The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
lilyrooke's review
2.0
I find it really hard to know how to rate non-fiction/essays so please take my rating with a pinch of salt. Some of the essays I found very interesting and engaging, others I thought were a bit pointless or I didn't see the need for them to be included, based on the premise of the book, so it's hard to round out with an average. I found the first part of the book, which is mostly a collection of short essays, very accessible and enjoyable to read. Mostly geared towards the experiences of trans women, they also reflect on intersex and non-binary people; gay men; butch/femme lesbians; and occasionally genderqueer folk, I found the essays interesting if somewhat lacking in context. I think I would like to next read something a little more historically-focused or with a clearer structural framework. I would also like to read more next from contemporary writers under the trans umbrella, as I felt quite a bit of this collection - especially those from the later sections of the book - felt dated, while still important.
stevia333k's review
5.0
I want to actually give this book 4 stars, but it made the point repeatedly that "good x/bad x is anti-x" plus it articulated a lot of what I went thru as a trans kid who took the NC of GNC quite seriously. For me treating TGNC as separate terms based on whether it's reflexive -se or transitive -le, is important. The TSER gender unicorn is amazing.
But to put my notes here: it seems back in Riki's day they didn't focus so much on consent & autonomy. They focused more on what do all of these victims have in common as opposed to asking why do attackers attack. So was it more victim blamey? Sure, but they were working with what they had. Getting that framework however will be important for dealing with the policing problems.
Also regarding policing problems, Part 2 had a lot of essays that hit home. Like I was triggered into grief & panic attacks because I had lived this. I was one of those kids like that 2012 Kindergartener but my parents & schools were unsupportive. They blamed my gender on the TV & my sister, so that sense of vanguard was griefy but I sure got hope from that back in 2013ish so.
I'll edit this perhaps later, but yeah, even though we have a generation gap, this was helpful & healing like being at a support group talking with trans people.
But to put my notes here: it seems back in Riki's day they didn't focus so much on consent & autonomy. They focused more on what do all of these victims have in common as opposed to asking why do attackers attack. So was it more victim blamey? Sure, but they were working with what they had. Getting that framework however will be important for dealing with the policing problems.
Also regarding policing problems, Part 2 had a lot of essays that hit home. Like I was triggered into grief & panic attacks because I had lived this. I was one of those kids like that 2012 Kindergartener but my parents & schools were unsupportive. They blamed my gender on the TV & my sister, so that sense of vanguard was griefy but I sure got hope from that back in 2013ish so.
I'll edit this perhaps later, but yeah, even though we have a generation gap, this was helpful & healing like being at a support group talking with trans people.
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