A landmark of trans and feminist nonfiction, Whipping Girl is Julia Serano’s indispensable account of what it means to be a transgender woman in a world that consistently derides and belittles anything feminine. In a series of incisive essays, Serano draws on gender theory, her training as a biologist, her career in queer activism, and her own experiences before and after her gender transition to examine the deep connections between sexism and transphobia. She coins the term transmisogyny to describe the specific discrimination trans women face—and she shows how, in a world where masculinity is seen as unquestionably superior to femininity, transgender women’s very existence becomes a threat to the established gender hierarchy.
Now updated with a new afterword on the contemporary anti-trans backlash, Whipping Girl makes the case that today's feminists and transgender activists must work to embrace and empower femininity—in all of its wondrous forms—and to make …
A landmark of trans and feminist nonfiction, Whipping Girl is Julia Serano’s indispensable account of what it means to be a transgender woman in a world that consistently derides and belittles anything feminine. In a series of incisive essays, Serano draws on gender theory, her training as a biologist, her career in queer activism, and her own experiences before and after her gender transition to examine the deep connections between sexism and transphobia. She coins the term transmisogyny to describe the specific discrimination trans women face—and she shows how, in a world where masculinity is seen as unquestionably superior to femininity, transgender women’s very existence becomes a threat to the established gender hierarchy.
Now updated with a new afterword on the contemporary anti-trans backlash, Whipping Girl makes the case that today's feminists and transgender activists must work to embrace and empower femininity—in all of its wondrous forms—and to make the world safe and just for people of all genders and sexualities.
A rallying cry to femininity as a whole, and a seminal trans text
5 stars
This is a wonderfully comprehensive transsexual manifesto across transphobia, feminism & intersectionality, experiences of transition, gender theory, academic & medical gatekeeping, cross-dressing, cisexual privilege, fetishsation, media dehumanisation, and well shit pretty much everything that impacts upon the lives of trans femmes.
Serano is thorough, precise but impassioned in her augments and gives us here an excellent foundation stone for someone seeking to broaden their understanding of these issues. Even with the time that has passed since it has been published, with updates in the forward and afterwards, the issues remain fresh and pressing.
"The most common myth used to justify this cissexual privilege is the idea that cissexuals inherit the right to call themselves female or male by virtue of being born into that particular sex. In other words, cissexuals view their gender entitlement as a birthright. This is often a deceitful act, as many (if not most) cissexuals in our society tend to look disparagingly upon societies and cultures that still rely on class or caste systems—where one’s occupation, social status, economic disposition, political power, etc., is predetermined based on an accident of birth. So while most Western cissexuals frown upon birth privilege as a means to determine these other forms of social class, they hypocritically embrace it when it comes to gender."
On combating gender entitlement:
"The most radical thing that any of us can do is to stop projecting our beliefs about gender onto other …
On cissexism:
"The most common myth used to justify this cissexual privilege is the idea that cissexuals inherit the right to call themselves female or male by virtue of being born into that particular sex. In other words, cissexuals view their gender entitlement as a birthright. This is often a deceitful act, as many (if not most) cissexuals in our society tend to look disparagingly upon societies and cultures that still rely on class or caste systems—where one’s occupation, social status, economic disposition, political power, etc., is predetermined based on an accident of birth. So while most Western cissexuals frown upon birth privilege as a means to determine these other forms of social class, they hypocritically embrace it when it comes to gender."
On combating gender entitlement:
"The most radical thing that any of us can do is to stop projecting our beliefs about gender onto other people's behaviors and bodies."
On sexism expanded to include femininity vs masculinity:
"The greatest barrier preventing us from fully challenging sexism is the pervasive antifeminine sentiment that runs wild in both the straight and queer communities, targeting people of all genders and sexualities. The only realistic way to address this issue is to work toward empowering femininity itself. We must rightly recognize that feminine expression...facilitates openness, creativity, and honest expression. We must move beyond seeing femininity as helpless and dependent, or merely as masculinity's sidekick, and instead acknowledge that feminine expression exists of its own accord and brings its own rewards to those who naturally gravitate toward it."
This is an extremely good book to read to understand the trans experience better, especially the trans woman experience. There is so much I didn't realize was happening, and of course didn't understand. This gave me many new points of reference.
This is an extremely good book to read to understand the trans experience better, especially the trans woman experience. There is so much I didn't realize was happening, and of course didn't understand. This gave me many new points of reference.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and it took me the better part of two months, often relistening to chapters several times before moving forward. Much if not all of what is presented so compellingly in this book was new to me and it really challenged me, and how I viewed trans people, and femininity several times.
This is so insightful and important. I learned a TON from it, even as someone who is reasonably up-to-speed with trans activism (I did cringe to be reminded of some of the misconceptions I harbored in the past). She clarified so many things for me and also gave me a better framework for understanding and conceptualizing gender, as well as having some excellent points to make about feminism and queer communities in general.
