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Summary:
Although readers familiar with Feinberg's earlier books will not find much new material here, this collection of hir (this transgendered author's pronoun of choice) speeches, presented with a few essays by other transgendered writers, serves as a good introduction to Feinberg's ideas about the complexities of gender expression and to hir vision for a future "beyond pink or blue." As someone who faces oppression, incomprehension, and violence every day on the basis of hir appearance and the refusal to adhere to a rigid gender designation (Feinberg was once denied emergency medical treatment for endocarditis by a doctor who dismissed hir angrily as "a very troubled person"), Feinberg is in an excellent position to refute the shallow assumptions of the medical establishment and the mainstream media, as well as the more extreme views of the political and religious right. Most compelling are hir arguments on the importance of a broad-based multi-issue coalition among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people, an alliance that could easily extend to other progressive groups. "Everyone who is under the gun of reaction and economic violence," Feinberg contends, "is a potential ally." --Regina Marler
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Leslie Feinberg is everyone's trans-activist
Customer Rating:
I appreciate every author that attempts to promote understanding and tolerance for transgendered people, but none more than Leslie Feinberg. The collection of personal stories from many different people are combined here with Leslie's own heartfelt appeals for equal rights, equal access. Trans Liberation is a terrific book, part insight, truthful experience and signpost on the sometimes unfriendly highway the author traverses to support the cause of transgendered people.
Celebrate gender diversity!
Customer Rating:
In this beautifully written and persuasive volume, trans activist Leslie Feinberg articulates a deep and compassionate vision of trans liberation that interconnects issues of trans oppression with issues of poverty, racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism and sexism. (Like the labor saying goes, "An injury to one is an injury to all.") As a working-class, effiminate gay young man living with AIDS, I especially appreciated hir class analysis. I also enjoyed the fact that s/he included essays by other trans activists in this book, making it multi-dimensional. Read this book and encourage your friends and family to do so as well. The fresh perspectives of this volume will enrich your life and better equip you to challenge the forces of inequality, violence and discrimination in our world.
Opening eyes to different colors of oppression
Customer Rating:
Although a masculine heterosexual male, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found it applicable to my own life. Feinberg's examination of the restrictive ideas of sexuality and gender are insightful, and have made me think a lot more about being more open in all areas of my life. I also think it's important that Feinberg notes that while advocating individuality, s/he also supports unity and the right for everyone's expression-whether they be what is socially acceptable or the most radical, looked-down upon revolutionaries. I also like the fact that she saw this unity as necessary, because anti-transsexual/transgender attitudes are not "special" but related to ALL forms of oppression, including homophobia, racism, sexism, classism, and discrimination based on physical disabilities. Feinberg looks at the manifestations of all this oppression-from gang rape and beatings, to refusal of medical care and cutting of social support institutions-explores how these attitudes developed, and suggests how they can be combated. Overall, a very good read whether you know about transgenderists or transsexuals, are only vaguely familiar with them, or know nothing about them at all, for it is valuable in becoming aware of the myriad forms of oppressive norms, laws, and behaviors that we are daily subjected to. I also think it's important that s/he recognizes that labels and circumstances do not define who you are, but actions. Feinberg makes a significant and not too frequently voiced claim that Democrats are no better than Republicans-they are basically Republicans in disguise. Feinberg's writing style is not boring. Even those who do not care much for political or social reading might enjoy this. While many of the issues cover violence and emotionally rending accounts of discrimination, there is also humor in the text, and optimism. Feinberg also frequently uses literary devices such as metaphor, making the text less dry, with such colorful phrases as: "To me, gender is the poetry each of us makes out of the language we are taught." The brief essays by other people are useful portraits of a diversity of people and the different hardships they endure. My one complaint is that I wish there was more on what to actually do in order to actively combat these attitudes. While some attention is given to this subject, ideas far overshadow specific suggestions for how to fight discrimination in daily life. I think a more thorough exploration of the moral implications of such issues-and the possible consequences toward social attitudes-would have been a great addition.
Top Shelf from a Master
Customer Rating:
I've read all of Les's books, this is the best so far. S/he goes beyond gender roles as they are currently constructed because those roles cripple us all in the long run.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in gender.
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