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J. Michael Bailey
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The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism Hardcover – International Edition, March 10, 2003

by J. Michael Bailey (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 133 ratings
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Gay. Straight. Or lying. It's as simple and straightforward as black or white, right? Or is there a gray area, where the definitions of sex and gender become blurred or entirely refocused with the deft and practiced use of a surgeon's knife? For some, the concept of gender — the very idea we have of ourselves as either male or female beings — is neither simple nor straightforward.

Written by cutting-edge researcher and sex expert J. Michael Bailey, The Man Who Would Be Queen is a frankly controversial, intensely poignant, and boldly forthright book about sex and gender. Based on his original research, Bailey's book is grounded firmly in science. But as he demonstrates, science doesn't always deliver predictable or even comfortable answers. Indeed, much of what he has to say will be sure to generate as many questions as it does answers.

Are gay men genuinely more feminine than other men? And do they really prefer to be hairdressers rather than lumberjacks? Are all male transsexuals women trapped in men's bodies — or are some of them men who are just plain turned on by the idea of becoming a woman? And how much of a role do biology and genetics play in sexual orientation?

But while Bailey's science is provocative, it is the portraits of the boys and men who struggle with these questions — and often with anger, fear, and hurt feelings — that will move you. You will meet Danny, an eight-year old boy whose favorite game is playing house and who yearns to dress up as a princess for Halloween. And Martin, an expert makeup artist who was plagued by inner turmoil as a youth but is now openly homosexual and has had many men as sex partners. And Kim, a strikingly sexy transsexual who still has a penis and works as a dancer and a call girl for men who like she-males while she awaits sex reassignment surgery.

These and other stories make it clear that there are men — and men who become women — who want only to understand themselves and the society that makes them feel like outsiders. That there are parents, friends, and families that seek answers to confusing and complicated questions. And that there are researchers who hope one day to grasp the very nature of human sexuality. As the striking cover image — a distinctly muscular and obviously male pair of legs posed in a pair of low-heeled pumps — makes clear, the concept of gender, the very idea we have of ourselves as either male or female beings, is neither simple nor straightforward for some.
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  1. Print length
    249 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Joseph Henry Press
  4. Publication date
    March 10, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0309084180
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0309084185
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An associate professor of psychology at Northwestern University, Bailey writes with assuredness that often makes difficult, abstract material-the relationship between sexual orientation and gender affect, the origins of homosexuality and the theoretical basis of how we discuss sexuality-comprehensible. He also, especially in his portraits of the women and men he writes about, displays a deep empathy that is frequently missing from scientific studies of sexuality. But Bailey's scope is so broad that when he gets down to pivotal constructs, as in detailing the data of scientific studies such as Richard Green's about "feminine boys" or Dean Hamer's work on the so-called "gay gene," the material is vague, and not cohesive. Bailey tends towards overreaching, unsupported generalizations, such his claim that "regardless of marital laws there will always be fewer gay men who are romantically attached" or that the African-American community is "a relatively anti-gay ethnic minority." Add to this the debatable supposition that innate "masculine" and "feminine" traits, in the most general sense of the words, decidedly exist, and his account as a whole loses force.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...a highly interesting and very worthwhile book. In fact once I started I had difficulty putting down!" -- GLIP (Gay and Lesbian Issues and Psychology) News, August 2003

"...interesting and provocative... Bailey has written a book worth reading." -- Frontiers, March 14, 2003

"...recommended reading for anyone interested in the study of gender identity and sexual orientation. ... a thoughtful book..." -- Out Magazine, March 2003

"...the first scientifically grounded book about male femininities written for a general audience." -- James Cantor, PhD, in the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Issues (American Psychological Association) newsletter, summer 2003

"Compassionate without attempting to be politically correct... It will interest anyone with curiosity about the variety of human sexuality." -- The Times (London), December 6, 2003

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joseph Henry Press (March 10, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 249 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0309084180
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0309084185
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 133 ratings

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J. Michael Bailey

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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Hay Seed
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating non-PC book, by a pro-gay researcher
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2011
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    After laying out his pro-gay bona fides, J. Michael Bailey boldly uproots many cherished beliefs. The story begins in the womb, where gender and sexual orientation become hard-wired, then moves to childhood.

    Homosexual men were almost always feminine boys: 80% disliked rough-and-tumble play; 80% related better with girls; 80% sometimes wished to be a girl; 70% frequently cross-dressed; 60% assumed female roles in games; 50% played with dolls. Homosexuals are often embarrassed by this; especially the dolls and cross dressing.

    Most feminine boys will become homosexual men. 6% of very feminine boys, especially those with Gender Identity Disorder, will undergo sex reassignment. More than 90% will elect to "stay gay." What "causes" homosexuality? Probably "incomplete masculinization of the brain during sexual differentiation." (Pg 169)

    Bailey affirms many stereotypes: Homosexual men sit, stand, and walk in a feminine manner: limp wrist vs. firm; feet close vs. apart. The feminine "gay accent" is characterized by a sibilant S and precise articulation.

    "By heterosexual standards, gay men are sexually promiscuous." (p 86) Casual sex with hundreds of partners is common. "Gay men... are doing what most heterosexual men would do if they could." (p 87) Long-term monogamy is rare, and almost non-existent after 5 years. (p 90) It would be interesting to know the impact of this on marriage or civil unions.

    According to Bailey, most homosexual men (paradoxically) prefer masculine sex partners; many "bottoms" compete for few "tops." Gay writer Quentin Crisp states "Masculine partners make gays feel more feminine." Bottoms complain with levity: "He opened his mouth and a purse fell out"; "Butch in the streets, femme in the sheets"; "The first thing he did... was throw his legs in the air." Many readers will scratch their heads, wondering how this conundrum is resolved.

    One of the "most striking unresolved paradoxes of evolution" is that homosexuality persists, generation after generation, despite reproducing at 20% the rate of heterosexuals. Bailey did not address the dislike of homosexuals by heterosexuals; i.e. homophobia. Is this behavior is biological or social?

    Bailey explains the two types of transsexuals: Homosexual and Autogynephilic. The Homosexuals are well-known. They begin as extremely feminine boys, and then homosexual men, before becoming transsexuals. Most are very attractive. They love heterosexual (masculine) men. Yet (amazingly), they have a deep suspicion of men who prefer transsexuals to real women.

    While homosexuals often come from stable homes, homosexual transsexuals often have chaotic family histories. Many have lived on the streets; at which they are adept. Retail theft of high-end clothing is common. They have a propensity for prostitution." (p 210) They dream of marrying stable, straight men, which "never happens."

    Autogynephilic transsexuals are little known, and rare. They begin cross-dressing as young men. Due to "misdirected heterosexuality," they become erotically obsessed with the image of themselves as women. p 167) They often transition in their 40s. Divorce is common; their children caught unawares. Bailey obliquely mentions that autogynephilics are paraphilias, which include: necrophilia, bestiality, pedophilia, and S&M.

    Most sex reassignment procedures are tepid compared to vaginoplasty, which includes: castration, penile inversion, creation of the clitoris from the glans, and creation of the labia from the scrotum.

    Bailey's views concerning transexualism are nuanced. He ends with this: Johns Hopkins closed their renowned gender reassignment program, stating: "It's wrong for physicians to mutilate perfectly good organs just because a transsexual's troubled mind wants this." The focus on surgery distracts from a genuine attempt to find out "what has gone wrong for these people," who testify to torment and distress, and then endure disfiguring surgery. (p 206)
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  • Cecilia Smythe
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Beginner's Guide To Transsexuality
    Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2006
    Here in Canada, Professor Bailey's theories are widely accepted in the mental health community. In fact, his theories are based, in part, on the work of Canadian psychologist Dr. Raymond Blanchard. Dr. Blanchard's pioneering studies of transsexuals led to the realisation that there are two and only two types of transsexuality. One kind is a variant of homosexuality. The other is completely different and only found in heterosexual men who are sexually stimulated by the thought, image, or reality of being an anatomically correct, sexually seductive woman.

    Even though Bailey's book does not break new ground, it does manage to explore fundamental concepts of transsexuality. I would guess the primary readership will be those seeking a general overview of transsexuality. It could also serve as a general introduction for psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists needing an overview of the topic. In conclusion, I would describe The Man Who Would Be Queen as a refreshing new look at an old and settled topic.
    96 people found this helpful
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  • J. Shelby
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating, frank, and compassionate look at an interesting topic
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2017
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    I've given this book 5 stars because it is such an honest and at times touching look at a subject that is difficult to talk about frankly, especially in this political environment. Other reviewers have said that the book is fundamentally anecdotal, and this is true. However, many liberals and academics make claims, often categorical claims, about the nature of sex, gender, and sexual orientation. The anecdotes presented in this book, if true, refute those sweeping claims by way of falsification. In the same way that, if I could levitate using the power of my mind, I would call into question our current theories of gravity, these anecdotes likewise call into question the politically correct understanding of gender.

    I was also surprised at how compassionate the book is. Because the author does not seek to normalize what is abnormal, or hide suffering that is politically inconvenient, we get a picture of various individuals that is often extremely moving. The book is a good read and I recommend it to anyone interested in the topic, especially if you suspect that the current political orthodoxy does not allow people to speak as freely as they would like to. I'm a little shocked that this guy still has a position at Northwestern. God bless tenure.
    52 people found this helpful
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  • alice
    5.0 out of 5 stars Should be commended for daring to tell the truth about the sexual arousal component of "transgenderism"
    Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2015
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    From personal experience, his description of autogynephilia is dead on. It is truly a sexual fetish that can become obsessive to the point that a man is willing to neglect his wife and children in pursuit of the next sexual high that pretending to be a hyper-femme, misogynistic caricature of a woman gives him.
    70 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Steven Armstrong
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book.
    Reviewed in Australia on November 27, 2021
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    Given how the gender wars have hotted up, this is a very good read. It shows how a caring and reasonable man can be vilified by nutters.
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  • RV
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, dont be put off by the negativity; I am glad I wasn't.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2016
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    Excellent book. Written to inform and easy to read. The controversy over the book is exposed as a baseless and dishonest (to say the least) smear campaign to discredit the theories contained in the book and the author himself in the book 'Galieo's Middle Finger' by a well known and respected feminist called Alice Dreger . It just doesn't fit the PC narrative, so he was mercilessly hounded; however the author's knowledge of the subject and his empathy towards those have these issues is very clear. If you want to learn something read it.
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  • chris b
    4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2017
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    Brilliant book, hits the nail on the head with no quackery fluffy language, or unfathomable terminology. More relevant today as when first published
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  • Stephen Whittle
    1.0 out of 5 stars A good novel but not science
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a great read for a plane or train journey. But don't expect to come away informed.
    If you like science fiction, or read Alex Delaware then you will enjoy it.
    If you want to learn more about transgender and transsexual people, choose something else. There is a wealth of high quality scientific material and literature out there, covering medicine, psychology, and the social sciences, in the field of transgender studies. This is not one of them.
    It is nothing more than a a pseudo detective novel based on fantasy characters. However, unlike those which claim to be nothing more than fantasy novels, this one claims to have some sort of truth.
    The author really should get out and do some real ethnographic research. I am being very serious when I say that if he was my PhD student I would fail him. His work lacks integrity, and falls down on methodology, failing to premis the work in anything other than 'making fun of others'. His research methods are clearly unethical, and he takes advantage of his reserch subjects by mocking and parodying them. His critical analysis is poor, showing a lack of knowledge of the broad range of literature in the field, and his conclusions are neither original nor will they do anything to improve the lot of anyone in the world.
    Even more disturbing though is that his conclusions may actually cause harm to that group he has chosen as his research subjects, both in the narrow and the broader sense.
    A fun read, because it is bar room gossip, but please don't anyone plan their services to transgender people on the basis of this "National Enquirer" read
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