Blending Genders

by Richard Ekins (Editor), David King

First published in 1995, the book describes personal experiences of those who cross-dress and sex change, how they organise themselves socially - in both `outsider' and `respectable' communities. The contributors consider the dominant medical framework through which gender blending is so often seen and look at the treatment afforded gender blending in literature, the press and the recently emerged telephone sex lines. The book concludes with a discussion of the lively debates that have taken place concerning the politics of transgenderism in recent years, and examines its prominence in recent contributions to contemporary cultural theory and queer theory.

Genres: Transgender, Queer, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since this was written in 1996 I'm not surprised by all the reticence around labelling and naming experiences of people who don't fit the gender binary and/or the side of the binary they have been assigned. The theory here is a work in progress which is sort of exciting to see and the terfier chapters (one of them almost made me cry) can be contextualised within this moment in history when there was a need to ask whether gender diverse people help or hinder feminism.

The views in this book seem to pave the way for an overly polar positioning which I guess is how we have got to the present-day scene where people either spit bile at transgender folks (which is not OK of course) or are s defensive that the hard questions can't be asked. Because hyperfemininity from a male-run culture IS still a problem although the agency and lack of agency that comes across in some of the more nuanced chapters of this book could be useful in retaining the problem (of sterotyping and objectification) without locating that problem in the transgender body or life. Questions of medicalisation and consumerism should also be asked, however perhaps to some degree that is happening with the extremely gender diverse queer scene in the current day. Maybe. I didn't mind that some of the thinking was still work-in-progress and in some cases uncomfortable to read (though I felt some empathy for poor, plaintive Terri Webb).

I thought giving Janice Raymond the last word was an interesting choice, and one I have some problem with. There's what seems to be a good critique of her work earlier on and it seems funny to publish that but then still prioritise her. Anyway I did learn some stuff from this, I don't regret having slowly read it.

[Sophy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a rather bland, dry and now I suppose a rather outdated look at cross dressing and transvestism which the authors kind of put together with transexualism.

The book reads like a dry literature review (took me back to my uni days, aaah!!) as many of the chapters review either letters written to magazines from cross dressers detailing their experience, or review articles from the press mentioning cross dressing or "sex changes". There is one subjective chapter written from the point of view of a trans individual but this feels surface deep and rushed with no real insight as to their full experience.

Although the book tries to remain academic with many of the contributing authors being lecturers and doctors, it still all feels a little too voyeuristic to be credible, too many excerpts of men wearing corsets and lace panties. There is no deep dive into the psychology or sociology behind gender bending, just a superficial peeking under the surface.

A disappointing and very obviously outdated book, given the breadth of quality first hand material we now have from trans individuals.