My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely
by Kate Bornstein
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 306)
Read in April, 2003
it's been a long time since i read this all the way through, but i always find myself misquoting these bits, so i thought i'd stick them here:
"I've always wanted to be included. I've always been tempted to settle myself into one identity and say "Hey, now I'm one of you, now can I spend time with you?" I like companionship. I like hanging out with folks. I just don't want to lock myself into an identity in order to do it, and what I've done is move on when I no longer have ...more
"I've always wanted to be included. I've always been tempted to settle myself into one identity and say "Hey, now I'm one of you, now can I spend time with you?" I like companionship. I like hanging out with folks. I just don't want to lock myself into an identity in order to do it, and what I've done is move on when I no longer have ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone...
Exellent introduction to questioning/exploring your own assumptions and ideas about gender (your own/in relation to others/in abstract).. ever so slightly annoying style (i spose i just prefer dry theory or rousing rhetoric to chatty friendlyness), and the theoretical analysis should be supplemented with other ideas, but that's made up for with loads of other goodness in the form of people explaining their own experiences on the margins of gender, and the Kate Bornstein's inclusion of bits of hi...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1999
"Autobiographical theory"! I love that! I love genre hybrids, as anybody who knows me and pays attention to what I read (which, probably, constitutes a crowd of 2, tops) knows that. Anyway, this book blew my mind when I was 18 and I highly suggest it for anybody but especially gender essentialist. I even got this for my mom years ago. Bornstein is an amazing mind - she went to Brown and clearly not in a legacy kind of way - and she makes theory not only digestible but thoroughly enter
Like this review?
yes
1 comments
recommends it for:
feminist newbies
This is so accessible for people who have very limited knowledge of gender dynamics as well as what being genderqueer really means. This was one of the first books I purchased in my college career and it helped to open my eyes. I don't know that I recommend it for the seasoned gender studies student, but for someone exploring themselves and others this is a great, and humorous way to do so.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
genderqueer newbies
While I love Kate Bornstein, I do have to say that as student of gender and queer theory, I found this book lacking. I think that it would probably be great for newbies who are looking for a critical, but not dry, way of re-evaluating gender and one's place in the oppressive, socially imposed gender binary. To me, it came off a little fluffy, but I loved the anecdotes and so would probably have been better served reading some of Kate's original material.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
I have never read anykind of workbook such as this and i really liked it. Being that i am in my saturn return and really looking / reevaluating my life thus far I liked that this book is not just introducing ideas but getting the reader to think out/write out their own beliefs and thots.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2003
My Gender Workbook is an excellent primer to understanding the fluidity of gender identity and expression. Filled with amusing, insightful anecdotes and activities, this book proves Bornstein's point of view over and over again: gender can be and is both complex and fun.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2005
(I wish I could give half stars. This book is better than a 3 but not quite as good as a 4.)
An excellent introduction to playing with and questioning gender--fun and interactive, not dry and dull as much other theory is (looking at you, Butler). However, it lacks nuance.
An excellent introduction to playing with and questioning gender--fun and interactive, not dry and dull as much other theory is (looking at you, Butler). However, it lacks nuance.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I saw Kate Bornstein speak a few years ago, and I was blown away-- she is awesome! This book is also a great and clever concept. However, I just could not get through it. Full review is here:
http://theonepercentclub.blogs...
http://theonepercentclub.blogs...
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This would be a rad book if I was just starting to think about gender, but I was a little bored reading it at this stage of my life. Hence, I am going to bring it to work for the kiddies to read. I hope they'll dig it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
this is a great book and an excellent introduction for folks unfamiliar with gender studies, very accessible and easy to read. PLUS some awesome illustrations by Diane Dimassa (of Hothead Paisan)
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
An integral part of my education post-college. Extremely accessible, delightfully written, and lots of challenging questions make this a book no one can afford to miss.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
this book is great for the 1st time gender enthusiast. i used it in an intro class on contemporary gender theory that i taught with a couple of other folks.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
It was a lot more about the author's experience than a genuine discussion of gender. Although the author's experience is certainly an interesting one.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommended to Heather by:
RLW
recommends it for: anyone willing to explore gender expression.
recommends it for: anyone willing to explore gender expression.
This book will probably always remain on my "currently reading" list. Gender and our expression of our gender is always changing and developing.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
first time explorers of gender
Really good basic intro to gender as socially constructed, cute journaling activities (it's a workbook), sometimes Kate Bornstein really annoys me.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
people asking annoying questions about gender, transgender folks, everyone.
This is the book I recommend to people who have some idea of the queer but little understanding of the genderqueer. Read it. It changed my life.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Such a great book! It's written like a workbook, or one of those ______ for Dummies books, but is actually has a very sound theory behind it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2002
This book will help you question every assumption you have ever made about gender. Good stuff.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
anyone
a very accessible and fun book about gender and gender bending.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
