shereadsshedrinks's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this - both moving on a personal level and educational.
mariagarnett's review
5.0
This is a powerful story, beautifully told, and worthy of hearing for this precise reason:
"One of the reasons the gay rights movement has been successful is its urging that gays and lesbians everywhere, no matter their age, color, or wealth, come out of the closet. This widespread visibility has shifted culture and challenged misconceptions. People often transpose the coming-out experience on me, asking how it felt to be in the closet, to have been stealth. These questions have always puzzled me. Unlike sexuality, gender is visible. I never hid my gender. Every day that I stepped out into the sunlight, unapologetically femme, I was a visible woman. People assume that I was in the closet because I didn't disclose that I was assigned male at birth.
What people are really asking is 'Why didn't you correct people when they perceived you as a *real* woman?' Frankly, I'm not responsible for other people's perceptions and what they consider real or fake. We must abolish the entitlement that deludes us into believing that we have the right to make assumptions about people's identities and project those assumptions onto their genders and bodies." (page 257)
"One of the reasons the gay rights movement has been successful is its urging that gays and lesbians everywhere, no matter their age, color, or wealth, come out of the closet. This widespread visibility has shifted culture and challenged misconceptions. People often transpose the coming-out experience on me, asking how it felt to be in the closet, to have been stealth. These questions have always puzzled me. Unlike sexuality, gender is visible. I never hid my gender. Every day that I stepped out into the sunlight, unapologetically femme, I was a visible woman. People assume that I was in the closet because I didn't disclose that I was assigned male at birth.
What people are really asking is 'Why didn't you correct people when they perceived you as a *real* woman?' Frankly, I'm not responsible for other people's perceptions and what they consider real or fake. We must abolish the entitlement that deludes us into believing that we have the right to make assumptions about people's identities and project those assumptions onto their genders and bodies." (page 257)
peteradamson's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
alittleoverdue's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautifully raw and personal memoir. I was completely compelled by Mock's life story and her perspective as a Hawaiian/Black/Trans woman. I got such a visceral sense of the kind of trauma that comes the shame of not fitting into a specific societal conception of gender, nor necessarily of culture, class, and race and the intersections of these identities. Throughout trauma, abuse, family instability, financial struggles, and gender transition, Mock has remained unwaveringly strong in her self-belief and commitment to becoming who she is. And this reader is grateful that she continues in her writing and activism to shine a light on the trans experience for cis and trans folks alike.
anjumstar's review against another edition
4.0
This wasn't my favorite writing style, but I loved the content. Everything she has to say is very personal but also pushes really valid, important issues. She's also very obviously well read and had some amazing quotes and references to strengthen her story. This is a super valuable memoir to read, and thanks to Ms. Mock for writing it.
emdowd's review against another edition
4.0
Janet Mock has a really engaging writing style that is both reflective and approachable. While a lot of the trans 101 facts she weaves into her own story wasn't new information to me, I know it was for many of my cis colleagues (single sex high school, this was a summer reading option) and the seamlessness with which she integrated it was impressive.
The abuse Mock has been through is horrifying, and her resilience is amazing.
The abuse Mock has been through is horrifying, and her resilience is amazing.