frogggirl2's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
4.0
"They used to define sex as what was reflected on an individual’s birth certificate. Once that was changeable, they made the definition our genitalia. Once we could change those, the definition switched to chromosomes. Now that there is increasing evidence that chromosomes do not always necessarily align with sex, they are suggesting genetic testing. This is not about science—this is about targeted prejudice" (p. 149).
This is a very clear, succinct summary defining and defending transgender humans, non-binary humans as well as everyone else's right to explore and define who they are on this spectrum.
This is a very clear, succinct summary defining and defending transgender humans, non-binary humans as well as everyone else's right to explore and define who they are on this spectrum.
stuhlsatzg's review
4.0
Super quick read. You can, of course, for only so much nuance in such a small book. The author’s own account of their experiences and definitions in this space is a great addition to any library of books on gender and sexuality.
readswithnatalieb's review against another edition
5.0
Such a small but mighty book! For being less than 70 pages, this packs a punch and is a great introduction for those who are unfamiliar with what it means to be non-binary and the issues non-binary people face. Even if you are familiar, I bet there’s something within the pages you could learn.
This book tackles myths and misconceptions about trans people, their experience, as well as a personal POV from Vaid-Menon. And while Vaid-Menon can’t speak for everyone, their ability to explain things in such simple explanations can really widen the lens for folks.
Everyone can be more inclusive and kind to each other, especially as our society continues to evolve into areas that may not even exist today.
Content warnings: transphobia, homophobia, bullying, sexism, hate crime, suicide, racism
poetryandsolitude's review
3.0
“We should not hold ourselves back for the sake of convention. Instead, we should embrace ongoing transformation as a necessary part of what it means to be alive.”
A good informative book, really interesting to see their POV, especially because they’re a poc. I liked some parts a lot. My main concern was that some things weren’t analysed as much in depth (providing new info, the aim of this book ig?) as i think they should, and they were too simplified. But it would be a great starter book for people that have no familiarity with this topic or for younger teens.
A good informative book, really interesting to see their POV, especially because they’re a poc. I liked some parts a lot. My main concern was that some things weren’t analysed as much in depth (providing new info, the aim of this book ig?) as i think they should, and they were too simplified. But it would be a great starter book for people that have no familiarity with this topic or for younger teens.
thebookmarkreader's review
5.0
Before reading this book I truly believed that I was an open thinking, supportive person of those in the world who identify as non-binary. However in reflection I still have learned thoughts and behaviors on how I see and accept those who do not act, or portray themselves in the small scope of the binary. These learned things can be unlearned but only if knew of them. I still think of clothing has having a specific gender, I thought that even if I never said anything of those who are non-binary that I was supporting them by not drawing attention it. My silence does not equal support and my own personal thoughts still need to change to be the community member that others deserve.
srfrq's review
5.0
"what i like about colours is that when you mix them together, they become greater than the sum of their parts. something different altogether. no one goes around asking, 'are you really more blue or more green?' teal is not blue/green, it is teal."
"i have learned that the most lethal part of the human body is not the fist. it is the eye. what people see and how people see it has everything to do with power."
"how do you express pain when you can't even locate the wound? it's like when you let a balloon loose into the sky; you don't know where it goes but you know it went somewhere far away."
"i do not have the luxury of being, i am only seen as doing. as if my gender is something that is being done to them and not something that belongs to me...it's a surreal experience to have your personhood be reduced to a prop. how are you supposed to be believed about the harm that you experience when people don't even believe that you exist?"
"the thing about shame is that it eats at you until it fully consumes you. then you cannot tell the difference between their shame and your own. between a body and an apology."
"there's magic in being seen by people who understand."
"we do not make art by following the rules, we make art by precisely imagining beyond them."
"language has always been developed to meet the needs of society. consider words like 'selfie' and 'welp' which have recently been added to the dictionary. this is actually the purpose of language; to give meaning to concepts as they evolve."
"this is part of a larger system of using science as a rhetorical strategy for a normative goal...scientific knowledge is not fixed, it shifts as cultural prejudice is revealed and challenged. oftentimes we associate scientific knowledge as knowledge itself, dismissing everything else as opinion. this science-opinion binary is oversimplified."
"the fact that doctors still perform non-consensual and non-medically necessary surgeries on intersex people just because they are different shows how binary sex, like binary gender, is a political construction. these people are not accidents or malfunctions, this is how human diversity works...when it comes to gender and sex, definitions are constantly drawn as a means to exclude us. they used to define sex as what was reflected on an individual's birth certificate. once that was changeable, they made the definition our genitalia. once we could change those, the definition switched to chromosomes. now that there is increasing evidence that chromosomes do not necessarily align with sex, they're suggesting genetic testing. this is not about science, this is about targeted prejudice."
"people in power make hierarchies and stereotypes seem natural in order to make inequality seem inevitable and permanent."
"while it is true that there are bodily differences, it is a political choice to emphasize certain differences over others in order to create categories."
"being real is not a scarce resource and it is possible to hold a diversity of experiences without creating hierarchies."
"this is how power works. it makes the actual people experiencing violence seem like a threat. moving from a place of fear leads us to make harmful assumptions about one another. in our fear, we treat other people's identities as if they are something they are doing to us and not something that just exists."
"this is not about erasing men and women but rather that man and woman are two of many stars in a constellation that do not compete, that amplify one another's shine. gender is a story not just a word. there are as many ways to be a woman as there are women. there are as many ways to be a man as there are men. there are as many ways to be non-binary as there are non-binary people. this complexity is not chaos, it just is. we do not need to be universal to be valid. we should be able to decide what the clothes and the colours we adorn, the bodies we inhabit and the people we love mean to us...separating genders from norms creates infinite possibilities for us all. we get to narrate what our bodies' experiences and interests mean."
"i have learned that the most lethal part of the human body is not the fist. it is the eye. what people see and how people see it has everything to do with power."
"how do you express pain when you can't even locate the wound? it's like when you let a balloon loose into the sky; you don't know where it goes but you know it went somewhere far away."
"i do not have the luxury of being, i am only seen as doing. as if my gender is something that is being done to them and not something that belongs to me...it's a surreal experience to have your personhood be reduced to a prop. how are you supposed to be believed about the harm that you experience when people don't even believe that you exist?"
"the thing about shame is that it eats at you until it fully consumes you. then you cannot tell the difference between their shame and your own. between a body and an apology."
"there's magic in being seen by people who understand."
"we do not make art by following the rules, we make art by precisely imagining beyond them."
"language has always been developed to meet the needs of society. consider words like 'selfie' and 'welp' which have recently been added to the dictionary. this is actually the purpose of language; to give meaning to concepts as they evolve."
"this is part of a larger system of using science as a rhetorical strategy for a normative goal...scientific knowledge is not fixed, it shifts as cultural prejudice is revealed and challenged. oftentimes we associate scientific knowledge as knowledge itself, dismissing everything else as opinion. this science-opinion binary is oversimplified."
"the fact that doctors still perform non-consensual and non-medically necessary surgeries on intersex people just because they are different shows how binary sex, like binary gender, is a political construction. these people are not accidents or malfunctions, this is how human diversity works...when it comes to gender and sex, definitions are constantly drawn as a means to exclude us. they used to define sex as what was reflected on an individual's birth certificate. once that was changeable, they made the definition our genitalia. once we could change those, the definition switched to chromosomes. now that there is increasing evidence that chromosomes do not necessarily align with sex, they're suggesting genetic testing. this is not about science, this is about targeted prejudice."
"people in power make hierarchies and stereotypes seem natural in order to make inequality seem inevitable and permanent."
"while it is true that there are bodily differences, it is a political choice to emphasize certain differences over others in order to create categories."
"being real is not a scarce resource and it is possible to hold a diversity of experiences without creating hierarchies."
"this is how power works. it makes the actual people experiencing violence seem like a threat. moving from a place of fear leads us to make harmful assumptions about one another. in our fear, we treat other people's identities as if they are something they are doing to us and not something that just exists."
"this is not about erasing men and women but rather that man and woman are two of many stars in a constellation that do not compete, that amplify one another's shine. gender is a story not just a word. there are as many ways to be a woman as there are women. there are as many ways to be a man as there are men. there are as many ways to be non-binary as there are non-binary people. this complexity is not chaos, it just is. we do not need to be universal to be valid. we should be able to decide what the clothes and the colours we adorn, the bodies we inhabit and the people we love mean to us...separating genders from norms creates infinite possibilities for us all. we get to narrate what our bodies' experiences and interests mean."