Reviews tagging Violence

The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice, by Shon Faye

10 reviews

emmalouisereads's review against another edition

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

This is a must read for trans allies in the UK. The book is well researched and cites sources, it will be a helpful resource to have if you’re ever have to debunk a TERF’s arguments.

I don’t know if it’s a book that’ll convince the average transphobe to change their mind. People who don’t know much about the difficulties trans people face (especially in the UK) will find this book enlightening.

I’m glad this book exists

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Rape, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Self harm, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Racism, Misogyny, and Hate crime

Content warnings are in the context of a non-fiction book

tuesday_evening's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Transphobia, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Medical content, Violence, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization

nialiversuch's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Classism, Suicide, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Hate crime, Misogyny, and Transphobia

Moderate: Body horror, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexism, Biphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Slavery

staghunters's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

A great and needed read for those who are queer and those who are not. Faye expertly puts forth themes common to the trans experience and lays they out with a flowing combination of statistics, personal annecdotes, and examples in the media.

This is one of the more informative books that is very readable. The language is clear, to the point, and doesn't use words grander than what was intended. The subject matter is too grand to sum up, but don't let that fool you! It does not skim over things nor becomes an overload of information.

Would love to read more from Faye.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Minor: Suicide and Violence

hannahbailey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Difficult to rate so I won't for now (may return later). Definitely worth a read, especially for those not particularly clued up on the 'transgender issue'.

My main takeaway, which was a point repeated throughout the book, was "trans liberation cannot happen under capitalism". Each chapter, whilst focusing on different elements of trans experience in our society, drives home this point. Everything leads back to capitalism (and the patriarchy). With these structures in place, cis people will continue to view trans people as 'other', 'abnormal', 'non-conforming' etc. The first two chapters were the most enlightening for me as Faye explores the impact of legislation and education (or lack thereof) enforced by the UK government over the last 40 or so years. It's common knowledge that the progression of trans rights is slow and often sabotaged by those on the extreme right-wing, but the latter chapters of this book detailing the sabotaging from within the LGBTQ+ community was also enlightening to read.

My one issue was how long the chapters were. Each chapter could have been trimmed down without losing any meaning. It would be great to see these chapters split into mini manifestos or pocket penguins as I think this would make them more accessible to a wider range of people. The chapter on class could have benefitted from more research to back up Faye's observations too

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Trafficking, Outing, Medical trauma, Hate crime, and Suicide

wormytoby's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

5.0

I was worried that this book would only depress me, given the current prevailing attitudes to trans people, but somehow it did exactly the opposite. Quality of life for the average trans person is steadily decreasing, and this book does not sugarcoat that fact. Its argument is measured and no-nonsense. This book has helped me put to bed persistent concerns that my own transness is nothing more than naval-gazing privilege. It helped me understand why I held that belief, where it came from and why this belief is being pushed as a way to undermine trans activism. This book has not made me feel hopeful that the state of things will improve any time soon, but it has at least helped me to understand why things are the way they are. I feel more capable of living as myself without guilt.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia

Minor: Sexual assault and Violence

chorleychalk's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Murder, and Transphobia

Moderate: Dysphoria, Medical trauma, and Domestic abuse

amyflorence's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

Honestly one of the best non-fiction books I've read. Informative on both the realities of trans lives today and what can and must be done to counter the pervasive transphobia of our society. I have so many words but none will do them justice. Read this book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Transphobia, Rape, Homophobia, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence

Minor: Slavery

pachelrooley's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

This book is important, informative, compassionate and insightful on it's topic, refusing to engage with devaluing arguments and instead clearly and methodically showing exactly how the systems in the UK today impact trans people, and points a path to how this can change in the future. Most of all though, this book is absolutely exquisitely written. I tend to have a hard time finishing non-fiction even if I find the topic interesting, but this book was so engaging, the pacing so well done, the links between topics so seamless that it was as easy to read as a book on difficult topics could ever be. I really look forward to reading more from this author! 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Homophobia, Hate crime, Bullying, Alcohol, and Addiction

balfies's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Absolute must read. One of the best books of the year. 

Trans journalist and advocate Shon Faye cuts deeply into the issues facing the trans community - this is not an argument for recognition or acceptance, but a demand for justice, and a scathing critique of the aggressive and dangerous anti-trans politics within the UK. 

The chapter on class struggle was particularly astute. This is a vital piece of writing which verbalised and crystallised so many complex ideas into essential, clear gems.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Hate crime, Suicide, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Outing, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Death, Deadnaming, and Colonisation