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Rethinking Gender: An Illustrated Exploration
A lively, informative, and engaging guide to gender by an author-illustrator who helps readers understand the multiplicity of answers to “What even is gender?”
Queer, cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, androgynous, maverique, intergender, genderfluid. Louie and their cat (a.k.a. “Cat”) take you on a journey through the world of gender—without claiming to have it all figured out or knowing the perfect definition for this widely complex subject. Gender is tricky to understand because it’s a social construct intersecting with many other parts of our identity, including class, race, age, religion. For a long time, people thought of gender as male/female, pirate/princess, sports/shopping. Now, we’re starting to understand it’s not that simple. That’s what this book is figuring out what gender means, one human being at a time, and giving us new ways to let the world know who we are.
Boy, girl, either/or, neither/nor, everything in gender is a spectrum, and it’s hard to know where you fit, especially when your position isn’t necessarily fixed—and the spectrum keeps expanding. That’s where Rethinking Gender can it gives you a toolbox for empathy, understanding, and self-exploration. Louie’s journey includes a deep dive into the historical context of LGBTQIA+ rights activism and the evolution of gender discourse, politics, and laws—but it also explores these ideas through the diversity of expressions and experiences of people today.
In Rethinking Gender Louie offers a real-world take on what it means to be yourself, see yourself, and see someone else for who they are, too.
Questions explored in Rethinking Gender
Queer, cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, androgynous, maverique, intergender, genderfluid. Louie and their cat (a.k.a. “Cat”) take you on a journey through the world of gender—without claiming to have it all figured out or knowing the perfect definition for this widely complex subject. Gender is tricky to understand because it’s a social construct intersecting with many other parts of our identity, including class, race, age, religion. For a long time, people thought of gender as male/female, pirate/princess, sports/shopping. Now, we’re starting to understand it’s not that simple. That’s what this book is figuring out what gender means, one human being at a time, and giving us new ways to let the world know who we are.
Boy, girl, either/or, neither/nor, everything in gender is a spectrum, and it’s hard to know where you fit, especially when your position isn’t necessarily fixed—and the spectrum keeps expanding. That’s where Rethinking Gender can it gives you a toolbox for empathy, understanding, and self-exploration. Louie’s journey includes a deep dive into the historical context of LGBTQIA+ rights activism and the evolution of gender discourse, politics, and laws—but it also explores these ideas through the diversity of expressions and experiences of people today.
In Rethinking Gender Louie offers a real-world take on what it means to be yourself, see yourself, and see someone else for who they are, too.
Questions explored in Rethinking Gender
232 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2022
12 people are currently reading
1844 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
August 12, 2022
A book that means well, tries well, and does pretty well. But it becomes too ambitious, and I fear a part of its intent will be lost because of the complexity of its content.
Originally published in German as “Gender-Kram. Illustrationen und Stimmen zu Geschlecht” in 2020, this is the English edition due to be published in November 2022.
The author-illustrator created this book as a part of their master’s degree. I liked the way they introduced the purpose of this book as a map of the landscape of gender to help you empathise with others as well as to help reflect on your gender.
The book begins with a powerful introduction on how knowing genders is relevant in today’s age. It also covers the important concept of intersectionality, which correctly states that gender experiences are impacted by sexism as well as racism, classism and ableism. For instance, the experience of a Black lesbian woman will not be the same as that of a white woman in a wheelchair. The book also talks about how assigned genders at birth can be dangerous to a person’s gender identity as well as mental health.
Once the background to understanding the concept of gender is set, the book moves on to covering details of the various acknowledged genders. By now, many of us are aware that gender isn’t a binary but a spectrum, something the rainbow flag depicts so accurately. The book covers a whole range of possible genders, ranging from the traditional man and woman, to the somewhat more known transgender and androgyne, to the almost unknown such as maverique and graygender. Each of the genders is explained in brief, followed by a short first-person experience of people identifying as that gender.
Finally, the book moves on to what you can do with the information you have gained access to. It includes not just how to understand your gender identity but also be a better ally. There is also a list of helpful resources at the end.
There are many things to appreciate about this graphic novel, even beyond the information it provides. It stimulates you into questioning your own assumptions about gender. It throws across several thought-provoking ideas such as linking gender to societal capitalism. It is also fair to cis people also by acknowledging the roles cis men/ women are forced to play to cater to social ideas about their gender identities. (At the risk of getting brickbats, let me say that I was really grateful for this last point. Not many books on gender talk about cis identities in detail. It is like, just because we fit under the supposed “heteronormative”, we are the villains. Sometimes, we are, but not all of us are.)
Why, then, did I not go higher in my rating? The main reason is that the style of putting across the information was overwhelming. I did learn a lot about gender identities, but to be perfectly honest, I am a lot more confused than I was before. Though I took my time with this read, it was still too intense. I see how it would have made for a brilliant research paper. But if the purpose of this book was not only to speak to non-heteronormative people about how to identify and accept their gender identity but also to communicate to cis people the importance of being more aware, then it should have been more accessible to the layperson.
Just a few months ago, I had read another graphic novel on the same topic of gender identities. Rhea Ewing’s outstanding “Fine: A Comic About Gender” also spoke of the varied gender terms and people’s experiences living outside of or in between the traditional gender binary. It was comprehensive and yet I never felt like the content became too convoluted. If this graphic novel had aimed at a similar level of being approachable, it would have worked even better.
I am not denying the importance of the content. But maybe, it will click more easily if taken in small doses, a few pages at a time. The author also suggests you take in the sections that appeal to you as and when you want to read them, and not necessarily in the sequential order. As an ARC reader, I didn’t have that luxury, but I can see how that method will work far better for this book.
Overall, a resourceful book that depicts how all genders have to be understood in apposition rather than in opposition. The days of the gender binary are over. In this century, with the concept of gender being as fluid as water, such books help us to begin understanding the range of genders and shattering our illusions about what we think we know about genders.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to MIT Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Rethinking Gender: An Illustrated Exploration”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Originally published in German as “Gender-Kram. Illustrationen und Stimmen zu Geschlecht” in 2020, this is the English edition due to be published in November 2022.
The author-illustrator created this book as a part of their master’s degree. I liked the way they introduced the purpose of this book as a map of the landscape of gender to help you empathise with others as well as to help reflect on your gender.
The book begins with a powerful introduction on how knowing genders is relevant in today’s age. It also covers the important concept of intersectionality, which correctly states that gender experiences are impacted by sexism as well as racism, classism and ableism. For instance, the experience of a Black lesbian woman will not be the same as that of a white woman in a wheelchair. The book also talks about how assigned genders at birth can be dangerous to a person’s gender identity as well as mental health.
Once the background to understanding the concept of gender is set, the book moves on to covering details of the various acknowledged genders. By now, many of us are aware that gender isn’t a binary but a spectrum, something the rainbow flag depicts so accurately. The book covers a whole range of possible genders, ranging from the traditional man and woman, to the somewhat more known transgender and androgyne, to the almost unknown such as maverique and graygender. Each of the genders is explained in brief, followed by a short first-person experience of people identifying as that gender.
Finally, the book moves on to what you can do with the information you have gained access to. It includes not just how to understand your gender identity but also be a better ally. There is also a list of helpful resources at the end.
There are many things to appreciate about this graphic novel, even beyond the information it provides. It stimulates you into questioning your own assumptions about gender. It throws across several thought-provoking ideas such as linking gender to societal capitalism. It is also fair to cis people also by acknowledging the roles cis men/ women are forced to play to cater to social ideas about their gender identities. (At the risk of getting brickbats, let me say that I was really grateful for this last point. Not many books on gender talk about cis identities in detail. It is like, just because we fit under the supposed “heteronormative”, we are the villains. Sometimes, we are, but not all of us are.)
Why, then, did I not go higher in my rating? The main reason is that the style of putting across the information was overwhelming. I did learn a lot about gender identities, but to be perfectly honest, I am a lot more confused than I was before. Though I took my time with this read, it was still too intense. I see how it would have made for a brilliant research paper. But if the purpose of this book was not only to speak to non-heteronormative people about how to identify and accept their gender identity but also to communicate to cis people the importance of being more aware, then it should have been more accessible to the layperson.
Just a few months ago, I had read another graphic novel on the same topic of gender identities. Rhea Ewing’s outstanding “Fine: A Comic About Gender” also spoke of the varied gender terms and people’s experiences living outside of or in between the traditional gender binary. It was comprehensive and yet I never felt like the content became too convoluted. If this graphic novel had aimed at a similar level of being approachable, it would have worked even better.
I am not denying the importance of the content. But maybe, it will click more easily if taken in small doses, a few pages at a time. The author also suggests you take in the sections that appeal to you as and when you want to read them, and not necessarily in the sequential order. As an ARC reader, I didn’t have that luxury, but I can see how that method will work far better for this book.
Overall, a resourceful book that depicts how all genders have to be understood in apposition rather than in opposition. The days of the gender binary are over. In this century, with the concept of gender being as fluid as water, such books help us to begin understanding the range of genders and shattering our illusions about what we think we know about genders.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to MIT Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Rethinking Gender: An Illustrated Exploration”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
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December 14, 2022Thank you net galley for sending me a free copy of Rethinking Gender: An Illustrated Exploration
This was one of my first non fiction reads,and I am extremely glad I chose it,due to how easy it was to read. The use of scientific terms in regards of gender,was balanced out with the illustrations which made the book more easily understood. The mention and elaboration in regards of how capitalization,sexism,racism and disabilities also play part in ones gender, and how they choose to perform it,was also incredibly well written. The author made sure to also refer to historical events, in regards of intersexuality,trans rights ect. as well as include real life experiences of people talking about their own gender, and discrimination they have faced.
The book overall managed to give the reader the sense of comfort and safety to explore while simultaneously teaching them information in regards of self identity. I wish the writer would of included a bit more information about different genders but other than that,this was an excellent read that I absolutely recommend for anyone trying to understand more about gender and it's roles in our society.
This was one of my first non fiction reads,and I am extremely glad I chose it,due to how easy it was to read. The use of scientific terms in regards of gender,was balanced out with the illustrations which made the book more easily understood. The mention and elaboration in regards of how capitalization,sexism,racism and disabilities also play part in ones gender, and how they choose to perform it,was also incredibly well written. The author made sure to also refer to historical events, in regards of intersexuality,trans rights ect. as well as include real life experiences of people talking about their own gender, and discrimination they have faced.
The book overall managed to give the reader the sense of comfort and safety to explore while simultaneously teaching them information in regards of self identity. I wish the writer would of included a bit more information about different genders but other than that,this was an excellent read that I absolutely recommend for anyone trying to understand more about gender and it's roles in our society.
November 28, 2022
This book is a lovely illustrated guide to gender by the talented Louie Läuger (they/them) exploring gender identity, intersectionality, queer history, activism, and more.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and as a reader/blogger who is passionate about diverse media, I thought it was fantastic to see this handy guide excellently explore these different and complex aspects of gender. As a cis woman, I learned a lot about different transgender identities, and also lots about the history of intersex people (which was particularly fascinating!) It's made me think more about my own gender identity as well as how to be a better ally and be more inclusive in day-to-day life.
The book doesn't just talk about gender identities though, it also discusses intersectionality, queer history, politics, activism, expression, and more. There were also lots of parts with prompts where I could write down my own thoughts and reflect, which was really cool!
I also appreciated the diversity and discussions of intersectionality within the book, looking at experiences of trans people of colour, disabled people, etc. This, alongside the gorgeous illustrations, was brilliant!
Overall, this is a great illustrated exploration to gender, helpful for beginners or even those wanting to explore their own identity/understand others better, or even just as a good-old read.
Thanks so much to MIT Press for sending me over this copy (all thoughts are my own and are honest)
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and as a reader/blogger who is passionate about diverse media, I thought it was fantastic to see this handy guide excellently explore these different and complex aspects of gender. As a cis woman, I learned a lot about different transgender identities, and also lots about the history of intersex people (which was particularly fascinating!) It's made me think more about my own gender identity as well as how to be a better ally and be more inclusive in day-to-day life.
The book doesn't just talk about gender identities though, it also discusses intersectionality, queer history, politics, activism, expression, and more. There were also lots of parts with prompts where I could write down my own thoughts and reflect, which was really cool!
I also appreciated the diversity and discussions of intersectionality within the book, looking at experiences of trans people of colour, disabled people, etc. This, alongside the gorgeous illustrations, was brilliant!
Overall, this is a great illustrated exploration to gender, helpful for beginners or even those wanting to explore their own identity/understand others better, or even just as a good-old read.
Thanks so much to MIT Press for sending me over this copy (all thoughts are my own and are honest)
August 30, 2022
-Disclaimer: I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.-
Skimmed 47%
The format is extremely hard to read. Gives me a migraine. I am not the target audience. The art is ugly. The information is repetitive and dull put. Other books are better for the topic.
Skimmed 47%
The format is extremely hard to read. Gives me a migraine. I am not the target audience. The art is ugly. The information is repetitive and dull put. Other books are better for the topic.
July 29, 2022
Rethinking Gender: An Illustrated Exploration by Louie Lauger
Originally published as: Gender-Kram: Illustrationen und Stimmen zum Geschlecht
Edition: Ebook, 222 pages, on sale November 2022
Disclaimer: I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!
Have you ever heard a term for a gender and you didn't know what to do with it? Have you asked yourself if you are not cis? And if the answer is yes, what is the gender that feels right to you? Is it safe to invite others to know about your not-cis gender? And what is gender after all?!
Well, Louie Lauger's beautifully illustrated "guide" can answer a lot of questions! (I put guide in "" because as Louie says themself these are all opinions and knowledge that they collected and not everything works for anyone due to cultural background or other reasons.)
I am nonbinary and I thought I had myself educated on that matter - but dear, was I wrong!!! I learned so much new stuff and I loved it.
Louie explains the social construct gender, the different kind of genders and how society deals with it in a very understandable way.
This book was created as part of Louie's masters degree and so it is very thought through and well researched. It includes a lot of opinion and life story of different people and shows a broadly defined spectrum about gender.
The book has a lot of space for your own annotations and thoughts which I liked a lot.
This book teaches you stuff on eye level with a lot of love and positive messages.
My only problem with it was that I would have really preference a printed version because of the possibility of annotations and because sometimes my phone screen was too small to read the font comfortably (but we can zoom so that's a first world problem, okay?!).
4.5/5 ⭐️
Originally published as: Gender-Kram: Illustrationen und Stimmen zum Geschlecht
Edition: Ebook, 222 pages, on sale November 2022
Disclaimer: I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!
Have you ever heard a term for a gender and you didn't know what to do with it? Have you asked yourself if you are not cis? And if the answer is yes, what is the gender that feels right to you? Is it safe to invite others to know about your not-cis gender? And what is gender after all?!
Well, Louie Lauger's beautifully illustrated "guide" can answer a lot of questions! (I put guide in "" because as Louie says themself these are all opinions and knowledge that they collected and not everything works for anyone due to cultural background or other reasons.)
I am nonbinary and I thought I had myself educated on that matter - but dear, was I wrong!!! I learned so much new stuff and I loved it.
Louie explains the social construct gender, the different kind of genders and how society deals with it in a very understandable way.
This book was created as part of Louie's masters degree and so it is very thought through and well researched. It includes a lot of opinion and life story of different people and shows a broadly defined spectrum about gender.
The book has a lot of space for your own annotations and thoughts which I liked a lot.
This book teaches you stuff on eye level with a lot of love and positive messages.
My only problem with it was that I would have really preference a printed version because of the possibility of annotations and because sometimes my phone screen was too small to read the font comfortably (but we can zoom so that's a first world problem, okay?!).
4.5/5 ⭐️
June 18, 2022
thank you to netgalley for an e-arc of rethinking gender!
i absolutely loved this book, the illustrations, the personal anecdotes, other peoples experiences with their own gender and the level of education that is in this book makes me feel so seen and accepted within my own gender identity. i cannot wait for this book to be published to show my family to use it as a tool to help them come to terms with my identity, as i have failed to explain it properly in the past, but this book perfectly word’s everything i have been trying to say.
i also loved the aspect of the interactive pages, and the room to make notes after each chapter, and feel that that is a very useful and valuable part of the layout of the book, as gender is a complicated thing to come to terms with, and being given the opportunity to lay out your own thoughts is an amazing idea :)
10/10 would recommend!
- lottie 🌻
i absolutely loved this book, the illustrations, the personal anecdotes, other peoples experiences with their own gender and the level of education that is in this book makes me feel so seen and accepted within my own gender identity. i cannot wait for this book to be published to show my family to use it as a tool to help them come to terms with my identity, as i have failed to explain it properly in the past, but this book perfectly word’s everything i have been trying to say.
i also loved the aspect of the interactive pages, and the room to make notes after each chapter, and feel that that is a very useful and valuable part of the layout of the book, as gender is a complicated thing to come to terms with, and being given the opportunity to lay out your own thoughts is an amazing idea :)
10/10 would recommend!
- lottie 🌻
July 25, 2022
A good layout of both the basics and complexities of gender, Redefining Gender will make a great resource for those just beginning or deepening their understanding of others and themselves. I think it will be a good educational resource for late high school and college students studying gender. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of citations, both from a research standpoint and wanting to read some of the studies mentioned.
While I appreciate the diversity in examples, things like having Black "characters" say they're from the ghetto and starring out the n-word was unnecessary. I understand that the author may lack some cultural context and nuance in that department, as they openly admit in their own intro.
While I appreciate the diversity in examples, things like having Black "characters" say they're from the ghetto and starring out the n-word was unnecessary. I understand that the author may lack some cultural context and nuance in that department, as they openly admit in their own intro.
August 10, 2022
Let’s start with the most important thing: this is a good book.
Now I’ll dive into my rating. I think this is an excellent workbook, if high schools had a good gender studies and diversity acceptance program I would 100% recommend this book as a textbook/exercise tool.
It’s cute, colorful, full of resources and different experiences and it has drawings of the author’s cat (which I’m sure we can all appreciate). There’a also open discussion of intersectionality, which is great!
However, even though I personally liked it a lot, I got a feeling it may not be the best option for neurodivergent people. Personally, I struggled a bit with all the colors and balloons, practically losing focus every sentence. The text font also is kind of annoying in long paragraphs. But then again, at the end I managed to read it all and enjoyed it.
My only other doubts concern the several experiences from people of all genders that the book shows. While it’s perfectly understandable for trans and non-binary folks that gender really is confusing and diverse, and that’s okay, and we are used to seeing people with the same gender identity having polar opposite experiences, I’m afraid that showing them to the cis public will confuse them and reinforce the idea that “we’re making that up”. Which, obviously, is not true. But people judge what they don’t understand so yeah, I’m concerned by what cis readers might think.
I’m afraid I’m being too harsh on a book that, once again, I enjoyed. However, it’s important to have the talk regarding how a book with this amount of good and diverse representation might backfire in the hands of the wrong kind of readers.
Now I’ll dive into my rating. I think this is an excellent workbook, if high schools had a good gender studies and diversity acceptance program I would 100% recommend this book as a textbook/exercise tool.
It’s cute, colorful, full of resources and different experiences and it has drawings of the author’s cat (which I’m sure we can all appreciate). There’a also open discussion of intersectionality, which is great!
However, even though I personally liked it a lot, I got a feeling it may not be the best option for neurodivergent people. Personally, I struggled a bit with all the colors and balloons, practically losing focus every sentence. The text font also is kind of annoying in long paragraphs. But then again, at the end I managed to read it all and enjoyed it.
My only other doubts concern the several experiences from people of all genders that the book shows. While it’s perfectly understandable for trans and non-binary folks that gender really is confusing and diverse, and that’s okay, and we are used to seeing people with the same gender identity having polar opposite experiences, I’m afraid that showing them to the cis public will confuse them and reinforce the idea that “we’re making that up”. Which, obviously, is not true. But people judge what they don’t understand so yeah, I’m concerned by what cis readers might think.
I’m afraid I’m being too harsh on a book that, once again, I enjoyed. However, it’s important to have the talk regarding how a book with this amount of good and diverse representation might backfire in the hands of the wrong kind of readers.
August 8, 2022
Reading this felt like having a conversation with someone who you are close to, someone you trust. Everything is shown in a way that is very easy to understand. From the words to the pictures to the comics it was very simple and useful.
And I learnt a lot by reading this; the author showed us how to accept and love someone who is coming out, how just because we are assigned a certain gender at birth it's always not who we actually are, and how society has a certain way of how girls are supposed to act and how boys are supposed to act and much more.
The author also left spaces for us to write our personal thoughts and feelings and I wish that I had a print copy so I can write and annotate coz it's impossible to do it with the ebook:(
Also coz it's an ebook and the book is illustrated like a comic some parts overlapped with others and it was very confusing to read at times coz two sentences would be intertwined.
But overall I really liked this! Highly recommend checking this out!
And I learnt a lot by reading this; the author showed us how to accept and love someone who is coming out, how just because we are assigned a certain gender at birth it's always not who we actually are, and how society has a certain way of how girls are supposed to act and how boys are supposed to act and much more.
The author also left spaces for us to write our personal thoughts and feelings and I wish that I had a print copy so I can write and annotate coz it's impossible to do it with the ebook:(
Also coz it's an ebook and the book is illustrated like a comic some parts overlapped with others and it was very confusing to read at times coz two sentences would be intertwined.
But overall I really liked this! Highly recommend checking this out!
October 20, 2022
This was a graphic novel, but not in the way most graphic novels are. This was more of an illustrated book because there was tons of information. This was a really good book to educate yourself with on gender this had history, definition of words and terms, and tons of useful information but in an approachable way.
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
August 25, 2022
Wow. I came into reading this thinking that it would be a simple introduction into gender, but I was wrong. This is a complete and thorough dive into gender, it's place in society, and how we think about it. As a member of the LGBT+ community for many years, even I learned new things from this book. If you or someone you know wants/needs an all-encompassing look at gender, or if you are a professor needing a book for a gender studies class, I wholly recommend this title.
November 25, 2023
Easily approachable and a good starting place for someone who doesn’t know anything (me).
September 22, 2022
I received this ARC through netgalley.
Rethinking Gender will not be an easy book to read simply because this is choke full of information that is hard to absorb for people not familiar with LGBTQ terms. But no one can say the author didn't try their best. I would say I already know and I am familiar with 80% of terms used in this book and it still gave me a headache. Illustrations and cursive letters are not the way to go with these. A proper book formatting would be better. The pdf format with the words being stylized and small make it hard to read. And the illustrations didn't make the topics easier to absorb: it's just one more thing I have to concentrate on. But valiant effort. I really appreciate it.
Rethinking Gender will not be an easy book to read simply because this is choke full of information that is hard to absorb for people not familiar with LGBTQ terms. But no one can say the author didn't try their best. I would say I already know and I am familiar with 80% of terms used in this book and it still gave me a headache. Illustrations and cursive letters are not the way to go with these. A proper book formatting would be better. The pdf format with the words being stylized and small make it hard to read. And the illustrations didn't make the topics easier to absorb: it's just one more thing I have to concentrate on. But valiant effort. I really appreciate it.
February 18, 2023
Really good, both general and specific overview of a lot of information, and I loved how the drawings made everything informal and accessible.
September 14, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the copy of this for an honest review!
I found that the author here was thorough and honest in their work. This read was made less of a hassle to read for those that have difficulty focusing on data and statistics with the help of their illustrations. They made a difficult topic more understandable without being too vague in explanations, even with English being their second language.
I like the inclusion of opportunities to reflect ourselves if this were a physical copy I may have done so myself.
I would suggest having consistency with the fonts chosen, and there were a few typos I caught while reading as well. Though I enjoyed the illustrations, they are somewhat distorted in quality and I assume that is because of the NetGalley rendering but I could be wrong!
This is, as I said, comprehensive but I think those who are questioning gender or have misunderstandings surrounding the concept of gender would find this useful. I would not likely include this in my classroom because it does go into A LOT of detail on some topics better suited for a high school classroom or above.
I found that the author here was thorough and honest in their work. This read was made less of a hassle to read for those that have difficulty focusing on data and statistics with the help of their illustrations. They made a difficult topic more understandable without being too vague in explanations, even with English being their second language.
I like the inclusion of opportunities to reflect ourselves if this were a physical copy I may have done so myself.
I would suggest having consistency with the fonts chosen, and there were a few typos I caught while reading as well. Though I enjoyed the illustrations, they are somewhat distorted in quality and I assume that is because of the NetGalley rendering but I could be wrong!
This is, as I said, comprehensive but I think those who are questioning gender or have misunderstandings surrounding the concept of gender would find this useful. I would not likely include this in my classroom because it does go into A LOT of detail on some topics better suited for a high school classroom or above.
October 26, 2022
3.5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this book.
This was very informative, but difficult to read at times because of the font. I appreciated the way the book was structured tho!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this book.
This was very informative, but difficult to read at times because of the font. I appreciated the way the book was structured tho!
October 31, 2022
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rethinking Gender is an illustrated non-fiction book about gender as a whole, so like gender identity, gender expression, etc.
I enjoyed this book. It had some interesting points in it. I quite liked the illustrations. I liked the different parts and how the author invited us to write in the book. However, I felt like it sometimes was a bit too much information at once, and it kind of lost me.
Still, this was a very good and pretty informative book. I liked that we had people of many gender identities speaking for themselves. I would definitely recommend this to someone interested in the subject.
Rethinking Gender is an illustrated non-fiction book about gender as a whole, so like gender identity, gender expression, etc.
I enjoyed this book. It had some interesting points in it. I quite liked the illustrations. I liked the different parts and how the author invited us to write in the book. However, I felt like it sometimes was a bit too much information at once, and it kind of lost me.
Still, this was a very good and pretty informative book. I liked that we had people of many gender identities speaking for themselves. I would definitely recommend this to someone interested in the subject.
September 28, 2023
4.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and MIT Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This an informative and entertaining guide to gender and identity from a European perspective. The author starts at the beginning and provides an inclusive definition of terms and how to be respectful to others especially as this space is constantly changing and discovering. My ebook had issues and I was not able to read several pages yet the message was still clear for those sections. The author also includes illustrations that lighten the mood and represent the different ways people may express their gender. I learned alot and recommend it to others if you're interested in learning more about topic.
November 9, 2022
I loved this book. I'm generally not one for non-fiction, but Lauger has taken a really important discussion and made it both approachable and incredibly interesting.
Rethinking Gender is a primer/exploration of gender with an absolutely charming art style and illustrations throughout. Peppered with some history, numerous quotes and experiences from the entire gender spectrum, Lauger herself acts as our trusty narrator throughout the book. (Along with her absolutely charming cat, Cat, who I am now in love with).
The book also acts a bit of a notebook for the reader's own thoughts and experiences, with each section ending with a prompt and place to keep notes.
I think this book is a really helpful toolkit/exploration of gender and is a really important read for anyone and everyone (whether questioning gender or just wanting to be a human who better understands other humans). The only criticism I have is that some genders are really quickly introduced and left me with further questions, but this is more of a primer, so that can't really be avoided.
Rethinking Gender is a primer/exploration of gender with an absolutely charming art style and illustrations throughout. Peppered with some history, numerous quotes and experiences from the entire gender spectrum, Lauger herself acts as our trusty narrator throughout the book. (Along with her absolutely charming cat, Cat, who I am now in love with).
The book also acts a bit of a notebook for the reader's own thoughts and experiences, with each section ending with a prompt and place to keep notes.
I think this book is a really helpful toolkit/exploration of gender and is a really important read for anyone and everyone (whether questioning gender or just wanting to be a human who better understands other humans). The only criticism I have is that some genders are really quickly introduced and left me with further questions, but this is more of a primer, so that can't really be avoided.
October 14, 2022
I’m not sure what to make of this book. It’s supposedly for adults but looks and reads as if it’s for a teen audience. In the opening chapters, the material is very basic. Like, if most people don’t already know this, then I’m shockingly woke for a straight, cis, white Baby Boomer. The content gets more complex as the book progresses, but the authorial tone is still that of an expert speaking to a group of neophytes. When in fact, I’ve been aware of some of the horrors faced by intersex people since before this author was born (presumably, given that this book was written as part of their master’s thesis).
I feel like this book was written to showcase the author’s expertise, without much thought given to what the audience needs to know, or even who the audience is. Content and presentation requirements vary based on whether the target audience is teens, beginner-level adults, or more advanced adults. A book written for everyone is ultimately a book for no one.
This ended up being a DNF for me on page 50 due to numerous issues.
- The word “boobs” is slang and potentially offensive. I understand that English isn’t the author’s first language, but surely the editor should have corrected this?
- The author claims “Women today tend to be smaller than men because they did less physical labor in the past.” This sounds like Lamarckian evolution, which was discredited a hundred years ago. While epigenetics can play a role, parents don’t pass on traits for smaller stature based on the amount of physical labor they do in their lifetimes. Larger bodies retain heat better, so in Northern climates during the Viking era, women with larger bodies were probably more likely to survive to adulthood. That could account to some degree for the smaller difference in size between men and women. Another possibility is sexual selection. If males preferred taller women, then the genes of shorter women would be less likely to be passed on.
- Studies consistently show gender-based toy preferences among very young children. Why? We don’t know. It’s impossible to raise children in gender-neutral environments. Whether the differences are based on nature, nurture, or a combination is unknown. This book suggests that socialization is the reason, when in fact biology may play a role.
- The following claim confused me: “Not too long ago, the idea of sex differences in the brain was discredited.” Which specific idea? The latest research I’ve seen reveals that some sex-based differences in the brain exist. Estrogen and testosterone affect the brain differently. Was one specific study unable to be replicated? This claim is made without explanation or supporting data.
- The claim that our gender roles are the result of capitalism is preposterous. Capitalism is a recent development. A gender-based division of labor has existed for as long as the species has existed. Females give birth to and nurse babies. Males don’t. Babies during the Paleolithic were probably nursed longer than in the modern world. Gender-based roles exist because of biology. Has industrialization contributed to current gender expectations? Yes. But capitalism can exist without industrialization, and industrialization can exist without capitalism.
- The layout makes the book impossible to read using text-to-speech (hello, accessibility). Surely the people at MIT should be able to figure this out, but university presses tend to be really terrible at this.
Most of the book’s content seems good, but with so many errors, I can’t trust it. I hope the errors will be corrected before publication. As is, the book is false, misleading, and naive.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I feel like this book was written to showcase the author’s expertise, without much thought given to what the audience needs to know, or even who the audience is. Content and presentation requirements vary based on whether the target audience is teens, beginner-level adults, or more advanced adults. A book written for everyone is ultimately a book for no one.
This ended up being a DNF for me on page 50 due to numerous issues.
- The word “boobs” is slang and potentially offensive. I understand that English isn’t the author’s first language, but surely the editor should have corrected this?
- The author claims “Women today tend to be smaller than men because they did less physical labor in the past.” This sounds like Lamarckian evolution, which was discredited a hundred years ago. While epigenetics can play a role, parents don’t pass on traits for smaller stature based on the amount of physical labor they do in their lifetimes. Larger bodies retain heat better, so in Northern climates during the Viking era, women with larger bodies were probably more likely to survive to adulthood. That could account to some degree for the smaller difference in size between men and women. Another possibility is sexual selection. If males preferred taller women, then the genes of shorter women would be less likely to be passed on.
- Studies consistently show gender-based toy preferences among very young children. Why? We don’t know. It’s impossible to raise children in gender-neutral environments. Whether the differences are based on nature, nurture, or a combination is unknown. This book suggests that socialization is the reason, when in fact biology may play a role.
- The following claim confused me: “Not too long ago, the idea of sex differences in the brain was discredited.” Which specific idea? The latest research I’ve seen reveals that some sex-based differences in the brain exist. Estrogen and testosterone affect the brain differently. Was one specific study unable to be replicated? This claim is made without explanation or supporting data.
- The claim that our gender roles are the result of capitalism is preposterous. Capitalism is a recent development. A gender-based division of labor has existed for as long as the species has existed. Females give birth to and nurse babies. Males don’t. Babies during the Paleolithic were probably nursed longer than in the modern world. Gender-based roles exist because of biology. Has industrialization contributed to current gender expectations? Yes. But capitalism can exist without industrialization, and industrialization can exist without capitalism.
- The layout makes the book impossible to read using text-to-speech (hello, accessibility). Surely the people at MIT should be able to figure this out, but university presses tend to be really terrible at this.
Most of the book’s content seems good, but with so many errors, I can’t trust it. I hope the errors will be corrected before publication. As is, the book is false, misleading, and naive.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 14, 2022
Without claiming to have it all figured out or knowing the perfect definition for this widely complex subject, Rethinking Gender is a lively, informative, and engaging guide by an author-illustrator who helps readers understand the multiplicity of answers to “What even is gender?”
Considering the complex nature of the subject matter, I found Rethinking Gender incredibly accessible. For those with a passing interest, you will find the book highly educational and a quick, easy read. Many others may see themselves in these pages and wish to spend longer engaging with the concepts raised and the emotions they bring up.
Depending on your previous reading experience with gender, I think it's best to consider this book as a rewarding introductory text, rather than a deep dive. It's a guide, not a tome. You can expect a broad overview with brief explanatory detail. I appreciated how much space in the book is given to other contributors, with varied experiences and perspectives. I enjoyed how the book emphasises respect, compassion, understanding, and education. The illustrations add a nice contemporary touch. Often I struggled to know whether the first-person PoV was referring to the author or to a contributor, although this may have been due to the formatting of my ARC. While I appreciate the blanket anonymity of contributors, I think it could be helpful to separate off each individual contribution under anonymised 'names' e.g. AB with no identifying details, simply for the sake of readability.
I found it interesting that there was no mention of TERFs in the chapter on feminism. Rather than ignoring the issue, my personal view is that this book is a rebuttal to that screed in general, and I am assuming it was felt there was no value in engaging with this cruel viewpoint. I liked the emphasis on reflecting on intersectionality, as well as the chapter towards the end on coming out/inviting in, which I think offers helpful advice for those trusted with others' truth. While I think it is a little simplistic to suggest not sharing informative posts on social media can be a sign of tacitly remaining silent in the face of injustice (this might have been an appropriate place to reference the mental health burden for many), overall I think Rethinking Gender is a welcome addition to the gender shelves and will offer something to many readers at different stages of their learning.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for proividing an ARC of Rethinking Gender. These opinions are my own.
Considering the complex nature of the subject matter, I found Rethinking Gender incredibly accessible. For those with a passing interest, you will find the book highly educational and a quick, easy read. Many others may see themselves in these pages and wish to spend longer engaging with the concepts raised and the emotions they bring up.
Depending on your previous reading experience with gender, I think it's best to consider this book as a rewarding introductory text, rather than a deep dive. It's a guide, not a tome. You can expect a broad overview with brief explanatory detail. I appreciated how much space in the book is given to other contributors, with varied experiences and perspectives. I enjoyed how the book emphasises respect, compassion, understanding, and education. The illustrations add a nice contemporary touch. Often I struggled to know whether the first-person PoV was referring to the author or to a contributor, although this may have been due to the formatting of my ARC. While I appreciate the blanket anonymity of contributors, I think it could be helpful to separate off each individual contribution under anonymised 'names' e.g. AB with no identifying details, simply for the sake of readability.
I found it interesting that there was no mention of TERFs in the chapter on feminism. Rather than ignoring the issue, my personal view is that this book is a rebuttal to that screed in general, and I am assuming it was felt there was no value in engaging with this cruel viewpoint. I liked the emphasis on reflecting on intersectionality, as well as the chapter towards the end on coming out/inviting in, which I think offers helpful advice for those trusted with others' truth. While I think it is a little simplistic to suggest not sharing informative posts on social media can be a sign of tacitly remaining silent in the face of injustice (this might have been an appropriate place to reference the mental health burden for many), overall I think Rethinking Gender is a welcome addition to the gender shelves and will offer something to many readers at different stages of their learning.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for proividing an ARC of Rethinking Gender. These opinions are my own.
July 13, 2022
As someone who has given considerable thought and research to gender, I initially felt that this book would be too “introductory” for where I personally am in my journey — which isn’t a flaw of the book. However, I ended up learning quite a bit and really valued the experience of reading it. It’s a great resource and there are several aspects of the book that I liked. Even as someone who has been very engaged in discussions about gender, I still learned from this book and feel I benefited from reading it. There are prompts throughout, guiding the reader on questions to continue thinking about, helping the reader to engage with the material and think critically. There are even pages labeled “space for your notes” with guided
This would be an excellent resource for kids or teens, people early in their gender journey, or allies looking to better understand the complexities of gender. It would be a great addition to a diversity and education focused Little Free Library, or a gift for someone with a gender-queer individual in their life. It would be particularly excellent for anyone looking to better understand the difference between sex and gender, how neither are binary, and how the perception of them as binary affects people and society.
The author introduces themselves and explicitly acknowledges the point of view they are writing from. I like that the book opens with a glossary; I imagine this would make conversations around gender feel a lot more accessible for someone who isn’t overly familiar with these terms yet. History (including pop culture representations) is weaved throughout in an engaging — and not boring — way, which provides important context and helps readers to better understand the topics being discussed.
The author writes with compassion — there are reminders that not everything may be helpful, to discuss with friends if need be, and that some topics may be sensitive.
The illustrations are great, I quite like the author’s style. The colors are soothing, and the art is neither too complex or simple. Typically, I felt like the art contributed to the text in a meaningful way. I particularly liked the illustration on intersectionality as a ball of tangled thread.
This would be an excellent resource for kids or teens, people early in their gender journey, or allies looking to better understand the complexities of gender. It would be a great addition to a diversity and education focused Little Free Library, or a gift for someone with a gender-queer individual in their life. It would be particularly excellent for anyone looking to better understand the difference between sex and gender, how neither are binary, and how the perception of them as binary affects people and society.
The author introduces themselves and explicitly acknowledges the point of view they are writing from. I like that the book opens with a glossary; I imagine this would make conversations around gender feel a lot more accessible for someone who isn’t overly familiar with these terms yet. History (including pop culture representations) is weaved throughout in an engaging — and not boring — way, which provides important context and helps readers to better understand the topics being discussed.
The author writes with compassion — there are reminders that not everything may be helpful, to discuss with friends if need be, and that some topics may be sensitive.
The illustrations are great, I quite like the author’s style. The colors are soothing, and the art is neither too complex or simple. Typically, I felt like the art contributed to the text in a meaningful way. I particularly liked the illustration on intersectionality as a ball of tangled thread.
October 28, 2022
I read this book from the perspective of a white, cisgender, straight woman. I was interested in reading this book because one of my teenage children is transgender/non-binary, and I was hoping to gain more insight about my child's experience so I can be a better ally.
This book was packed with information. It's not my first book to read about gender but I still felt like I was learning things I didn't know. At times it did feel a little overwhelming, but the author validates this feeling on more than one occasion. The many illustrations throughout the book help break up the content and make it feel more inviting and interactive. The book stresses the fact that gender is a very complicated topic.
The book talks about many of the social constructs that define gender in our society, especially in a very binary way. At times I felt like maybe I'm not a good enough ally, but then the book would feel validating, stressing that these kinds of changes are not easy to make and take time. I think one of the biggest lessons that I learned was that gender is very personal, and the only person who can define one's gender is themself.
Throughout the book, there were parts that challenged you to reflect on the topics, with space for your own notes provided. While I read the book in a digital format, I think it would be a great book to have in print.
There was a large part of the book that looked at various gender identities, providing quotes from real people who have those identities. Sometimes the opinions would conflict with each other, but I think it provided a very well-rounded outlook from a diversity of people (and could be really helpful for those who are still questioning their gender). Speaking of diversity, I loved that the illustrations depicted diverse people. It seemed like a book anyone could find a piece of themself in.
My overall impression is that this book is impowering and validating, both for cis-het people who want to learn more about gender, and LGBTQ people who are exploring their gender. A lot of great information is provided, and the end of the book includes lists of even more resources.
This book was packed with information. It's not my first book to read about gender but I still felt like I was learning things I didn't know. At times it did feel a little overwhelming, but the author validates this feeling on more than one occasion. The many illustrations throughout the book help break up the content and make it feel more inviting and interactive. The book stresses the fact that gender is a very complicated topic.
The book talks about many of the social constructs that define gender in our society, especially in a very binary way. At times I felt like maybe I'm not a good enough ally, but then the book would feel validating, stressing that these kinds of changes are not easy to make and take time. I think one of the biggest lessons that I learned was that gender is very personal, and the only person who can define one's gender is themself.
Throughout the book, there were parts that challenged you to reflect on the topics, with space for your own notes provided. While I read the book in a digital format, I think it would be a great book to have in print.
There was a large part of the book that looked at various gender identities, providing quotes from real people who have those identities. Sometimes the opinions would conflict with each other, but I think it provided a very well-rounded outlook from a diversity of people (and could be really helpful for those who are still questioning their gender). Speaking of diversity, I loved that the illustrations depicted diverse people. It seemed like a book anyone could find a piece of themself in.
My overall impression is that this book is impowering and validating, both for cis-het people who want to learn more about gender, and LGBTQ people who are exploring their gender. A lot of great information is provided, and the end of the book includes lists of even more resources.
September 13, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and MIT Press for providing me with a digital copy of Rethinking Gender.
Rethinking Gender is "a lively, informative, and engaging guide to gender by an author-illustrator who helps readers understand the multiplicity of answers to "What even is gender?".
Things I liked:
- The peer-review process that was briefly explained at the beginning of the book helped provide some credibility when learning about new concepts.
- The "workbook" pages or sections with reflective questions and spaces to add your own thoughts. I love that they provided that space to truly make this book your own!
- The illustrations helped explain difficult topics and promote diversity. For example, there were some personal experiences shared through illustrated characters. These really helped me understand how different we all experience gender due to intersectionality. I do wish she included names for each character and identified if these are made-up stories or submitted to be part of the book. However, I still found it helpful to hear different stories as it promotes diversity and inclusivity.
- This book comes with a paper/dress-up doll!!
Things that could have been better:
- Each page is PACKED with information. I found that most pages needed to be broken down further or have more white spaces to improve readability and accessibility. At one point, I felt like this book could have been divided into smaller workbooks, so readers are not too overwhelmed with the new information they are provided and still have space to jot down reflective notes.
- I wished the author included the references to studies that were mentioned in the book. I felt that a reference page may help others with their own research or learn more about gender.
Overall, I still really want a physical copy of it to put in my office to help me refer back to history, terminology, and additional resources. With a wealth of information, it is handy to have it with me as a reference and a guide when I create educational materials.
Rethinking Gender is "a lively, informative, and engaging guide to gender by an author-illustrator who helps readers understand the multiplicity of answers to "What even is gender?".
Things I liked:
- The peer-review process that was briefly explained at the beginning of the book helped provide some credibility when learning about new concepts.
- The "workbook" pages or sections with reflective questions and spaces to add your own thoughts. I love that they provided that space to truly make this book your own!
- The illustrations helped explain difficult topics and promote diversity. For example, there were some personal experiences shared through illustrated characters. These really helped me understand how different we all experience gender due to intersectionality. I do wish she included names for each character and identified if these are made-up stories or submitted to be part of the book. However, I still found it helpful to hear different stories as it promotes diversity and inclusivity.
- This book comes with a paper/dress-up doll!!
Things that could have been better:
- Each page is PACKED with information. I found that most pages needed to be broken down further or have more white spaces to improve readability and accessibility. At one point, I felt like this book could have been divided into smaller workbooks, so readers are not too overwhelmed with the new information they are provided and still have space to jot down reflective notes.
- I wished the author included the references to studies that were mentioned in the book. I felt that a reference page may help others with their own research or learn more about gender.
Overall, I still really want a physical copy of it to put in my office to help me refer back to history, terminology, and additional resources. With a wealth of information, it is handy to have it with me as a reference and a guide when I create educational materials.
May 23, 2023
Cons: There were really a lot of terms for variations of gender and sexual preference to remember, many of which seemed to overlap or duplicate nuances of sex and gender--but really, gender is like autism in that it's spectrum. While I may find this plethora of terms confusing, to others, it's shades of meaning that express their unique feelings.
Pros: this book challenged me to think about gendered behaviors. Why do men do X and present as Y when women are expected to do it differently? Why is that fair and why don't cisgender people feel the need to "come out"--while being straight and presenting as your assigned sex is considered "default" looking at how people live and present, you realize everyone "presents" differently. I'm a very femme woman, but even amongst other straight/cisgender women, you have people who are sporty, find joy in being a mother, find joy in modesty, and find joy in sexy clothes. These are all different ways to express femininity and all are valid and ok.
I personally want LGBT and trans folk to experience acceptance and love like I do as a cis person. I think that's fair. I can also understand the feeling of not feeling like your birth gender, not because I'm gay or trans, but because I have sensory issues and can describe how it feels to have a body that doesn't feel like other seem to be like other people's. Until I was diagnosed as having Sensory Processing Disorder, I just thought I was oversensitive or nuts. Substitute a gender/sex issue instead of sensory issues, and I think I can describe myself as having a bit of an understanding and sympathy of/for a body that is out of sync with "normal."
I may not understand every nuance of gender and preference, but I can understand being kind...and I love the idea of "coming in"....the person who has revealed information about themselves is trusting you and inviting you into a circle of confidence.
I think if anyone ever comes in/comes out to me, I'll know what to say "Thank you for trusting me with that." Simple!
Pros: this book challenged me to think about gendered behaviors. Why do men do X and present as Y when women are expected to do it differently? Why is that fair and why don't cisgender people feel the need to "come out"--while being straight and presenting as your assigned sex is considered "default" looking at how people live and present, you realize everyone "presents" differently. I'm a very femme woman, but even amongst other straight/cisgender women, you have people who are sporty, find joy in being a mother, find joy in modesty, and find joy in sexy clothes. These are all different ways to express femininity and all are valid and ok.
I personally want LGBT and trans folk to experience acceptance and love like I do as a cis person. I think that's fair. I can also understand the feeling of not feeling like your birth gender, not because I'm gay or trans, but because I have sensory issues and can describe how it feels to have a body that doesn't feel like other seem to be like other people's. Until I was diagnosed as having Sensory Processing Disorder, I just thought I was oversensitive or nuts. Substitute a gender/sex issue instead of sensory issues, and I think I can describe myself as having a bit of an understanding and sympathy of/for a body that is out of sync with "normal."
I may not understand every nuance of gender and preference, but I can understand being kind...and I love the idea of "coming in"....the person who has revealed information about themselves is trusting you and inviting you into a circle of confidence.
I think if anyone ever comes in/comes out to me, I'll know what to say "Thank you for trusting me with that." Simple!
July 7, 2022
[Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest & unbiased review.]
There was obviously a lot of work that went into this book. The illustrations and the layout are wonderful. The questions that are interspersed throughout the book make the information more approachable and encourage readers to reflect on their own ideas about gender.
However, I struggle to find something new that this book brings to the gender discourse. It seems best suited for folks who have never really thought about gender before; individuals who might not even know where to start when Googling for information. In fact, I would argue that it would be best suited for teenagers rather than adults.
If you are already familiar with basic gender-related terminology within the LGBTQIA2S+ community, you will likely find yourself getting bored with this primer. Sure, you may learn a new identity term here or there. But in my experience, it mirrored most “Trans 101” trainings that I have ever facilitated or participated in.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Obviously, there is still a lack of education and empathy surrounding LGBTQIA2S+ experiences - and that makes introductory books like this important. At the same time, the description promised a “deep dive into the historical context of LGBTQIA+ rights activism and the evolution of gender discourse, politics, and laws” which I did not feel was delivered. I simply wanted more. I wanted to be challenged to truly rethink gender, especially at this more nuanced stage of my own personal identity journey.
There was obviously a lot of work that went into this book. The illustrations and the layout are wonderful. The questions that are interspersed throughout the book make the information more approachable and encourage readers to reflect on their own ideas about gender.
However, I struggle to find something new that this book brings to the gender discourse. It seems best suited for folks who have never really thought about gender before; individuals who might not even know where to start when Googling for information. In fact, I would argue that it would be best suited for teenagers rather than adults.
If you are already familiar with basic gender-related terminology within the LGBTQIA2S+ community, you will likely find yourself getting bored with this primer. Sure, you may learn a new identity term here or there. But in my experience, it mirrored most “Trans 101” trainings that I have ever facilitated or participated in.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Obviously, there is still a lack of education and empathy surrounding LGBTQIA2S+ experiences - and that makes introductory books like this important. At the same time, the description promised a “deep dive into the historical context of LGBTQIA+ rights activism and the evolution of gender discourse, politics, and laws” which I did not feel was delivered. I simply wanted more. I wanted to be challenged to truly rethink gender, especially at this more nuanced stage of my own personal identity journey.
May 31, 2023
This is an introduction to gender, returning repeatedly to the complete directed graph of interactions among gender, social/cultural context, psychological factors, and biological factors. It's a very explicitly European perspective. The strengths are definitely the prompts for reflection (and the space given for it) and the exploration of a variety of genders in multiple folks' own words for each.
I read this at the same time as Fine: A Comic About Gender, another graphic novel about gender that relies heavily on interviews with folks about their genders. But they're really different books. Rethinking Gender is more academic and has the explicit aspect of reflection for the reader, kind of a workbook. I found this the more straightforward read, in a way, even as I did jump around (because the chapter of many genders is long and doesn't have a lot of momentum, just by nature).
But it is also much less transparent about its methods. There is recommended reading, but not really citations, and the thank you to the 100 people interviewed is very brief at the end (and easy to miss). I thought it was clear in the book that folks were interviewed and these were responses from/depictions of real folks, but I've seen some other reviews mention characters, so I wonder if that was as obvious as it could have been. The author is also not explicit about the extent to which folks are anonymized in their depictions, are composites of multiple people, etc.
I read this at the same time as Fine: A Comic About Gender, another graphic novel about gender that relies heavily on interviews with folks about their genders. But they're really different books. Rethinking Gender is more academic and has the explicit aspect of reflection for the reader, kind of a workbook. I found this the more straightforward read, in a way, even as I did jump around (because the chapter of many genders is long and doesn't have a lot of momentum, just by nature).
But it is also much less transparent about its methods. There is recommended reading, but not really citations, and the thank you to the 100 people interviewed is very brief at the end (and easy to miss). I thought it was clear in the book that folks were interviewed and these were responses from/depictions of real folks, but I've seen some other reviews mention characters, so I wonder if that was as obvious as it could have been. The author is also not explicit about the extent to which folks are anonymized in their depictions, are composites of multiple people, etc.
July 4, 2022
The approach that this book takes to gender and breaking down all of the different branches was so intriguing to read about. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the queer community as someone who is a part of it and there were some terms that I wasn't even aware of. And it felt good to have a book that was there to be a guide for people to see how society forces people to interact with gender and what changes you can make to better your own view and how you view and treat other people. Having interactive pages and questions throughout the book was also an interesting addition that I think will be fun to see in a physical copy.
I loved that they started out with the discussion of intersectionality and how even though being queer is a minority, being white/thin/able-bodied/etc. brings privilege that other queer people don't have. The author, who is white, makes sure to mention this and how they benefit from white privilege and to make sure that it's understood there are terms and aspects of gender that are not for the white community and they may also not be as knowledgeable on (though they do site sources and ask to be corrected or informed of anything that might be wrong or could be added, which I thought was great!).
This is a book that I would personally want to have in my own library to have on hand to help people better understand gender and gender presentation and how to be respectful of other people.
Thank you to NetGalley and MIT Press for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
I loved that they started out with the discussion of intersectionality and how even though being queer is a minority, being white/thin/able-bodied/etc. brings privilege that other queer people don't have. The author, who is white, makes sure to mention this and how they benefit from white privilege and to make sure that it's understood there are terms and aspects of gender that are not for the white community and they may also not be as knowledgeable on (though they do site sources and ask to be corrected or informed of anything that might be wrong or could be added, which I thought was great!).
This is a book that I would personally want to have in my own library to have on hand to help people better understand gender and gender presentation and how to be respectful of other people.
Thank you to NetGalley and MIT Press for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
July 23, 2022
I want to thank NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of “Rethinking Gender” to review.
The author of “Rethinking Gender,” Louie, takes us on a guided tour of how gender is defined and what all of these new terms mean. If you’ve ever wanted to take a class about Gender & Sexuality, but haven’t had the opportunity, this might be a good book for you! The book begins with Louie identifying their biases and admitting that they don’t know everything. They encourage people who don’t feel represented or seen by this book to reach out to them and explain their experiences. I love knowing that the author is willing to keep learning even after gaining a master’s degree in this subject!
Part of this book reads like an underclassman’s college essay and I wish that the sentences were more varied in both content and length. It felt repetitive at parts. There were entire paragraphs repeated from one section of the book to another. I got the sense they were trying to lengthen the book, but I wish they would’ve chosen a different method in which to do that. There are discussion questions and dedicated pages for notes within the book that do lengthen it and also make it a great book for small group or classroom discussion.
Unfortunately, I found this book difficult to read due to the layout. There were multiple times words were cut in half and continued on to the next line and the way the illustrations and fonts were done made it difficult to read at times. I wish this book had been more accessible in that aspect and I hope that they have an alternative way to share this information for those that aren’t able to read within these fonts. I wasn’t a fan of the illustrations and I find that to be one of the most compelling components of graphic novels. For me, the illustrations just didn’t hit the mark and made it hard for me to want to keep reading what is essentially a textbook. I thought the information was great, but the format ultimately wasn’t for me.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are looking to learn more about gender identity and professors or teachings looking for alternative books to use instead of gender studies textbooks.
The author of “Rethinking Gender,” Louie, takes us on a guided tour of how gender is defined and what all of these new terms mean. If you’ve ever wanted to take a class about Gender & Sexuality, but haven’t had the opportunity, this might be a good book for you! The book begins with Louie identifying their biases and admitting that they don’t know everything. They encourage people who don’t feel represented or seen by this book to reach out to them and explain their experiences. I love knowing that the author is willing to keep learning even after gaining a master’s degree in this subject!
Part of this book reads like an underclassman’s college essay and I wish that the sentences were more varied in both content and length. It felt repetitive at parts. There were entire paragraphs repeated from one section of the book to another. I got the sense they were trying to lengthen the book, but I wish they would’ve chosen a different method in which to do that. There are discussion questions and dedicated pages for notes within the book that do lengthen it and also make it a great book for small group or classroom discussion.
Unfortunately, I found this book difficult to read due to the layout. There were multiple times words were cut in half and continued on to the next line and the way the illustrations and fonts were done made it difficult to read at times. I wish this book had been more accessible in that aspect and I hope that they have an alternative way to share this information for those that aren’t able to read within these fonts. I wasn’t a fan of the illustrations and I find that to be one of the most compelling components of graphic novels. For me, the illustrations just didn’t hit the mark and made it hard for me to want to keep reading what is essentially a textbook. I thought the information was great, but the format ultimately wasn’t for me.
Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are looking to learn more about gender identity and professors or teachings looking for alternative books to use instead of gender studies textbooks.
August 20, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book!
Rethinking Gender: An Illustrated Exploration by Louis Lauger is an interactive exploration that breaks down what gender really is (and no, it isn't what organs you were born with). While I received this as an ebook, in the printed format I believe it is going to be a more journal-like book that encourages you to write and express your thoughts on what you're reading about. Through the chapters we learn about different people and their identities and what each term really means. This is done in a very open and honest way, and is also very easy to follow and understand.
Pros:
-The illustrations are BEAUTIFUL and so cute. I loved looking at them as I read along.
-The explanations are super clear and easy to understand. I learned so many terms for things I didn't even know existed in the LGBT+ community.
-The author never belittles people who think differently than them. It is just a book to teach about gender expression, the history of gender, and what that looks like today.
-There is a huge emphasis on intersectionality and how gender plays into that. It was so great to read about that, because it is so important when talking about one identity, how the others affect it.
Cons:
-I wish there were more journaling prompts and questions asked for reflecting on what is learned throughout the chapters.
Overall, this book was awesome, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to understand gender identity. It's something that effects everyone!
Rethinking Gender: An Illustrated Exploration by Louis Lauger is an interactive exploration that breaks down what gender really is (and no, it isn't what organs you were born with). While I received this as an ebook, in the printed format I believe it is going to be a more journal-like book that encourages you to write and express your thoughts on what you're reading about. Through the chapters we learn about different people and their identities and what each term really means. This is done in a very open and honest way, and is also very easy to follow and understand.
Pros:
-The illustrations are BEAUTIFUL and so cute. I loved looking at them as I read along.
-The explanations are super clear and easy to understand. I learned so many terms for things I didn't even know existed in the LGBT+ community.
-The author never belittles people who think differently than them. It is just a book to teach about gender expression, the history of gender, and what that looks like today.
-There is a huge emphasis on intersectionality and how gender plays into that. It was so great to read about that, because it is so important when talking about one identity, how the others affect it.
Cons:
-I wish there were more journaling prompts and questions asked for reflecting on what is learned throughout the chapters.
Overall, this book was awesome, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to understand gender identity. It's something that effects everyone!
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