In Search of Eve: Transsexual Rites of Passage [Hardcover]

Anne Bolin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 1987 | ISBN-10: 0897890825 | ISBN-13: 978-0897890823

Anne Bolin illuminates the array of social, psychological and physical changes experienced by a group of people in the process of changing gender.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Valuable . . . the reader discovers what it feels like to be a transsexual.”–Choice

“[A]n absorbing account of the sociocultural aspects of gender transition. . . . [A] carefully crafted, clearly written monograph which scholars of both sexuality and gender can profitably read.”–Contemporary Sociology

“The literature relating to transsexuals is small, and this study by an anthropologist, based on her observations while `hanging out' with members of the Berdache Society, comprises a valuable addition to it. . . . Her discussions of how [her clients] learn to manipulate the therapists whose approval they need to undergo sex change surgery constitutes one of the most interesting aspects of the book.”–Small Press Book Review

“A fascinating study, perceptive and well written, an excellent piece of work.”–Martin S. Weinberg, Indiana University

Product Details

• Hardcover: 222 pages
• Publisher: Bergin & Garvey (November 30, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897890825
• ISBN-13: 978-0897890823
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,062,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book to learn about your transistion., September 15, 1999

By 

Kristian - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Eve: Transsexual Rites of Passage (Paperback)

I've read this book five times now. I learn more every time I read it. If you are a confused person of what and how to concieve your transistion, read this book. There is no mistake of what Anne Bolin is saying in this book, that she understands the interactions of Transsexuals and their journey's.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, but some issues, November 23, 2003

By 

"cowtessa" (Cache Valley, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Eve: Transsexual Rites of Passage (Paperback)

On the whole I really liked the book. It was fairly informative, however fairly dry, as it was written from a anthropological point of view.

The two major issues that I had with it were that some of the information is dated, but not terribly. Most of the information is about 10 years old at the moment. The thing that bother me more about it is that it has a somewhat narrowed view on transsexualism. Admittedly, this is due to the fact that it was written about a group of approximately 15 transsexuals, in one city, belonging to the Berdache society, but at several points it sounds as if this covers the entire gammut.

Points that I really liked, though. It was very informative, including personal insights from the women, measurments showing effects of hormone therapy, a few methods on transition, etc. The major item with this is that although, yes, it is a rather scientific discussion, it was written from an inside viewpoint, by someone who had befriended the women and supported them. At no point was she in any position to act as the gatekeeper, and so has a very unique insight to transsexual thought that most psychologists and therapists miss out on due to their position during transition.

It discusses how the group rapidly distributed information about therapists, who would write letters of reccomend, how to behave, etc. I found it refreshing, especially with the more realistic surveys done, showing that, although many therapists find that transsexuals are more femminine than many natural females, that without that gatekeeper position intruding on test results, they fell into a close-to-natural-female category.

I highly recommend this for anyone trying to understand the transsexual mind a little better, due to the closer relationship with the women involved. I would not consider it a be-all-end-all answer, but it does have great information regarding aspects that other authors miss.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bolin's Landmark Text in Transgender Studies, February 4, 2003

By 

"md_2003" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Eve: Transsexual Rites of Passage (Paperback)

The leading feminist ethnographer and sexologist researcher in the US in Transgender Studies made her mark with this groundbreaking text on MTW (MTF) transsexuality. Bolin writes that we need better "rites of passage" for gender transitioning. Ones that are not hyper-psycho-medicalized. Ones that do not make of transwomen diseases and disorders.

Using Victor Turner's "rites of passage" theme throughout her reflexive analyses of transwomen's lives was and still is ground-breaking in Transgender Studies. Bolin is one of the first feminist sexologists who unapologetically succeeds in reframing the defaming sexism of the Janice Raymond-type of insulting, but on point, arguments about the psycho-medical micro-management of transwomen.

This text does not seem to go out of date. It could be offered as a required text in feminist ethnography, sexology, Transgender Studies, gender studies, anthropology, and cultural studies. A thorough reading of Bolin's works that follow is recommended. Transwomen would find this text affirming and a primer for self-discovery.