Customer Reviews

Transgender Rights

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This volume of essays conceives transgender as a global social movement for rights, including discussions of law, politics and economics. It is academic in tone, but much of it is accessible to a lay audience. While its essays are wide-ranging, covering such diverse topics as multiculturalism, disability laws and Argentinian concepts of citizenship, there is, to my mind, a theme to these essays: the social contradictions that arise from the attempts of supposedly liberal Western societies to assimilate transgender identity. The title of Jan Morris's gender transition autobiography, "Conundrum," comes to mind. Paisley Currah's discussion of the transgender movement refers to it as one "that seeks the dissolution of the very category under which it is organized." Judith Butler's article about the psychiatric diagnosis of "gender identity disorder" notes that "the price of using the diagnosis to get what one wants is that one cannot use language to say what one really thinks is true." Dean Spade's critique of political economy and the gender compliance it demands discusses how the movement for gender identity non-discrimination constitutes a strategy of normalization that opposes, rather than furthers, the right of gender self-determination central to liberation.

One of the best features of the book is that many of the essays are written by transgender authors, and most of the other authors nonetheless reflect an intimate understanding of the lived experiences of transgender people, rather than an outsider's anthropological perspective. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a broad view of the early 21st century transgender movement.

(originally published at the Transgender Workplace Diversity Blog)

Transgender Rights
Paisley Currah, Richard M. Juang, and Shannon Minter, Editors
Transgender Rights is a must for any transperson, family member, or parent who is concerned with transgenders' legal rights.
The book is separated into three sections: Law, which includes examination of recent and current laws and the application. History, which deals with gains achieved during this same period. Politics, which outlines the political actions taken or needed and their repercussions.
Is gender variance a mental or physical condition? Is it fair to consider transgendered individuals disabled? Can these answers and questions be used independently, intermittently, or in conjunction to gain favorable decisions when petitioning authorities?
The authors point out that many states' laws define disability in a fashion that includes gender variance, thus allowing transgenders to sue for protection and/or accommodation under disability laws. Marriage questions similarly vary by state. Some will change the sex designator after gender confirmation surgery and thereby allow the transgender individual to marry in their self-identified gender. Some will insist on using their original birth sex designator through out their lives, regardless of GAS. Finally, some - the Supreme Court of Kansas, for example - refuse to consider transgendered individuals ANY gender; they are neither male no female. This results in NO law that specifies male or female applying to them. They cannot legally marry at all.
All three parts contain a mix of what has been done, what could or should be done, and ideas on how to get from one to the other.
Transgender Rights is at times a difficult read. Based on standard evaluations of writing style and readability, it appears to be targeted on a well-educated audience. Most of the transgender community and their allies are accustomed to researching their needs via books, conferences, and web sites. They are self-educated in everything relating to their experience. This book will enhance their knowledge. Whether they encounter legal challenges or engage in political advocacy, this work can be their guide.
Dave Parker

this book was jam-packed with information for people like myself and also gave web sites to do more reasurch. It explained the laws and basic rights we have and ways to help overcome discrimination.

This is written with a lot of legal items in it and if you are considering taking on the company, city, state or country then you'll need to read over this book a couple of times. It does have some good points for you to check and some points you need to be aware of. Whether you are TG or dealing with a TG you'll need this book. Some cities and states have gender laws in place that are for us and some are not. This book will help if you decide to take the "MAN".

This book is a very good source of imformation to protect yourself before even thinking about transitioning in a work environment. It is also a good resource for HR employees regarding the rights on trangendered employees.

Really good anthology. Some books like this have a few good pieces and a lot of boring ones, but almost all of these kept my attention. There are especially good ones about the social control of the transgender poor through welfare, shelters, prisons, and other institutions and about the history of the LGB/T divide.