Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism is Califia's meticulously researched book based on an astute reading of the available literature and in-depth interviews with gender transgressors who "opened their lives, minds, hearts, and bedrooms to the gaze of strangers." Writing about both male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals, Califia examines the lives of early transgender pioneers like Christine Jorgenson, Jan Morris, Renee Richards and Mark Rees, contemporary transgender activists like Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein, and partners of transgendered people like Minnie Bruce Pratt. Califia scrutinizes feminist resistance to transsexuals occupying women's space, the Christian Right's backlash against transsexuals, and the appropriation of the berdache and other differently-gendered by gay historians to prove the universal existance of homosexuality. Finally, Sex Changes explores the future of gender.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Common sense has dictated that there are two genders--female and male. But this perspective is becoming less accepted and making less sense for many people. Pat Califia's Sex Changes is a frank, forthright, and sometimes funny challenge to the traditional ideas about gender and sexuality. Transgenderism is the term used to describe people who feel they belong to both, or neither, traditional genders. Califia--a vocal sex radical as well as a therapist--explores the worlds of biology, sociology, psychology, and politics and comes to the conclusion that life and personal experience is far more complicated than most people believe and that the simple two-gender system most people accept is more harmful that helpful. Clear-headed writing and enormous empathy for everyone who exists outside of "the norm" make Sex Changes challenging and vital reading.
Review
"One always expects Pat Califia's writing to be challenging and thought-provoking, and Sex Changes will not disappoint..." -- LESBIAN NEWS
"The first major work published by a gay and lesbian press that takes transsexual and transgendered concerns seriously..." -- GAIL SONDEGAARD, SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES
"only Califia writes with such explicitness and honesty as to make gays and lesbians as well as straights squirm in their chairs. But while Califia can make you embarrassed, angry, indignant, afraid, or aroused, it is not without higher purpose Highly recommended." -- LIBRARY JOURNAL
"The first major work published by a gay and lesbian press that takes transsexual and transgendered concerns seriously..." -- GAIL SONDEGAARD, SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES
"only Califia writes with such explicitness and honesty as to make gays and lesbians as well as straights squirm in their chairs. But while Califia can make you embarrassed, angry, indignant, afraid, or aroused, it is not without higher purpose Highly recommended." -- LIBRARY JOURNAL
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Sex Changes" is the best book on TG to date.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism (Paperback)
Pat Califia's "Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism" is a bold step forward towards the right to self-indentify, of not just trans folks, but af all persons. I'm astounded that some reviewers came away with an impression that Califia felt transexuals should not exist, or should not pursue surgery. She merely states many of the potential hazards of taking that big step. As a preoperative transexual woman, who has every intention of having GSR, I want all the information available, not just the info I want to hear. But I also felt that she was under the impression we're all going to get breast implants? Many of us are quite content with our hormone grown, and very sensitive breasts, thus all her talk about nipple insensitivity left me confused. The highlight of the book is how she counters J.Raymond and his ilk of hatemongering seperatists. While Bornstein tries to placate this group in her works and Wilchins challenges, but with "puppy eyes," Califia makes no apologies for referring to Raymond as "pigheaded" and shows Raymond to be little more than a well educated fanatic with a clear agenda of hatred. The comparison of Raymond to Anita Briant is perfect. The only problem I had with the book was too many long quotations from previous TG authors, whose works many readers, like myself, are already very familiar. Pat Califia has done a great service to the TG and particularly TS community. We should be proud to have her as an ally.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honesty look at the history of transsexualism.,
By cmartin109@aol.com (Newport Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism (Paperback)
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest Social History,
By A Customer
This review is from: Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism (Paperback)
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
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