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Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression
Seeing Gender is an of-the-moment investigation into how we express and understand the complexities of gender today. Deeply researched and fully illustrated, this book demystifies an intensely personal—yet universal—facet of humanity. Illustrating a different concept on each spread, queer author and artist Iris Gottlieb touches on history, science, sociology, and her own experience. This book is an essential tool for understanding and contributing to a necessary cultural conversation, bringing clarity and reassurance to the sometimes confusing process of navigating ones' identity. Whether LGBTQ+, cisgender, or nonbinary, Seeing Gender is a must-read for intelligent, curious, want-to-be woke people who care about how we see and talk about gender and sexuality in the 21st century.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2019
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4904 people want to read
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February 13, 2024
Highly recommended to JK Rowling.
February 1, 2025
Seeing Gender is a thorough exploration of gender identity covering the basics and beyond. Author Iris Gottlieb left nothing about the topic unexplored. She started with the definition of gender versus sex—a necessary starting point for understanding what comes later. (Elaboration here: https://www.who.int/genomics/gender/e...)
All aspects of LGBTQ+ are defined: agender, aromantic, asexual, bisexual, cisgender, genderqueer, intersex, transgender, and two-spirit. Also included on this list are terms such as "heteronormativity," "gender dysphoria," and "gender fluid." Going in, I was familiar with most of what's here, but some was new information to me, such as intersexuality.
Gottlieb interspersed the exploration of gender identity with related trivia, such as homosexual behavior in animals, residential schools (created by Canada for First Nations children for the purpose of assimilation), and "the brain weight myth." Other pages feature profiles on LGBTQ+ figures such as Prince, Frida Kahlo, and Laverne Cox.
What I found most enlightening were the last few pages, which feature photos of the author herself wearing a bandage after having had her breasts removed. The book is very frank, but here it's even more so, and I was impressed by Gottlieb's courage in sharing this part of her own transformation. It's in these pages that she explained that she uses the pronouns she/her (for now) but identifies as male (for now). This really drove home for me the idea that gender is indeed a social construct.
This book is needed now more than ever, and I encourage all to read it, if for no other reason than to understand all that LGBTQ+ encompasses. It's a complicated topic that deserves attention.
NOTE: I received this as an Advance Reader Copy from LibraryThing in November 2019.
Update: May 9, 2021. "The non-binary underwear company that wants to 'degender' fashion"
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2...
Update: November 13, 2023. "Same-sex sexual behaviour in mammals evolved to keep the peace"
https://psyche.co/ideas/same-sex-sexu...
All aspects of LGBTQ+ are defined: agender, aromantic, asexual, bisexual, cisgender, genderqueer, intersex, transgender, and two-spirit. Also included on this list are terms such as "heteronormativity," "gender dysphoria," and "gender fluid." Going in, I was familiar with most of what's here, but some was new information to me, such as intersexuality.
Gottlieb interspersed the exploration of gender identity with related trivia, such as homosexual behavior in animals, residential schools (created by Canada for First Nations children for the purpose of assimilation), and "the brain weight myth." Other pages feature profiles on LGBTQ+ figures such as Prince, Frida Kahlo, and Laverne Cox.
What I found most enlightening were the last few pages, which feature photos of the author herself wearing a bandage after having had her breasts removed. The book is very frank, but here it's even more so, and I was impressed by Gottlieb's courage in sharing this part of her own transformation. It's in these pages that she explained that she uses the pronouns she/her (for now) but identifies as male (for now). This really drove home for me the idea that gender is indeed a social construct.
This book is needed now more than ever, and I encourage all to read it, if for no other reason than to understand all that LGBTQ+ encompasses. It's a complicated topic that deserves attention.
NOTE: I received this as an Advance Reader Copy from LibraryThing in November 2019.
Update: May 9, 2021. "The non-binary underwear company that wants to 'degender' fashion"
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2...
Update: November 13, 2023. "Same-sex sexual behaviour in mammals evolved to keep the peace"
https://psyche.co/ideas/same-sex-sexu...
September 23, 2021
*eye-opening*
I enjoyed reading this book with lots of insightful illustrations. I appreciate the efforts put in by the authors and everyone involved in bringing out this book. This book is much needed. Even for someone like me who runs away from nonfiction reads most of the time, books like this make it easier to read and approachable. I love the fact that things have been brought up and explained so well. I will be looking forward to more books by the author.
Thanks #NetGalley for the book #SeeingGender
I enjoyed reading this book with lots of insightful illustrations. I appreciate the efforts put in by the authors and everyone involved in bringing out this book. This book is much needed. Even for someone like me who runs away from nonfiction reads most of the time, books like this make it easier to read and approachable. I love the fact that things have been brought up and explained so well. I will be looking forward to more books by the author.
Thanks #NetGalley for the book #SeeingGender
June 2, 2022
"Every time one of us sees gender—really sees it—it’s another step towards a future where anyone of any gender is free to be themselves."
~ Rating- 5 stars ~
Content/ Trigger Warnings- Discussions on: Ableism, Abortion, Acephobia, Ageism, Body & Body Image, Discrimination, Deadnaming, Gender, Gender Identity, Gender Expression & Gender Stereotypes, Homophobia, Misgendering, Misogyny, Police Brutality, Racism, sexism, sexual assault and harassment, Transphobia
Note- I have tried to include all the content warnings that I noticed, but there is no guarantee that I haven’t missed something.
-Mention of some of these in the review-
"There is often a narrative that it is only after coming out that we can be our fully complete, free, and honest selves. However, we can be complete in many ways. We each hold aspects of ourselves that are not public—trauma, secrets, fears, our bodies—which can come to light at any point.."
Seeing Gender by Iris Gottlieb is a very important and informative book about gender and gender expression. While that is the core subject of the book, it also explores several other topics and how they are inter-connected with the way society views gender. It also focuses on the author's personal story.
I thought the book was highly impactful, and a perfect starting point to educate yourself more on these topics. It's a book everyone should read. I'd highly recommend it.
I wanted to end on this quote by Aaron who shares their (using their as they don't specify their pronouns) experience with their gender, which really resonated with me. Thank you for putting it in words.
"My gender in this moment feels like a long, long drive that I am stuck in the middle of, and the scenery is beautiful, and I am not upset at the journey, but I have been in this car too long to care anymore, and my clothes don’t fit right, and my back aches, and the next stop isn’t for seventy-three more miles and it feels like I won’t make it there before dark."
Review written on 2nd June, 2022.
BR with Harshita!
Read #2 for Pride Month 2022.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/was average/Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/new favourite
May 27, 2022
"Think about if everyone in your life began calling you by pronouns different from your gender. You'd feel pretty bad, wouldn't you?"
No, actually, I wouldn't because my self worth and identity isn't tied up in how others view me. Pronouns, believe it or not, aren't a slur.
But first, let me begin with what I liked about this book. I think I would have enjoyed it as a teenager (as an adult? not so much). I also quite liked the illustrations, the format, and the flow of this book. The colors were enticing and helped to mimic the text for better understanding.
My frustration with this book--and others of its ilk--is that it posits gender as this "made up" thing. That's all good and well. Except, of course, the fact that we have very real problems that aren't made up. And these very real problems--misogyny--is due to sex, not gender. But, apparently, sex isn't exactly real, either. So I guess it's up in the air as to why women--I mean, cis women--I mean, females--I mean, female-bodied people--I mean, people with uteruses--I mean, AFABs--I mean, I mean I mean. As though we didn't have perfectly fine words until men became famous for being gender nonconforming.
While this was a good primer, I found that it went into detail for topics somewhat related to the book's gist (eating disorders affect all genders) as opposed to going into detail for topics....about the book's gist (sex). Gottlieb states that, "Much like one's gender presentation, sex can shift over time," which is...a lie? Certainly you can change aspects of oneself (hormones, presentation, plastic surgeries), but medication still affects males and females differently. Seatbelts do a better job of protecting males over females. You can change parts of yourself, but you can't change your basic structure.
Which, furthermore, Gottlieb and Callendar posit male bodies as "normal". They say that there is no such thing as normal, that male privilege is unearned, that gender and sex are fluid and changing. But they use sentences like, "bodies that have uteruses for childbirth" (as though uteruses are only good for childbirth...but that's another conversation) for women/female-bodied people and do not treat men/male-bodied people the same way.
Additionally, they use terminology such as AMAB/AFAB which directly comes from intersex communities. For me, a "cis" woman, I was not assigned a sex. I was observed to have a sex. Not to mention that this didn't happen when I was born. Technology, believe it or not, can tell women whether they're having a boy or a girl (or male or female child) in the first and second trimesters. Saying someone is assigned a sex at birth is due to observation as well--doctors notice that a child has, perhaps, a smaller penis or a larger clitoris. Then, they "assign" a sex and perform surgery on this child. Similarly, this is another harrowing conversation separate to the point of this book, but it's worth mentioning that the trans community pilfered this terminology and in a way that is untruthful to its definition.
When they mention particular figures in history or contemporary society, they often times...just got it wrong, or wrote about them disingenuously. Take Marsha P. Johnson--Gottlieb and Callendar praise MPJ for being a trans icon...except that Marsha P. Johnson, or Malcolm, is a drag queen and stated on video that he is a man 10 days before his death. They mention Shakespeare's plays and tout it as humorous queer fun...except that it was just plain misogyny that women couldn't perform in plays and that's why men had to (though, to be fair, it IS humorous). They discuss Norma McCorvey/Jane Roe and how she flipped the script and became pro-life...except they fail to mention McCorvey's deathbed confession that she, a poor lesbian addict, was given more than $400,000 to "become" pro-life. Also, way to go for name-dropping JKR...who is clearly the enemy and not....oh, I don't know, the countless male politicians who are ACTUALLY making transphobic laws. Remember the rules of misogyny that permeate the air whenever misogynists talk about JKR:
1. Women are responsible for what men do.
3. Women speaking for themselves are exclusionary and selfish.
4. Women’s opinions are violence against men, thus male violence against women is justified.
12. Women’s ability to recognize male behavior patterns is misandry.
14. Women have all the rights they need: The right to remain silent.
Even more insidiously, they discuss sex work and argue that "sex work is work. It's a job like being a store clerk, an architect, or a freelance writer." Well, I'm a librarian, and let me tell you that sex work is NOT like being a librarian. I do not have to suffer rape. I do not need to cope using alcohol or drugs after work. I have the right to refuse my contract and quit. I am not forced to work with biohazardous material because THAT'S RIGHT medical professionals need to wear gloves and suit up when working with blood, semen, urine, and feces! I do not get PTSD or other mental illnesses or disorder just from my job. I do have to perform physical labor sometimes but when I'm tired I can take a break! I am not forced to have phallic objects shoved in me in my mouth in my vagina in my ass. I am not forced to make out with women or men or interact with animals.
Unless, of course, they were only talking about OnlyFans sex workers in which they have control except how many times have fathers, brothers, coworkers, and exes found their account and purchased a subscription, a violation of their privacy? Unless, of course, we're talking about escorts who have the ability to choose their clientele but if they report rape, well, it's a job, so really it wasn't rape at all--it was just stealing your services!
But, you know, not offering at least a 101 critical look at these topics is totally fine when you're gearing this to teens, I guess.
No, actually, I wouldn't because my self worth and identity isn't tied up in how others view me. Pronouns, believe it or not, aren't a slur.
But first, let me begin with what I liked about this book. I think I would have enjoyed it as a teenager (as an adult? not so much). I also quite liked the illustrations, the format, and the flow of this book. The colors were enticing and helped to mimic the text for better understanding.
My frustration with this book--and others of its ilk--is that it posits gender as this "made up" thing. That's all good and well. Except, of course, the fact that we have very real problems that aren't made up. And these very real problems--misogyny--is due to sex, not gender. But, apparently, sex isn't exactly real, either. So I guess it's up in the air as to why women--I mean, cis women--I mean, females--I mean, female-bodied people--I mean, people with uteruses--I mean, AFABs--I mean, I mean I mean. As though we didn't have perfectly fine words until men became famous for being gender nonconforming.
While this was a good primer, I found that it went into detail for topics somewhat related to the book's gist (eating disorders affect all genders) as opposed to going into detail for topics....about the book's gist (sex). Gottlieb states that, "Much like one's gender presentation, sex can shift over time," which is...a lie? Certainly you can change aspects of oneself (hormones, presentation, plastic surgeries), but medication still affects males and females differently. Seatbelts do a better job of protecting males over females. You can change parts of yourself, but you can't change your basic structure.
Which, furthermore, Gottlieb and Callendar posit male bodies as "normal". They say that there is no such thing as normal, that male privilege is unearned, that gender and sex are fluid and changing. But they use sentences like, "bodies that have uteruses for childbirth" (as though uteruses are only good for childbirth...but that's another conversation) for women/female-bodied people and do not treat men/male-bodied people the same way.
Additionally, they use terminology such as AMAB/AFAB which directly comes from intersex communities. For me, a "cis" woman, I was not assigned a sex. I was observed to have a sex. Not to mention that this didn't happen when I was born. Technology, believe it or not, can tell women whether they're having a boy or a girl (or male or female child) in the first and second trimesters. Saying someone is assigned a sex at birth is due to observation as well--doctors notice that a child has, perhaps, a smaller penis or a larger clitoris. Then, they "assign" a sex and perform surgery on this child. Similarly, this is another harrowing conversation separate to the point of this book, but it's worth mentioning that the trans community pilfered this terminology and in a way that is untruthful to its definition.
When they mention particular figures in history or contemporary society, they often times...just got it wrong, or wrote about them disingenuously. Take Marsha P. Johnson--Gottlieb and Callendar praise MPJ for being a trans icon...except that Marsha P. Johnson, or Malcolm, is a drag queen and stated on video that he is a man 10 days before his death. They mention Shakespeare's plays and tout it as humorous queer fun...except that it was just plain misogyny that women couldn't perform in plays and that's why men had to (though, to be fair, it IS humorous). They discuss Norma McCorvey/Jane Roe and how she flipped the script and became pro-life...except they fail to mention McCorvey's deathbed confession that she, a poor lesbian addict, was given more than $400,000 to "become" pro-life. Also, way to go for name-dropping JKR...who is clearly the enemy and not....oh, I don't know, the countless male politicians who are ACTUALLY making transphobic laws. Remember the rules of misogyny that permeate the air whenever misogynists talk about JKR:
1. Women are responsible for what men do.
3. Women speaking for themselves are exclusionary and selfish.
4. Women’s opinions are violence against men, thus male violence against women is justified.
12. Women’s ability to recognize male behavior patterns is misandry.
14. Women have all the rights they need: The right to remain silent.
Even more insidiously, they discuss sex work and argue that "sex work is work. It's a job like being a store clerk, an architect, or a freelance writer." Well, I'm a librarian, and let me tell you that sex work is NOT like being a librarian. I do not have to suffer rape. I do not need to cope using alcohol or drugs after work. I have the right to refuse my contract and quit. I am not forced to work with biohazardous material because THAT'S RIGHT medical professionals need to wear gloves and suit up when working with blood, semen, urine, and feces! I do not get PTSD or other mental illnesses or disorder just from my job. I do have to perform physical labor sometimes but when I'm tired I can take a break! I am not forced to have phallic objects shoved in me in my mouth in my vagina in my ass. I am not forced to make out with women or men or interact with animals.
Unless, of course, they were only talking about OnlyFans sex workers in which they have control except how many times have fathers, brothers, coworkers, and exes found their account and purchased a subscription, a violation of their privacy? Unless, of course, we're talking about escorts who have the ability to choose their clientele but if they report rape, well, it's a job, so really it wasn't rape at all--it was just stealing your services!
But, you know, not offering at least a 101 critical look at these topics is totally fine when you're gearing this to teens, I guess.
November 7, 2021
Gottilieb asked people of various ages--from young child to middle-aged adult to select something that defined their gender. Items chosen included ear buds, jackets, and other personal items. They things were said to somehow describe gender. I saw--and see essence of personality, the dramaturgy of human life.
It's malleable stuff. Being a bus rider in a city with usable and reliable bus service, I have opportunity to meet people from other parts of the country who bring genders acceptable and not acceptable here to South Texas.
Vietnam vet left permanently changed rode bike around Corpus Christi wrapped up in plastic bags, much in the style of a mummy. Left alone and vaguely respected by consensus of bus riders of Corpus Christi. Is mummy a gender?
Pirate from Philadelphia has toned down pirateness and now less talkative in the general way bus riders can be. Something was killed. That has to be gender that was killed, I think. If pirate is a gender, then so is mummy man.
I have no doubt that the man who rides a girl's bike, wears all green 1970s hip leisure suit topped by a wide brimmed green hat is a gendered presentation. Often this man waves and we who wait for the next bus wave back, feel the joy of his authenticity. Often we laugh in appreciation of hjs joy expressed. Almost invariably we switch to something more menacing somehow. Being the loud mouth and now the crone--can that be my gender--I remind us all that we each wish we felt so free to be our true selves, whatever that might be. Nods and other indications of admission all around.
So maybe gender with all its fluidity can be expressed in all the ways the genders of Orlando are described by Virginia Woolf, gender often/always remains fluid.
It's malleable stuff. Being a bus rider in a city with usable and reliable bus service, I have opportunity to meet people from other parts of the country who bring genders acceptable and not acceptable here to South Texas.
Vietnam vet left permanently changed rode bike around Corpus Christi wrapped up in plastic bags, much in the style of a mummy. Left alone and vaguely respected by consensus of bus riders of Corpus Christi. Is mummy a gender?
Pirate from Philadelphia has toned down pirateness and now less talkative in the general way bus riders can be. Something was killed. That has to be gender that was killed, I think. If pirate is a gender, then so is mummy man.
I have no doubt that the man who rides a girl's bike, wears all green 1970s hip leisure suit topped by a wide brimmed green hat is a gendered presentation. Often this man waves and we who wait for the next bus wave back, feel the joy of his authenticity. Often we laugh in appreciation of hjs joy expressed. Almost invariably we switch to something more menacing somehow. Being the loud mouth and now the crone--can that be my gender--I remind us all that we each wish we felt so free to be our true selves, whatever that might be. Nods and other indications of admission all around.
So maybe gender with all its fluidity can be expressed in all the ways the genders of Orlando are described by Virginia Woolf, gender often/always remains fluid.
October 16, 2019
I am a n00b when it comes to gender study and was only exposed to the discussion in my Goodreads groups (thank you, buddies!) as well as some media (especially) I consume. I want to read more on the subject and educate myself but the online information overwhelms me. Which one should I start? Like on feminism, should I read historically (all the waves) or go to the most recent ones? What's a third gender? Which pronoun should I use? I am attracted to guys but I really hate it when people say I have to wear a nice dress for my college graduation or weddings and I think make ups are not my thing. What am I then? I've lots of questions.
When I saw this book in Netgalley, I immediately grabbed it on a whim (and of course since it has illustrations). I do not regret that decision. It is very informative, makes clear and succinct points, and also opens up more questions. Which I enjoy, since I think having more questions mean I get to understand more and have something to ask about. Intersectionality, white feminism, gender assignment, the shift of gender roles throughout history, they are all pretty mind blowing. Spotlights were also given on real people and how they influenced the discussion.
All in all, gender identity is still a fascinating puzzle for me, since all the labels I gathered so far (also based on my gender presentation), they won't cover all the facets of my own identity. Quoting the author, we are all shapeshifters. And I am glad to know I am allowed to mess up. It's a never ending learning journey, right?
When I saw this book in Netgalley, I immediately grabbed it on a whim (and of course since it has illustrations). I do not regret that decision. It is very informative, makes clear and succinct points, and also opens up more questions. Which I enjoy, since I think having more questions mean I get to understand more and have something to ask about. Intersectionality, white feminism, gender assignment, the shift of gender roles throughout history, they are all pretty mind blowing. Spotlights were also given on real people and how they influenced the discussion.
All in all, gender identity is still a fascinating puzzle for me, since all the labels I gathered so far (also based on my gender presentation), they won't cover all the facets of my own identity. Quoting the author, we are all shapeshifters. And I am glad to know I am allowed to mess up. It's a never ending learning journey, right?
January 30, 2021
this was so much more than i expected it to be.
the author not only just explored different gender identities and sexualities (which is what I thought it would be) but instead just went above and beyond and talked about gender in relation to race, the effects colonization had on gender identities of indigenous people, gender and poverty, gave some shocking current statics about HIV in the southern states of America, talked about mental illness, how race and gender play into who goes to prison and who doesn't, gender and sports, and so much more i can't even name all of it.
also gay rams.
she also put the spotlight on many famous people who didn't necessarily conform to society's expected gender roles, told her own story of gender exploration and identity and let other people tell their own experiences with their gender identity or expression.
all in all it was beautiful, very informative and important guide to gender identity and so much more.
what will stay with me the most is the following quote from aaron who describes their (use of neutral pronouns here because while aaron identifies as trans male, they do not tell us their pronouns) gender as follows:
My gender in this moment feels like a long, long drive that I am stuck in the middle of, and the scenery is beautiful, and I am not upset at the journey, but I have been in this car too long to care anymore, and my clothes don’t fit right, and my back aches, and the next stop isn’t for seventy-three more miles and it feels like I won’t make it there before dark.
and i just want to tell aaron that i could not relate more and thanks for putting it into words
the author not only just explored different gender identities and sexualities (which is what I thought it would be) but instead just went above and beyond and talked about gender in relation to race, the effects colonization had on gender identities of indigenous people, gender and poverty, gave some shocking current statics about HIV in the southern states of America, talked about mental illness, how race and gender play into who goes to prison and who doesn't, gender and sports, and so much more i can't even name all of it.
also gay rams.
she also put the spotlight on many famous people who didn't necessarily conform to society's expected gender roles, told her own story of gender exploration and identity and let other people tell their own experiences with their gender identity or expression.
all in all it was beautiful, very informative and important guide to gender identity and so much more.
what will stay with me the most is the following quote from aaron who describes their (use of neutral pronouns here because while aaron identifies as trans male, they do not tell us their pronouns) gender as follows:
My gender in this moment feels like a long, long drive that I am stuck in the middle of, and the scenery is beautiful, and I am not upset at the journey, but I have been in this car too long to care anymore, and my clothes don’t fit right, and my back aches, and the next stop isn’t for seventy-three more miles and it feels like I won’t make it there before dark.
and i just want to tell aaron that i could not relate more and thanks for putting it into words
September 27, 2019
ARC Review: Received for free via Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
CW: acemisic comments that are called out
Firstly: I want to own this book physically so I can look at it and touch and just love it with everything I have.
Secondly: THAT COVER!
Third: THE CONTENT!!!!
Fourth: HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GIVE THIS BOOK 10 STARS WHEN I ONLY HAVE AN OPTION FOR 5, DAMMIT!!!
My biggest fear with books about LGBTQIAP+ books is that they'll somehow inevitably have some acemisic nonsense in them that'll hurt. This one came out very early and said 'in this house we are not', so that notched up my love for it. And then, AND THEN, there's an image titles 'All these people are nonbinary' and and there's this one person there who's a fat PoC in a dress and afro hair and I was liked 'me, it's me, how does she know it's me?!?!?!??!???!' but also, YAS! And then, AND THEN, everything just kept getting better and better and ugh, I love this book so damn much and I want to physically own it!!
CW: acemisic comments that are called out
Firstly: I want to own this book physically so I can look at it and touch and just love it with everything I have.
Secondly: THAT COVER!
Third: THE CONTENT!!!!
Fourth: HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GIVE THIS BOOK 10 STARS WHEN I ONLY HAVE AN OPTION FOR 5, DAMMIT!!!
My biggest fear with books about LGBTQIAP+ books is that they'll somehow inevitably have some acemisic nonsense in them that'll hurt. This one came out very early and said 'in this house we are not', so that notched up my love for it. And then, AND THEN, there's an image titles 'All these people are nonbinary' and and there's this one person there who's a fat PoC in a dress and afro hair and I was liked 'me, it's me, how does she know it's me?!?!?!??!???!' but also, YAS! And then, AND THEN, everything just kept getting better and better and ugh, I love this book so damn much and I want to physically own it!!
September 20, 2019
I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
First impressions of Seeing Gender: What a gorgeous book. Love the cover, love the illustrations. I’ve put off reading this because I always kind of feel like books like this cover ground I’m already aware of (I know, that sounds really arrogant, please feel free to roll your eyes, but I have read a lot of books on LGBTQA+ theory, and I am actually not a heterosexual, so there is that, not that that means I can’t be an uneducated jerk, but that’s a whole other can of worms).
After reading this (which I tore through pretty quickly, it's an easy read, the illustrations are really more the meat of this book), my first impressions were pretty on target. The illustrations are amazing, and this book is really more of a primer for LGBTQA+ information and not as interesting if you already know a lot about the community.
One of my notes I wrote to myself while reading was: "I’m really kind of bored other than the illustrations, which I feel bad saying! I want to like it! If you need a primer on gender and sexuality and have basically no knowledge maybe this is a good fit for you."
Also, I have some criticisms. Talking about White Feminism and using Betty Friedan, who is Jewish, really annoyed me. Jews like Friedan are only white-passing, in my opinion. But regardless of your opinion on that, they should not be held up as White Feminists with a capital W. Especially considering events like the Women's March and LGBTQA+ events that specifically exclude Jews. But moving on.
Using the term trans with an asterisk ("Trans*") is not commonly used because nonbinary people consider it offensive. It implies that only binary trans people are included under trans, and other identities are more of an afterthought.
I also really didn't love including David Bowie, who, despite his idol status, sexually assaulted a 15-year-old. What kind of a spotlight in a book is that, especially when it didn't view him with any kind of critical lens?
I just never really warmed up to this book. While it had many good elements, and would likely be enjoyable to someone who has very little knowledge about the community, to me there were elements I just didn't appreciate and it didn't have enough interesting content to make up for it. The biographical content at the very end by the author was interesting, and I wish she had included more of it throughout the book, because it would have made the book less dry.
First impressions of Seeing Gender: What a gorgeous book. Love the cover, love the illustrations. I’ve put off reading this because I always kind of feel like books like this cover ground I’m already aware of (I know, that sounds really arrogant, please feel free to roll your eyes, but I have read a lot of books on LGBTQA+ theory, and I am actually not a heterosexual, so there is that, not that that means I can’t be an uneducated jerk, but that’s a whole other can of worms).
After reading this (which I tore through pretty quickly, it's an easy read, the illustrations are really more the meat of this book), my first impressions were pretty on target. The illustrations are amazing, and this book is really more of a primer for LGBTQA+ information and not as interesting if you already know a lot about the community.
One of my notes I wrote to myself while reading was: "I’m really kind of bored other than the illustrations, which I feel bad saying! I want to like it! If you need a primer on gender and sexuality and have basically no knowledge maybe this is a good fit for you."
Also, I have some criticisms. Talking about White Feminism and using Betty Friedan, who is Jewish, really annoyed me. Jews like Friedan are only white-passing, in my opinion. But regardless of your opinion on that, they should not be held up as White Feminists with a capital W. Especially considering events like the Women's March and LGBTQA+ events that specifically exclude Jews. But moving on.
Using the term trans with an asterisk ("Trans*") is not commonly used because nonbinary people consider it offensive. It implies that only binary trans people are included under trans, and other identities are more of an afterthought.
I also really didn't love including David Bowie, who, despite his idol status, sexually assaulted a 15-year-old. What kind of a spotlight in a book is that, especially when it didn't view him with any kind of critical lens?
I just never really warmed up to this book. While it had many good elements, and would likely be enjoyable to someone who has very little knowledge about the community, to me there were elements I just didn't appreciate and it didn't have enough interesting content to make up for it. The biographical content at the very end by the author was interesting, and I wish she had included more of it throughout the book, because it would have made the book less dry.
October 20, 2020
Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression (Hardcover)
by Iris Gottlieb
I really liked the way information was presented in this book. Often there was a short topic with a narrative on one page and a pertinent illustration on the facing page. So, reading interruptions were not a big deal. Flip through a few pages and your back on track.
Here are a few topics that have facing pages:
- Gender is a social construct
- Gendered before birth
- Temperature-dependent sex determination
- Terminology
- Infinite combinations
- Pronouns
and many more. Each well done.
Overall, I had a significantly better understanding of gender as a result of this book.
Having read the "Stonewall Reader" some months ago, "Seeing Gender" feels like a major update to my understanding of the progress that has been made. The contrast is remarkable.
by Iris Gottlieb
I really liked the way information was presented in this book. Often there was a short topic with a narrative on one page and a pertinent illustration on the facing page. So, reading interruptions were not a big deal. Flip through a few pages and your back on track.
Here are a few topics that have facing pages:
- Gender is a social construct
- Gendered before birth
- Temperature-dependent sex determination
- Terminology
- Infinite combinations
- Pronouns
and many more. Each well done.
Overall, I had a significantly better understanding of gender as a result of this book.
Having read the "Stonewall Reader" some months ago, "Seeing Gender" feels like a major update to my understanding of the progress that has been made. The contrast is remarkable.
August 15, 2021
3.5
a brief informative illustrated book about a variety of issues centered mostly (but not exclusively) around gender and how it affects society. It's quite good and there were many interesting facts but i don't think it is great for total beginners. I'd love to have it as a cofee-table book.
a brief informative illustrated book about a variety of issues centered mostly (but not exclusively) around gender and how it affects society. It's quite good and there were many interesting facts but i don't think it is great for total beginners. I'd love to have it as a cofee-table book.
January 4, 2022
I liked it, understood it, and am happy with it.
March 30, 2021
Informative and beautiful, would put any of the illustrations on my wall (JVN and Tan on horseback!). Personally, I prefer a little more order when I’m learning than going from third and fourth genders, to Shakespeare, to cuttlefish, but I thought this was great.
September 20, 2019
I have long considered myself an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, but I was tested on that allegiance three years ago when one of my children came out as part of the queer community. In the three years since I have done my best to read as much as I can so that I can better understand his experiences. This beautifully illustrated book is fairly simple and didn't really teach me anything new but I still loved it. I found it to be unique in both the art and the way the stories are told.
The author introduces several famous people (such as David Bowie and Frida Kahlo) who identify themselves as part of the community, and those little sections were wonderful. They were one or two pages of text about the person and a full page of illustrations. These vignettes were definitely my favorite. The book has an index, a short glossary of terms, references to the ways people can learn, the a description of the author's personal journey. The artwork throughout the book is fabulous and I will definitely buy this as gifts in the future.
I want to thank NetGalley, Iris Gottlieb and Chronicle Books for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The author introduces several famous people (such as David Bowie and Frida Kahlo) who identify themselves as part of the community, and those little sections were wonderful. They were one or two pages of text about the person and a full page of illustrations. These vignettes were definitely my favorite. The book has an index, a short glossary of terms, references to the ways people can learn, the a description of the author's personal journey. The artwork throughout the book is fabulous and I will definitely buy this as gifts in the future.
I want to thank NetGalley, Iris Gottlieb and Chronicle Books for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 3, 2019
Honestly, as someone who is involved with the queer community and who has a lot of prior knowledge of issues and theories about gender and sexuality and the intersection of other identities, this was kind of boring to get through.
HOWever. I think this would be a valuable resource for anyone who is less familiar with the community and wants something of a primer. The illustrations throughout break up each section into small one- and two-page sections that make it feel accessible and allow you to read and absorb the information quickly. LGBTQ+ communities can be kind of hard to represent in an overview because we're still in the process of finding new identities and theories and ways to talk about ourselves, but all the information here is generally up to date with where we are in 2019, which I'm extremely grateful for. Someone who needed an intro into the way we understand gender today could definitely find what they're looking for here.
HOWever. I think this would be a valuable resource for anyone who is less familiar with the community and wants something of a primer. The illustrations throughout break up each section into small one- and two-page sections that make it feel accessible and allow you to read and absorb the information quickly. LGBTQ+ communities can be kind of hard to represent in an overview because we're still in the process of finding new identities and theories and ways to talk about ourselves, but all the information here is generally up to date with where we are in 2019, which I'm extremely grateful for. Someone who needed an intro into the way we understand gender today could definitely find what they're looking for here.
September 24, 2019
This is a comprehensive and nuanced book on gender. I read everything I can get my hands on about gender, and I learned something new from this book. I particularly liked the deep dive into cultural icons and animals. The historic and world context was also well presented. Overall, a solid contribution to the discussion, and a great book for people who are new to the conversation or those who have been talking about it for a while.
July 27, 2023
Dễ hiểu và đơn giản hóa ở mức cần thiết khi nói về các chủ đề về giới, Iris Gottlieb không nói sâu và trở nên quá xa vời với những người chỉ đang tập tành bước vào con đường tìm hiểu về giới và nữ quyền.
Cái Iris Gottlieb làm thành công ở "Seeing Gender" là liệt kê nhiều và đa dạng các vấn đề về giới lẫn ví dụ cụ thể ở đủ mọi chủng tộc, màu da, ngành nghề, thời gian,...
Cái Iris Gottlieb làm thành công ở "Seeing Gender" là liệt kê nhiều và đa dạng các vấn đề về giới lẫn ví dụ cụ thể ở đủ mọi chủng tộc, màu da, ngành nghề, thời gian,...
August 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It gave a lot of intro information about many different topics. Lots of fun art & cool stories to be read for sure
March 28, 2021
This is a beautiful, beautiful book. Definitely looking for more from this author and the foreword writer.
Meredith was recently part of a panel called Disrupting Literary Hegemony: Trans and Nonbinary Author Spotlight Confirmation, which was fantastic! (Check YouTube for the full recording.)
Meredith was recently part of a panel called Disrupting Literary Hegemony: Trans and Nonbinary Author Spotlight Confirmation, which was fantastic! (Check YouTube for the full recording.)
October 20, 2019
3.5 stars.
A great, colorful, comprehensive guide to gender identity, as well as a very encompassing guide to intersectionality as well. Not only will it help understand, or at least expose you to, terms and expressions of the gender-queer* community, but it will also teach and encourage you to become an even more accepting and decent person to everyone.
Although this is comprehensive, I unfortunately didn't find it to be as cohesive as I'd hoped it would have been. I was expecting something encylopeidia like, with extensive entries detailing the variety of gender identities and their monikers, in addition to general gender-queer terms, issues, and stigmas and how to avoid them. But this felt more like a random journal, with entries kind of sporadically included--I didn't get any sense of flow or building upon previous concepts and terms. While I know even some of the specifically named identities can still be fluid, I really would have loved to have a more comprehensive list of these identities and what they mean in general.
That being said, it was still a valuable read and one that did what I'd hoped it would for me--make me understand what it is to be gender-queer. While I myself certainly don't adhere to all the societal expectations of how a female presents herself, I still identify as a female, so I've always found it difficult to understand the gender-queer aspect of the LGBTQ+ realm. There was one line in this book that helped me to understand it concept at heart--"gender expression isn't the same as gender identity." Gender, while it does have its roots in society and class, is still something that's very visual in the way we present ourselves, and is something that can be deceiving to your ingrained perceptions whether there are two or twenty genders. Just because someone may dress and/or act one way, doesn't mean they actually identify with the corresponding societal binary term (or one of the binary terms at all!).
Be willing to look past outward appearances and appreciate someone for who they are as a whole person, not just because of how they present themselves. It's a bit of a trite statement, I know, but it was made even more clear and important to me in this book.
Although it wasn't as cohesive and straightforward as I was hoping, it was still an eye-opening, honest, and enlightening read!
*Please note that while I use "gender-queer" here, since that's the focus of the book, there are still many aspects of the book that apply to queerness of any type!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
A great, colorful, comprehensive guide to gender identity, as well as a very encompassing guide to intersectionality as well. Not only will it help understand, or at least expose you to, terms and expressions of the gender-queer* community, but it will also teach and encourage you to become an even more accepting and decent person to everyone.
Although this is comprehensive, I unfortunately didn't find it to be as cohesive as I'd hoped it would have been. I was expecting something encylopeidia like, with extensive entries detailing the variety of gender identities and their monikers, in addition to general gender-queer terms, issues, and stigmas and how to avoid them. But this felt more like a random journal, with entries kind of sporadically included--I didn't get any sense of flow or building upon previous concepts and terms. While I know even some of the specifically named identities can still be fluid, I really would have loved to have a more comprehensive list of these identities and what they mean in general.
That being said, it was still a valuable read and one that did what I'd hoped it would for me--make me understand what it is to be gender-queer. While I myself certainly don't adhere to all the societal expectations of how a female presents herself, I still identify as a female, so I've always found it difficult to understand the gender-queer aspect of the LGBTQ+ realm. There was one line in this book that helped me to understand it concept at heart--"gender expression isn't the same as gender identity." Gender, while it does have its roots in society and class, is still something that's very visual in the way we present ourselves, and is something that can be deceiving to your ingrained perceptions whether there are two or twenty genders. Just because someone may dress and/or act one way, doesn't mean they actually identify with the corresponding societal binary term (or one of the binary terms at all!).
Be willing to look past outward appearances and appreciate someone for who they are as a whole person, not just because of how they present themselves. It's a bit of a trite statement, I know, but it was made even more clear and important to me in this book.
Although it wasn't as cohesive and straightforward as I was hoping, it was still an eye-opening, honest, and enlightening read!
*Please note that while I use "gender-queer" here, since that's the focus of the book, there are still many aspects of the book that apply to queerness of any type!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
July 8, 2020
2.5/5
I'm not sure how well it would go for someone who's less familiar with the material, but for me while the illustrations were very enticing and I enjoyed the breadth of ideas covered, the written content in the educational section was disappointing. It was haphazardly organized, sloppy in its use of language, and confusing.
The book's structure could work well or poorly, depending on what you're looking for. Beyond some vague section themes there's no organization - the book is just made up of paragraph to page-long sections on random gender-related subjects. Great as a coffee table book, for people to just pick it up, flip it open, and spend a few minutes reading about a random thing. It's not so good if you want to get a foundation and then build your understanding outward into more complexity in a way that makes sense.
This would have worked well if the contents had been presented more as the author's musings on a variety of subjects that interact with gender. Especially because the section at the end, which is more autobiographical, was beautifully written: moving, lyrical, had great flow, and felt impactful to how we understand gender more generally too. But the majority of the book (the educational part) was written in a way that I found jarring - bouncy, prescriptive, authoritative, and generalized... while also failing to be careful or consistent.
For example the glossary defines "femme" (and "butch") but has no entry for "masc" or "nonbinary" despite using the latter on the very next page.
Then the author tries to teach about separating out assigned sex at birth, gender expression, identity, and pronouns.... and then collapses them again by talking about "she/he identities" to refer to binary genders, thereby once again equating pronouns with identity. In the same section, she refers to "people who are on the spectrum of gender" to refer to nonbinary people - as though people who are cis and/or binary aren't on the spectrum of gender too?
Later on, in a section called Anatomy of Gender, while trying to again separate things that are assumed to go together in our society such as gender, genitals, secondary sex characteristics, and personality, she states "people with biologically male-dominant traits can remain relatively hairless their whole lives". What does "biologically male-dominant traits" mean in this context? Doesn't this just make it seem as though there really IS such a thing, when it would have been more accurate to say "we assume cis men will be hairy but that actually varies"?
That's just a handul of examples of how this book tries hard but then shoots itself in the foot, oftentimes making things more convoluted than they need to be and undermining its own intentions in the process.
I'm not sure how well it would go for someone who's less familiar with the material, but for me while the illustrations were very enticing and I enjoyed the breadth of ideas covered, the written content in the educational section was disappointing. It was haphazardly organized, sloppy in its use of language, and confusing.
The book's structure could work well or poorly, depending on what you're looking for. Beyond some vague section themes there's no organization - the book is just made up of paragraph to page-long sections on random gender-related subjects. Great as a coffee table book, for people to just pick it up, flip it open, and spend a few minutes reading about a random thing. It's not so good if you want to get a foundation and then build your understanding outward into more complexity in a way that makes sense.
This would have worked well if the contents had been presented more as the author's musings on a variety of subjects that interact with gender. Especially because the section at the end, which is more autobiographical, was beautifully written: moving, lyrical, had great flow, and felt impactful to how we understand gender more generally too. But the majority of the book (the educational part) was written in a way that I found jarring - bouncy, prescriptive, authoritative, and generalized... while also failing to be careful or consistent.
For example the glossary defines "femme" (and "butch") but has no entry for "masc" or "nonbinary" despite using the latter on the very next page.
Then the author tries to teach about separating out assigned sex at birth, gender expression, identity, and pronouns.... and then collapses them again by talking about "she/he identities" to refer to binary genders, thereby once again equating pronouns with identity. In the same section, she refers to "people who are on the spectrum of gender" to refer to nonbinary people - as though people who are cis and/or binary aren't on the spectrum of gender too?
Later on, in a section called Anatomy of Gender, while trying to again separate things that are assumed to go together in our society such as gender, genitals, secondary sex characteristics, and personality, she states "people with biologically male-dominant traits can remain relatively hairless their whole lives". What does "biologically male-dominant traits" mean in this context? Doesn't this just make it seem as though there really IS such a thing, when it would have been more accurate to say "we assume cis men will be hairy but that actually varies"?
That's just a handul of examples of how this book tries hard but then shoots itself in the foot, oftentimes making things more convoluted than they need to be and undermining its own intentions in the process.
March 29, 2020
There's just so much about this book that I didn't like. Part of it is the misconception on my part that I was picking up a trans book, not a book on feminism that is trans and queer inclusive. Yes, this book is mostly about feminist topics. Lesson learned.
The author uses terminology that can be kind cringe-worthy. In the section on abortion, she says that she will use AFAB to refer to people who may need abortion care. Then she uses woman, mother, and birth giver instead. WTF? Some inclusive alternatives: gestational parent or pregnant person or person who is pregnant. She also uses to the term homosexual to refer to humans who have same-sex partners/attraction, even though she acknowledges the term as outdated or offensive later in the book. WTF? The section on aging sends mixed signals as well.
The section on mental health in the trans community was just a regurgitation of the well-known Williams Institute report. The author should have done more research and presented more current and nuanced information. This was phoned in, basically.
Honestly, I didn't like the artwork, but in a better written book that wouldn't have bothered me, but both the illustrations and writing style were mediocre. The tone was often kind of off-putting as well. It just didn't make for an enjoyable reading experience.
The only reason this didn't get a one-star review was that the book is very intersectional and does a good job looking at topics for multiple viewpoints.
Overall, I can't think of a situation in which this would be my go-to recommended book on queer topics. Anyone who wants to be better ally for the community deserves a better book than this one.
The author uses terminology that can be kind cringe-worthy. In the section on abortion, she says that she will use AFAB to refer to people who may need abortion care. Then she uses woman, mother, and birth giver instead. WTF? Some inclusive alternatives: gestational parent or pregnant person or person who is pregnant. She also uses to the term homosexual to refer to humans who have same-sex partners/attraction, even though she acknowledges the term as outdated or offensive later in the book. WTF? The section on aging sends mixed signals as well.
The section on mental health in the trans community was just a regurgitation of the well-known Williams Institute report. The author should have done more research and presented more current and nuanced information. This was phoned in, basically.
Honestly, I didn't like the artwork, but in a better written book that wouldn't have bothered me, but both the illustrations and writing style were mediocre. The tone was often kind of off-putting as well. It just didn't make for an enjoyable reading experience.
The only reason this didn't get a one-star review was that the book is very intersectional and does a good job looking at topics for multiple viewpoints.
Overall, I can't think of a situation in which this would be my go-to recommended book on queer topics. Anyone who wants to be better ally for the community deserves a better book than this one.
April 18, 2020
What Iris Gottlieb has created with Seeing Gender is a wonderful thing, an accessible and easily digestible way to help just about anyone understand the full spectrum of gender in a way that doesn't make the reader feel like a jerk. Really. I received this book in digital form from the publisher to review but I loved it so much that I'm going to buy a copy for my home (it really is visually awesome) but also a copy for my mom because she has finally told me that she wants to learn the right way to discuss people of nonbinary gender.
Buying a copy for my mom to learn may not seem like a big deal but to me, it shows exactly why this book is such a gem. My mom is religious, has spent a lot of her life closed off to understanding anything that was not hetero-normative (including me), and needs a little help with separating the BS from the facts. She absorbs the negative thoughts of others like a sponge. But the way Gottlieb has explained the logical and emotional reasoning behind the importance of using the correct pronouns, along with the history of many important moments in history, and even discussed some of the science of gender in a very accessible way is a tool that anyone with an open enough mind to not just reject what is 'normal' to them should be able to understand.
The art is adorable and delightful.
I'll probably edit this review later with some favorite quotes.
Big thanks to the author and Chronicle Books for the chance to review an arc of this great book. The opinions are all my own.
Buying a copy for my mom to learn may not seem like a big deal but to me, it shows exactly why this book is such a gem. My mom is religious, has spent a lot of her life closed off to understanding anything that was not hetero-normative (including me), and needs a little help with separating the BS from the facts. She absorbs the negative thoughts of others like a sponge. But the way Gottlieb has explained the logical and emotional reasoning behind the importance of using the correct pronouns, along with the history of many important moments in history, and even discussed some of the science of gender in a very accessible way is a tool that anyone with an open enough mind to not just reject what is 'normal' to them should be able to understand.
The art is adorable and delightful.
I'll probably edit this review later with some favorite quotes.
Big thanks to the author and Chronicle Books for the chance to review an arc of this great book. The opinions are all my own.
November 5, 2019
This book was all I expected it to be and more. At first I was wary about the author stating that she did not have a degree in gender studies, but this concern was decreased a bit when the author said she was a part of the LGBT+ community. This book not only talked about gender identity and sexuality, but also intersectionality, a topic that is frequently disregarded.
Intersectionality studies how different power structures interact to affect the lives of minorities. It highlights how each person is complex and multidimensional, and how those factors can combine to form systemic oppression and erasure. One’s experience in life is never isolated to only one sector of their identity”
Some topics I did not expect to see include
* Feminism and how the movement excludes black women (+ the effects thereof)
* toxic masculinity
* whitewashing
* disproportionate incarceration of black and latino men
* medical bias
* how to use your privilege to stand up for others
* ageism
* mental illness
At the end of the book, the author made a compilation in which she interviewed people and made a concise snapshot of their identity. The author also included pictures and a short about their path to self-acceptance. I will admit to not reading it since I was not in the mood for a biography. I’m sure readers that have a similar struggle will find hope from it. I believe that there is something in this book for everyone.
Intersectionality studies how different power structures interact to affect the lives of minorities. It highlights how each person is complex and multidimensional, and how those factors can combine to form systemic oppression and erasure. One’s experience in life is never isolated to only one sector of their identity”
Some topics I did not expect to see include
* Feminism and how the movement excludes black women (+ the effects thereof)
* toxic masculinity
* whitewashing
* disproportionate incarceration of black and latino men
* medical bias
* how to use your privilege to stand up for others
* ageism
* mental illness
At the end of the book, the author made a compilation in which she interviewed people and made a concise snapshot of their identity. The author also included pictures and a short about their path to self-acceptance. I will admit to not reading it since I was not in the mood for a biography. I’m sure readers that have a similar struggle will find hope from it. I believe that there is something in this book for everyone.
August 20, 2019
Cuttlefish are a bit on the gender fluid side, at least when trying to trick female cuttlefish to mate with them. They will appear as female, one one side, to fool the males to let their guard down. They will appear male, on one side, to trick females.
This book goes through a lot of the terms people are using for being gender neutral, as well as all asepcts of gender, sexuality, and all parts in between.
There are sections on sexism, and straight white males not listening.
And there is also a part where the author shows why she knows about a lot of the things, and how tis as affected her life. She discusses her anorexia, and her top surgery.
Well thought out, a huge asset for any library.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This book goes through a lot of the terms people are using for being gender neutral, as well as all asepcts of gender, sexuality, and all parts in between.
There are sections on sexism, and straight white males not listening.
And there is also a part where the author shows why she knows about a lot of the things, and how tis as affected her life. She discusses her anorexia, and her top surgery.
Well thought out, a huge asset for any library.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
February 3, 2023
I don’t agree with how the author said “men decide women’s reproductive rights” in the gender roles chapter because the decisions of men doesn’t just effect women, it affects trans men and non-binary people too.
And in chapter in the beginning the author was defining drag queens and said they dress up in “woman’s clothes” when the author could’ve just said feminine clothing.
I think there could’ve been better terms used in this book.
2.5
And in chapter in the beginning the author was defining drag queens and said they dress up in “woman’s clothes” when the author could’ve just said feminine clothing.
I think there could’ve been better terms used in this book.
2.5
November 5, 2019
I'm so grateful for Iris Gottleib and this book. This one stays on the coffee table so everyone in my life will be exposed to it. 💞
January 9, 2021
J.K Rowling could do to read this book.
August 8, 2023
Ngay ở Lời mở đầu của cuốn sách, chính Iris Gottlieb cũng đã thẳng thắn thừa nhận “giới” luôn là một khía cạnh vô cùng phức tạp của đời sống con người. Ngay từ khi mới được hình thành, “giới” đơn thuần chỉ là quan niệm có tính xã hội, bởi vậy, những quan niệm về “giới” đều là những quan niệm mang tính “động”, có thể linh hoạt thay đổi để phù hợp với những biến chuyển tiến bộ của nhân loại. Dẫu vậy, con người dường như lại luôn thích “phân loại” tất cả mọi thứ. Hầu hết chúng ta thường ngại thay đổi, bàng quan trước cái mới và do vậy, thường khó trong việc chấp nhận sự khác biệt. Nhìn thấy được thực trạng đó, Iris Gottlieb đã cho ra đời Thấy giới: Seeing gender, một cuốn “cẩm nang” trực quan, dễ hiểu nhưng không kém phần chính xác, có khả năng kiến giải một cách khái lược những “mập mờ” trong quá trình tiếp cận “giới”, cũng như “giải kinh viện” về lịch sử giới cũng như các khái niệm liên quan – tất cả đều được dựa trên nền tảng của sự giao thoa căn tính.
Xuất phát từ thuật ngữ “sự giao thoa” (intersectionality), được đặt ra bởi Tiến sĩ Kimberlé Crenshaw – đồng thời cũng là một nhà hoạt động dân quyền, Iris Gottlieb bắt đầu sử dụng thuật ngữ này để soi chiếu với “thuyết giao thoa” – một học thuyết quan tâm nhiều tới sự tương tác của các cấu trúc quyền lực, sự bện xoắn của các nhóm căn tính, từ đó đặt nền móng để “xem xét mọi mặt của một con người” trong các cuộc thảo luận về các quan niệm và những trải nghiệm về giới.
Hiểu một cách đơn giản, mỗi con người đều là một sự tổng hòa phức tạp của nhiều bản dạng/căn tính. Ta bao nhiêu tuổi? Ta tới từ đâu? Màu da của ta? Năng lực của ta? Tôn giáo của ta? Ta yêu ai? Ta là ai? Tất cả những câu hỏi đó đều nhằm những mục đích như định vị được danh tính của ta trong xã hội, hiểu rõ được những đặc quyền mà danh tính của ta mang tới, cũng như xác định được khả năng áp chế của các danh tính mà ta có đối với những nhóm danh tính khác. Nhìn từ góc độ này, có thể thấy, một người nam dị tính hợp giới da trắng, hẳn nhiên (dù anh ta có nhận thấy hay không) đều sở hữu nhiều đặc quyền hơn hẳn so với một người nữ đồng tính chuyển giới da màu; hoặc thậm chí, trong nội bộ phạm vi một tập hợp giới, chủng tộc và khuynh hướng tính dục tương đương, một người nam dị tính hợp giới da trắng có xuất phát điểm từ một giai tầng kinh tế cao hơn, cũng sẽ có khả năng áp chế nổi trội hơn so với một người nam dị tính hợp giới da trắng thuộc tầng lớp lao động có thu nhập thấp. Chính bởi những lý do đó, sự phân bổ quyền lực và khả năng áp chế của nhóm danh tính này với nhóm danh tính khác trong xã hội loài người chưa bao giờ là bình đẳng. Và chỉ khi chấp nhận được sự thật (phần lớn là đáng buồn này), ta mới có thể đặt những bước chân đầu tiên trong quá trình tranh đấu chống lại sự bất bình đẳng, để có thể “thấy giới” ở những chiều kích đa dạng, phức tạp nhưng cũng hết đỗi đẹp đẽ như chính những gì mà nó vốn là.
Mở đầu Thấy giới: Seeing gender, cũng giống như cách bắt đầu của nhiều tác phẩm phi hư cấu (non-fiction) khác, Iris Gottlieb giới thuyết rất nhiều khái niệm, từ các thuật ngữ khoa học (xu hướng tính dục, bản dạng giới, chuyển giới, hợp giới, phi nhị giới v.v.), thậm chí là các các tiếng lóng (slang): femme (chàng nữ), butch (cô chàng) v.v. Tuy nhiên, điểm khác biệt là, giống như với tiêu đề phụ của cuốn sách: Minh họa bản dạng giới và thể hiện giới, tất cả những thuật ngữ này đều được giải thích bằng những tấm hình minh họa đầy màu sắc, được tạo tác từ chính đôi bàn tay của tác giả. Bám sát tinh thần: dễ nói, dễ hiểu và dễ nhìn, xuyên gần hai trăm trang sách, Iris Gottlieb dẫn dắt người đọc bước vào một chuyến hành trình đầy ắp thông tin nhưng không kém phần thú vị, cùng mổ xẻ những thuật ngữ tưởng chừng như khó hiểu tới không ngờ nhưng thực chất lại vô cùng đơn giản, nhất là khi đã được diễn giải bằng lối hành văn hết sức hóm hỉnh cùng với kênh hình vô cùng trực quan, độc đáo.
Iris Gottlieb tiếp cận giới của góc độ giao thoa căn tính, bởi vậy, ngay sau khi giới thuyết các khái niệm, tác giả bắt đầu đi sâu vào mỗi vấn đề và từ từ khai mở ngoại vi của chúng – tất cả đều được sắp xếp một cách cực kỳ có hệ thống. Cô bắt nguồn từ việc tiếp cận bản dạng giới, những khái niệm chủ chốt như danh xưng, thể hiện giới, rồi từ từ rồi chạm tới các vấn đề góc cạnh hơn như các khuôn mẫu giới, mối liên hệ giữa giới và chủng tộc, giới và tháp tuổi, giới và truyền thông v.v. Theo đó, để khiến cho luận điểm mà mình đưa ra có thêm sức thuyết phục, tác giả còn tỉ mẩn trích dẫn các công trình khoa học của các nhà nghiên cứu đi trước, khiến cho tình trạng thiếu nguồn dẫn (lack of citations) rất dễ gặp phải trong các cuốn phi hư cấu có tính “cẩm nang”, “nhập môn” hoàn toàn không còn là một vấn đề đáng phải lo ngại. Chưa dừng lại ở đó, xen lẫn cùng với việc giới thuyết các khái niệm, Iris Gottlieb còn trình bày một vài fun fact thú vị, hay “khởi xướng” chuyên mục giới thiệu nhân vật nổi tiếng có liên quan trực tiếp tới hệ khái niệm. Đặc biệt, không thuần túy chỉ cung cấp thông tin, ở phần cuối của cuốn sách, Iris Gottlieb còn dành hẳn một chương để chia sẻ trải nghiệm của bản thân cũng như những người xung quanh cô trong quá trình “thấy giới”, khiến cho sách không còn mang nặng tính lý thuyết mà đổi lại, rất đậm tính tự sự, giàu sức lay động và rất có khả năng kết nối.
Nhìn chung, để hiểu rõ về giới và tất tần tật mọi vấn đề liên quan tới nó chưa bao giờ là một việc đơn giản. Nhưng bất kể là vậy, con người luôn là một giống loài ham học và dễ thích ứng. Đối với con người, dường như không có gì là quá khó để hiểu – mà điều quan trọng là chúng ta có sẵn sàng để hiểu hay không. Thấy giới: Seeing gender đã cung cấp một công cụ hết sức trực quan cho những ai mong muốn thấu hiểu và đã sẵn sàng để thấu hiểu. Khi cầm trên tay cuốn sách này, hy vọng rằng, bạn thật sự có khả năng để biến thế giới thành một nơi ấm cúng, đáng sống và tràn đầy tình yêu hơn một trăm ngàn lần./
Xuất phát từ thuật ngữ “sự giao thoa” (intersectionality), được đặt ra bởi Tiến sĩ Kimberlé Crenshaw – đồng thời cũng là một nhà hoạt động dân quyền, Iris Gottlieb bắt đầu sử dụng thuật ngữ này để soi chiếu với “thuyết giao thoa” – một học thuyết quan tâm nhiều tới sự tương tác của các cấu trúc quyền lực, sự bện xoắn của các nhóm căn tính, từ đó đặt nền móng để “xem xét mọi mặt của một con người” trong các cuộc thảo luận về các quan niệm và những trải nghiệm về giới.
Hiểu một cách đơn giản, mỗi con người đều là một sự tổng hòa phức tạp của nhiều bản dạng/căn tính. Ta bao nhiêu tuổi? Ta tới từ đâu? Màu da của ta? Năng lực của ta? Tôn giáo của ta? Ta yêu ai? Ta là ai? Tất cả những câu hỏi đó đều nhằm những mục đích như định vị được danh tính của ta trong xã hội, hiểu rõ được những đặc quyền mà danh tính của ta mang tới, cũng như xác định được khả năng áp chế của các danh tính mà ta có đối với những nhóm danh tính khác. Nhìn từ góc độ này, có thể thấy, một người nam dị tính hợp giới da trắng, hẳn nhiên (dù anh ta có nhận thấy hay không) đều sở hữu nhiều đặc quyền hơn hẳn so với một người nữ đồng tính chuyển giới da màu; hoặc thậm chí, trong nội bộ phạm vi một tập hợp giới, chủng tộc và khuynh hướng tính dục tương đương, một người nam dị tính hợp giới da trắng có xuất phát điểm từ một giai tầng kinh tế cao hơn, cũng sẽ có khả năng áp chế nổi trội hơn so với một người nam dị tính hợp giới da trắng thuộc tầng lớp lao động có thu nhập thấp. Chính bởi những lý do đó, sự phân bổ quyền lực và khả năng áp chế của nhóm danh tính này với nhóm danh tính khác trong xã hội loài người chưa bao giờ là bình đẳng. Và chỉ khi chấp nhận được sự thật (phần lớn là đáng buồn này), ta mới có thể đặt những bước chân đầu tiên trong quá trình tranh đấu chống lại sự bất bình đẳng, để có thể “thấy giới” ở những chiều kích đa dạng, phức tạp nhưng cũng hết đỗi đẹp đẽ như chính những gì mà nó vốn là.
Mở đầu Thấy giới: Seeing gender, cũng giống như cách bắt đầu của nhiều tác phẩm phi hư cấu (non-fiction) khác, Iris Gottlieb giới thuyết rất nhiều khái niệm, từ các thuật ngữ khoa học (xu hướng tính dục, bản dạng giới, chuyển giới, hợp giới, phi nhị giới v.v.), thậm chí là các các tiếng lóng (slang): femme (chàng nữ), butch (cô chàng) v.v. Tuy nhiên, điểm khác biệt là, giống như với tiêu đề phụ của cuốn sách: Minh họa bản dạng giới và thể hiện giới, tất cả những thuật ngữ này đều được giải thích bằng những tấm hình minh họa đầy màu sắc, được tạo tác từ chính đôi bàn tay của tác giả. Bám sát tinh thần: dễ nói, dễ hiểu và dễ nhìn, xuyên gần hai trăm trang sách, Iris Gottlieb dẫn dắt người đọc bước vào một chuyến hành trình đầy ắp thông tin nhưng không kém phần thú vị, cùng mổ xẻ những thuật ngữ tưởng chừng như khó hiểu tới không ngờ nhưng thực chất lại vô cùng đơn giản, nhất là khi đã được diễn giải bằng lối hành văn hết sức hóm hỉnh cùng với kênh hình vô cùng trực quan, độc đáo.
Iris Gottlieb tiếp cận giới của góc độ giao thoa căn tính, bởi vậy, ngay sau khi giới thuyết các khái niệm, tác giả bắt đầu đi sâu vào mỗi vấn đề và từ từ khai mở ngoại vi của chúng – tất cả đều được sắp xếp một cách cực kỳ có hệ thống. Cô bắt nguồn từ việc tiếp cận bản dạng giới, những khái niệm chủ chốt như danh xưng, thể hiện giới, rồi từ từ rồi chạm tới các vấn đề góc cạnh hơn như các khuôn mẫu giới, mối liên hệ giữa giới và chủng tộc, giới và tháp tuổi, giới và truyền thông v.v. Theo đó, để khiến cho luận điểm mà mình đưa ra có thêm sức thuyết phục, tác giả còn tỉ mẩn trích dẫn các công trình khoa học của các nhà nghiên cứu đi trước, khiến cho tình trạng thiếu nguồn dẫn (lack of citations) rất dễ gặp phải trong các cuốn phi hư cấu có tính “cẩm nang”, “nhập môn” hoàn toàn không còn là một vấn đề đáng phải lo ngại. Chưa dừng lại ở đó, xen lẫn cùng với việc giới thuyết các khái niệm, Iris Gottlieb còn trình bày một vài fun fact thú vị, hay “khởi xướng” chuyên mục giới thiệu nhân vật nổi tiếng có liên quan trực tiếp tới hệ khái niệm. Đặc biệt, không thuần túy chỉ cung cấp thông tin, ở phần cuối của cuốn sách, Iris Gottlieb còn dành hẳn một chương để chia sẻ trải nghiệm của bản thân cũng như những người xung quanh cô trong quá trình “thấy giới”, khiến cho sách không còn mang nặng tính lý thuyết mà đổi lại, rất đậm tính tự sự, giàu sức lay động và rất có khả năng kết nối.
Nhìn chung, để hiểu rõ về giới và tất tần tật mọi vấn đề liên quan tới nó chưa bao giờ là một việc đơn giản. Nhưng bất kể là vậy, con người luôn là một giống loài ham học và dễ thích ứng. Đối với con người, dường như không có gì là quá khó để hiểu – mà điều quan trọng là chúng ta có sẵn sàng để hiểu hay không. Thấy giới: Seeing gender đã cung cấp một công cụ hết sức trực quan cho những ai mong muốn thấu hiểu và đã sẵn sàng để thấu hiểu. Khi cầm trên tay cuốn sách này, hy vọng rằng, bạn thật sự có khả năng để biến thế giới thành một nơi ấm cúng, đáng sống và tràn đầy tình yêu hơn một trăm ngàn lần./
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