Transgender History (Seal Studies)

As a whole, this book was an enjoyable read. It felt similar to most of the history books I enjoy in that the author's tone held gravitas and authority in the subject matter. It was blatantly, obviously clear that an enormous amount of work went into the research for the material; just going over some of the citations present in the work was fascinating. Stryker's book has very high academic quality, which surprised me. It surprised me because almost all LGBTQ+ material I have consumed have a clear and present push for a certain political agenda, which wasn't the case in Stryker's work until the very end (where it got into Trump). As a whole, it was apolitical in tone even if the substance was unavoidably political. Stryker does a great job setting the scene with some international history by looking at how the terms "transsexual" and "transgender" came to be and what they are. I was fascinated to learn that the now somewhat-taboo-among-the-youths "transsexual" was, for a long time, the kinder, more appropriate term. Older people who many would consider transgender today still prefer the term transsexual, which made sense to me when I've thought about what other people have told me. A review doesn't have enough space to go into detail, but suffice to say that I was glad to see how transgender tends to be the appropriate term for a wide swath of people today. I was fascinated to learn a lot about a group of people I didn't know much about. However, I must admit that my biggest complaint about the book was how slanted it was toward the transfeminine/transwoman side of the story. As a transgender woman herself, Stryker probably has reason to focus on the stories of transwomen. There's also a current push in liberal circles to accept transwomen, as the records indicate they (especially transwomen of color) experience enormous levels of abuse. However, it was odd to me that the book was probably a 75:15:10 split in terms of transwomen:transmen:non-binary stories. I don't know if I can really say I learned a whole lot when it comes to the brevity of discourse on challenges faced by transmasculine and non-binary people. Something about their lack of struggle just didn't ring true to me, and honestly I think it may be that transwomen are simply more visible for whatever reason. There may just not be as much material there for research. As a whole, though, breathtakingly readable and very well researched.

This is a spectacular book. It's academic, but still highly readable. It provides an incredibly clear and concise retrospective of the transgender community dating all the way back to 1850. Beyond events and major players, it also shares a great deal of valuable anthropological perspective on why things are the way they are. I was looking for context to assist me when this issue comes up in political debates, because those who oppose trans rights often display a profound misunderstanding of what it is and how it works. This text dispels many myths and provides compelling, little-known history. I have already helped illuminate the topic for a few skeptics in my family using the information this book supplied me with. Stryker provides a great list of supplementary reading and viewing, as she only aims to provide a foundational understanding through this text. Other books go into greater depth on particular demographics within the community or decades within the movement, but Transgender History provides a broad overview of the most significant details. If you have the time to delve deeper it's wise to do so, but if you aren't able to this book equips you with what you need to understand the fundamentals. Transgender History is enjoyable, thought-provoking, and comprehensive. It is one of the best books I read last year, and I've already recommended it to many people in my life. If trans rights are important to you, you will love this text.

I was excited to read Dr. Strykers work and she gives an in depth look in to trans history with all the nuances needed to paint a picture of a struggle that needs reckoning. I thought I knew trans history but in fact far from it, so, it was delight to delve into book. I appreciate Strykers opinions in the first few chapters because her help to build a platform for me. Yes, they are her opinions but I wanted reading this book to be personal, and it helped me to get there. What I appreciate most is the historical references that helped me to see just how important trans history is. This is not about the non binary, totally different journey and yet, just as important especially if one is trans and non binary. This conversation is ever changing and will continue to change. This is an easy read. Thank you Dr. Stryker.

This is a solid text on history.

This book breaks new ground by shedding light on the complex and often elusive nature of gender identity in the early modern world. By challenging traditional narratives that tend to view gender through a fixed or binary lens, the author explores how identities were shaped, contested, and fluid in this historical context. The work brings attention to the ways in which social, cultural, and legal frameworks influenced gender roles, while also revealing how individuals navigated and sometimes defied these constraints. In doing so, the book opens up a deeper understanding of the multifaceted experiences of gender in a time when identity was both ambiguous and dynamic, inviting scholars to reconsider previously held assumptions about gender in history.

What a fantastic book about the history of trangenderism. You'll find stories from personal diaries written in the 19th century. You'll learn the facts about how nature has always produced more than two genders. If you're the type of person that bases their understandings on facts, this book is for you.

I haven't been this into a non-fiction book in a long time. It's easy to read, and so so good. It gives me a much better ability to situate current affairs in a historical context. It's a very thorough history of transgender issues in the US, and a pretty good overview of the history of feminism and GLB advocacy, too, since they're so interconnected. I'm generally conservative with how much I recommend books to others, but I'm eager to recommend this one to everyone close to me. This shouldn't come as a surprise: there are accounts of awful transphobia in this text, so put yourself in a mental place where you can receive that, if it's likely to be triggering to you. Also, there's a lot of heart-warming pieces of goodness in there, too, which I had no idea had been part of the history. I definitely came away with a positive feeling, and a deeper appreciation of our heritage.

I am a transman and have very little knowledge of transgendered history, as pretty much most individuals do. I bought this book to help me write a paper on trans history for a college class. It was very informative, very well written and I learned a whole lot more than I could have imagined. I highly recommend this book if you desire to learn more of a part of our world's history that is not taught in our schools or colleges. It brings a full understanding of events that were brushed under the rug (or at least not talked about) by the LGBQ communities. For the cost, too, it's well worth it.