Scan barcode
A review by shivani_maurya
Trans Like Me by CN Lester
4.0
Hoping to educate myself on what it means to be trans, their world view and their everyday struggles, I picked up Lester's memoir-ish account and took my time with it. I hadn't known how multi-faceted this book would be. Each chapter was like a light coming on in a house at night. More light meant more vision and understanding, but it also led to appalling discoveries of stereotypes and stigmatization faced by trans individuals. Lester's account of trans reality is subjective so far as their own experiences are concerned, but in every other aspect they are as objective and comprehensive as possible. They have included references to real life events, deconstructed many entrenched stereotypes and myths surrounding gender and sex, debunked the stigma of mental illness associated with gender fluid community, condemned the erasure of trans history and much more. They do not fall into repetition and with each chapter further the aim to educate the reader on what it means to be trans.
Before reading this book, I had a marginal understanding of trans label. Needless to say it turned out to be wanting in many areas. My brain scrambled at times as I tried to view gender and sex in new light. Slowing down to read again and again some paragraphs, making a conscious effort to digest the comprehensive reality behind trans-ness. Having enumerated the various ways in which the trans community is harassed and discriminated against, Lester offers arguments and ideas to counter the stigma. And in my opinion, they have made a solid case for trans people like them and also not like them. The discovery that trans could mean so much more than a person wishing for sex change is the greatest takeaway. And having realized that, it seems ridiculous for them to be considered a marginalized fringe group.
Integration of trans issues in all social discussions (activism or otherwise), doing away with the either/or socialization rampant in the society, heeding the intersectionality in various domains and lastly through practice of kindness and love...Lester hopes for a better future. They admit being optimistic, despite the recent evidences of rise in violence against the trans individuals. They hope that society will eventually rise above differences and create a world where there would be no need for a trans movement. But until such times come, they will keep trying to reach out and gain the ground inch by inch. And what is this book, if not their latest attempt to reach more people? I have only just started with trans literature and I hope to find many more in the future. Until then, I recommend this to anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge of the trans world. :)
Before reading this book, I had a marginal understanding of trans label. Needless to say it turned out to be wanting in many areas. My brain scrambled at times as I tried to view gender and sex in new light. Slowing down to read again and again some paragraphs, making a conscious effort to digest the comprehensive reality behind trans-ness. Having enumerated the various ways in which the trans community is harassed and discriminated against, Lester offers arguments and ideas to counter the stigma. And in my opinion, they have made a solid case for trans people like them and also not like them. The discovery that trans could mean so much more than a person wishing for sex change is the greatest takeaway. And having realized that, it seems ridiculous for them to be considered a marginalized fringe group.
Integration of trans issues in all social discussions (activism or otherwise), doing away with the either/or socialization rampant in the society, heeding the intersectionality in various domains and lastly through practice of kindness and love...Lester hopes for a better future. They admit being optimistic, despite the recent evidences of rise in violence against the trans individuals. They hope that society will eventually rise above differences and create a world where there would be no need for a trans movement. But until such times come, they will keep trying to reach out and gain the ground inch by inch. And what is this book, if not their latest attempt to reach more people? I have only just started with trans literature and I hope to find many more in the future. Until then, I recommend this to anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge of the trans world. :)