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ME!: The gift of being Transgender
If there is a contrast between (1) the person you look and sound like, and (2) the person you feel, experience and know yourself to be, you may believe you are different from everyone else in your life—and very likely different from everyone else in your community, your country, and even the world.
It may come as a surprise that there are hundreds of thousands of teens, young adults and kids throughout the world who experience their lives in just the way you do. Some of us are born gifted, creative, or disabled—but all of us share something in common: we were all born Transgender girls and boys. Despite this evolving understanding, most of us have lived fearfully and have suffered without reason, because those who have come to know us at school, or who have encountered us
socially, have misunderstood us, and have disliked us because we seemed different when they compared each of us to themselves.
As a direct result of such misunderstanding, far too many Transgender kids know other kids who have teased, bullied, shamed and excluded them for a very long time. As Transgender kids like us grow into teenagers and young adults, far too many die—either from physical assault which results in death, or from shame, anxiety, depression and hopelessness which lead to thoughts and acts of suicide.
Deaths of both kinds may occur at an especially high rate for Transgender (Trans) girls, teens and young women of colour whose peers have singled them out for social isolation, public shame, and criminal levels of aggression—rather than with the respect and dignity all persons need and deserve from one another.
In ME! The gift of being Transgender, Trans women and men share personal experiences of what being Trans has really been like at various stages of their journeys—from early childhood through maturity. By reading the stories that Trans women and men have shared in this book, both family members and members of the public may more accurately perceive and understand the humanity they share in common with us—and, by extension, with all those who seem “uncomfortably different”.
By learning to recognize the many similarities we all share in common—the Common Ground of our shared Humanity—individuals, family members and communities may put an end to the suffering of those of us who seem “different”.
It may come as a surprise that there are hundreds of thousands of teens, young adults and kids throughout the world who experience their lives in just the way you do. Some of us are born gifted, creative, or disabled—but all of us share something in common: we were all born Transgender girls and boys. Despite this evolving understanding, most of us have lived fearfully and have suffered without reason, because those who have come to know us at school, or who have encountered us
socially, have misunderstood us, and have disliked us because we seemed different when they compared each of us to themselves.
As a direct result of such misunderstanding, far too many Transgender kids know other kids who have teased, bullied, shamed and excluded them for a very long time. As Transgender kids like us grow into teenagers and young adults, far too many die—either from physical assault which results in death, or from shame, anxiety, depression and hopelessness which lead to thoughts and acts of suicide.
Deaths of both kinds may occur at an especially high rate for Transgender (Trans) girls, teens and young women of colour whose peers have singled them out for social isolation, public shame, and criminal levels of aggression—rather than with the respect and dignity all persons need and deserve from one another.
In ME! The gift of being Transgender, Trans women and men share personal experiences of what being Trans has really been like at various stages of their journeys—from early childhood through maturity. By reading the stories that Trans women and men have shared in this book, both family members and members of the public may more accurately perceive and understand the humanity they share in common with us—and, by extension, with all those who seem “uncomfortably different”.
By learning to recognize the many similarities we all share in common—the Common Ground of our shared Humanity—individuals, family members and communities may put an end to the suffering of those of us who seem “different”.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2016
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 18, 2019
I have read a number of these transgender Kindle Unlimited books. This is probably the best of the lot of them. With that being said it still doesn't rate more than 3 stars.
Here are some comments based on specific pieces of text. Numbers in brackets refer to kindle locations in the 2016 edition.
[615] Monica P. Mulholland says, ". . . kids who have often been hiding a neuro-endrocine disorder [i.e. gender identity disorder] . . ." Get with the program Monica - The DSM-V (2013) - no longer has a gender identity disorder diagnosis among mental health disorders. As the book is copyrighted 2016 this appears as a mistake. Plus the added fact that calling it a disorder is demeaning even if it has physiological causes. And, [639] ". . . of the condition [being a transgender person] . . ." Guess what. I don't have a condition either.
[980] "Our experiences change us, and each day is an opportunity to gain new insight and wisdom." I couldn't agree more.
[1076] "While I have to learn to celebrate my status as a Transgender woman specifically, that fact does not make me any less of a woman. Consider: does being a wheelchair-bound woman makes one any less a woman? Certainly not! The quintessential woman is not exclusively a white woman with a certain body shape, walking style, or speech; consequentially, I set myself up for failure and possibly self-criticism if I set the attainment of such qualities as my exclusive focus; and my ultimate goal.
In other words, no one person encompasses all of the feminine. That which is considered feminine is broad in scope; is changing from person to person, and from group to group. Indeed, my own individual expression of the feminine is as good as anyone else's. I am different but equal! I have realised that I am a woman--specifically, a woman who is Transgender. I express self-love and self-care when I accept that truth as the foundation of my existence." (author's italics)
I am now using her approach whenever the "Why can't I be pretty like her?" pops up in my head.
[1473] By mentioning the many transitions we go through in life, I see it as trivializing my transitioning to being a woman. It is by far the biggest transition I have ever attempted.
[1626] From one of the "Inspirational Stories." "Today I want to exist as a Trans person in the world. I am not saying it [transitioning] is easy, but I am saying I want to do it. I am saying that I think it is important, that it is beautiful, that it is me, and I'm pretty amazing." (my italics). This is a great affirmation. And so true of any transgender person.
[1732] From another one the "Inspirational Stories." "It was maddening . . . whenever I checked the 'M' box on a form, or replied when anyone addressed me as 'sir' . . ." The being called "sir" is so upsetting (for some reason) that at times I literally cringe.
Here are some comments based on specific pieces of text. Numbers in brackets refer to kindle locations in the 2016 edition.
[615] Monica P. Mulholland says, ". . . kids who have often been hiding a neuro-endrocine disorder [i.e. gender identity disorder] . . ." Get with the program Monica - The DSM-V (2013) - no longer has a gender identity disorder diagnosis among mental health disorders. As the book is copyrighted 2016 this appears as a mistake. Plus the added fact that calling it a disorder is demeaning even if it has physiological causes. And, [639] ". . . of the condition [being a transgender person] . . ." Guess what. I don't have a condition either.
[980] "Our experiences change us, and each day is an opportunity to gain new insight and wisdom." I couldn't agree more.
[1076] "While I have to learn to celebrate my status as a Transgender woman specifically, that fact does not make me any less of a woman. Consider: does being a wheelchair-bound woman makes one any less a woman? Certainly not! The quintessential woman is not exclusively a white woman with a certain body shape, walking style, or speech; consequentially, I set myself up for failure and possibly self-criticism if I set the attainment of such qualities as my exclusive focus; and my ultimate goal.
In other words, no one person encompasses all of the feminine. That which is considered feminine is broad in scope; is changing from person to person, and from group to group. Indeed, my own individual expression of the feminine is as good as anyone else's. I am different but equal! I have realised that I am a woman--specifically, a woman who is Transgender. I express self-love and self-care when I accept that truth as the foundation of my existence." (author's italics)
I am now using her approach whenever the "Why can't I be pretty like her?" pops up in my head.
[1473] By mentioning the many transitions we go through in life, I see it as trivializing my transitioning to being a woman. It is by far the biggest transition I have ever attempted.
[1626] From one of the "Inspirational Stories." "Today I want to exist as a Trans person in the world. I am not saying it [transitioning] is easy, but I am saying I want to do it. I am saying that I think it is important, that it is beautiful, that it is me, and I'm pretty amazing." (my italics). This is a great affirmation. And so true of any transgender person.
[1732] From another one the "Inspirational Stories." "It was maddening . . . whenever I checked the 'M' box on a form, or replied when anyone addressed me as 'sir' . . ." The being called "sir" is so upsetting (for some reason) that at times I literally cringe.
March 30, 2023
An informative book
July 20, 2016
While I have never experienced gender dysphoria, and therefore will never be able to claim to know and understand the daily experience that someone who is Transgender faces, this collection of essays certainly helped illuminate for me some of the things that weigh on transgender men and women. Some of the more obvious examples I witness each day. But I can only attempt to imagine the self-criticism and self doubt that the external challenges serve to compound. Perhaps this book helps its readers to act as better allies to our transgendered brothers and sisters, but it definitely will help readers to understand the stories at least a few people, if only a little better. As one of the authors stated, "A stereotype has no power, and cannot survive over time, when pitted against the open truth of a personal story."
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews