—35, female, and overweight. He lived as this woman for six weeks. In the end, he was to discover something that transcends all our differences.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Delightful and exhuberant..." -- Laurie Sherrill - TG Forum Magazine
...a riveting read. "The New Girl" shines new light on gender differences with much skill, style and wit. -- Cutting Edge Magazine
A remarkable and truly captivating book. -- Denise Clark - Denise's Pieces
...a riveting read. "The New Girl" shines new light on gender differences with much skill, style and wit. -- Cutting Edge Magazine
A remarkable and truly captivating book. -- Denise Clark - Denise's Pieces
About the Author
A native of Chicago now living in New Haven, Connecticut, Mike Reynolds is a professor of Mass Communication and Media Studies at Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart Universities. When not teaching, he freelances as an advertising and PR writer.
Mike holds a BA in Humanities from Loyola University of Chicago and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Catholic University of America.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
New Girl or New TS?,
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The New Girl (Paperback)
I was eagerly awaiting this book after learning of it on Amazon only to be somewhat disappointed. The premise that Mike Reynolds hoped to achieve was to pass as a woman for several weeks to see what it's like on the other side. The problem was that the only people that he debriefed after the experiment was over had assumed that Mike/Lisa was a transsexual. So what we can truly learn from this project is how people treat transsexuals.My other complaint goes to Mike's writings, specifically his daily logs and conclusions. As Mike recorded his daily activities and observations I found them to be by and large a little thin. I got tired hearing about what outfit he was going to wear that day as if somehow that was important. About midway through the experiment I felt that Mike had lost traction and was not as forthcoming of his observations as I had hoped. That is why I was shocked when I read in the conclusion some very accurate and detailed observations. But just like in math, it is not enough to have the right answer; you have to show your work. I wished that he had shared his thoughts along the way that reflected his final opinions better. Another concern is Mike's reaction to people who challenge him on his gender identity. He was already leading people astray with his ruse and then compounded the situation by lying about his identity when caught. This was good for a couple of non-sensible rants about being mistreated. People have a right to their opinions and if they think that you're a guy in a dress, get over it. By Mike's own count, he was only passing approximately 50% of the time. Of that 50% I wonder how many thought that he was a transsexual or a genetic woman. On Mike personally - I would love to know more about his gender ID if indeed he has figured it out yet. I have a hard time believing that a regular male would go the extremes that Mike went to for this project. I didn't mean to rag on this book so badly; it's just that I expected better or too much. Perhaps a repeat of this experiment would be in order. Overall I would recommend the book as a good hearted attempt at breeching the other side and there are definitely some things that I learned about people and society that will be of value.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
There and Back Again,
By
This review is from: The New Girl (Paperback)
Mike Reynold's book The New Girl, begins with an intriguing premise. Mr. Reynolds, tired of hearing repeatedly from the women in his life that he can never fully understand the psychology of female existence, decides to challenge that thinking. To that end, he launches a truly incredible experiment. After some fairly significant preparations (including: lazer facial hair removal, waxing of body hair, diet, exercise, vocal and movement training, hair and make-up training, a legal name change (!), a new wardrobe, etc.) lives as a woman for six weeks (every hour of every day). He becomes Lisa Anne Weber, a single, unemployed, 35 year old woman, new to the city of New haven, CT. He (in his female guise) searches for employment, social interaction and what it truly means to be feamle. He gains (and shares) some powerful insights into the complexities of a woman's life, penetrating amazingly into the female pysche. He is a first-rate writer and his remarkable journey to womanhood and back is a riveting read. This book shines a new light on gender differences and does so with much skill, style and wit. Some people will not agree with all of Mr. Reynolds' conclusions regarding his experiment, but everyone who reads this book will be enthralled by his fantastic quest of compassion and curiosity. It is, after all, really the journey that matters. A must read.
21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting experiment,
By A Customer
This review is from: The New Girl (Paperback)
When I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I wanted to compare notes with my own journey, and I wanted to be sure that it was not going to create new stereotypes. This was an incredibly ambitious venture, not something that just any man would want to attempt, considering all the psychological conditioning required, especially when he is not significantly transgendered. I am sure the author fully expected to experience six weeks of a woman's life in enlightening detail in order to write the definitive account from a male point of view, but what happened was not quite what he expected.Mid-August through September 2001 was not exactly the best time for Lisa Anne Weber to be born. She had an expensive wardrobe, a lofty ambition, and she DID need work to support the project. The cover picture in the mirror may be Lisa, but otherwise there are no photos. Lisa was probably somewhat pretty, but she was definitely statuesque at 6'-4" in heels. The author seemed to pass well, but being extra tall was a major disadvantage. It was not clear who thought Lisa was a woman, who thought she was a transsexual, and who thought she was just a man in a dress. Despite being pretty and having legal documentation, Lisa was not able to convince everyone that she was indeed a woman. The author plunged into Lisa's life, experiencing much of what a real woman might experience: joining women's groups, looking for work, feeling second-class, and even being treated as a sex object by men. The author speaks of feeling pushed into unfamiliar roles, or at least perceiving how Lisa was expected to act. Half way through the project, being Lisa became more tedious and not quite so interesting anymore. Lisa was a fictitious persona, not closely related to the author's identity. A true trans-person does not easily lose interest in their cross-identity. The author experienced the same discontinuity between man-mode and woman-mode that transgendered persons regularly experience. Lisa and Mike were always treated as two different persons. Mike's friendships did not transfer to Lisa, and Lisa's friendships did not transfer to Mike. The author and his girlfriend experienced the same feelings that confront all transgendered couples: Mike's girlfriend, knowing full well what the project was all about and who Lisa was, still viewed Lisa as another (woman) person, who could be a threat to the relationship. Early in the book, the author makes the statement gender is a cultural construct. This is mostly true, but there is biology here too, because male and female human beings are wired differently. As the author noted, however, there is way too much sexism and artificial role-playing. There was no mention at all of gender identity, which is not a cultural construct. We all have one, whether or not it fits any societal model. When one actually crosses the gender line, girlfriend's and wive's comments change from "You do not understand me," to "I really do not understand you!" --Romana
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