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Myths Made in America
"You're in the Wrong Bathroom!": And 20 Other Myths and Misconceptions about Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People
Debunks the twenty-one most common myths and misperceptions about transgender issues
From Laverne Cox to Caitlyn Jenner to Thomas Beattie ( the pregnant man ) to transgender youth, coverage of transgender lives has been exploding over the last few years. Despite being prolifically covered in the media, much misinformation about the trans community persists. Bringing together the medical, social, psychological, and political aspects of being transgender today in the United States, " You re in the Wrong Bathroom!: And 20 Other Myths About Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People" unpacks the twenty-one most common myths about transgender people. Authors Laura Erickson-Schroth, MD, a psychiatrist, and Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW-R, a psychotherapist, address myths about trans identity ( all trans people are trapped in the wrong body ), sex and relationships ( most trans people do sex work and have HIV ), health and safety ( trans people are mentally ill and therapy can change them ), and history and community ( trans people and feminists don t get along )."
From Laverne Cox to Caitlyn Jenner to Thomas Beattie ( the pregnant man ) to transgender youth, coverage of transgender lives has been exploding over the last few years. Despite being prolifically covered in the media, much misinformation about the trans community persists. Bringing together the medical, social, psychological, and political aspects of being transgender today in the United States, " You re in the Wrong Bathroom!: And 20 Other Myths About Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People" unpacks the twenty-one most common myths about transgender people. Authors Laura Erickson-Schroth, MD, a psychiatrist, and Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW-R, a psychotherapist, address myths about trans identity ( all trans people are trapped in the wrong body ), sex and relationships ( most trans people do sex work and have HIV ), health and safety ( trans people are mentally ill and therapy can change them ), and history and community ( trans people and feminists don t get along )."
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 9, 2017
Good info, perhaps too academic As it is now LGBT Pride Month it seemed like this would be a good book to read. In light of the hysteria over transgender people using what bathrooms the title and book seemed quite apt for giving people much needed information.
The book is basically what it says on the tin: the authors look at 21 myths about transgender people. Some are probably familiar to the reader: that transgender people use the "wrong" bathroom if they don't "look" a certain way, that transgender people are mentally ill and the like. And there might be some that are not so obvious: I had never heard of the concept that all transgender people all secretly want to be Barbie or Ken.
So it was a learning experience. Backed by anecdotes, statistical data, research, and historical examples the authors go through and dismantle various myths. Overall the book was informative, even when I was already familiar with the myth. It's also relatively short so if you're looking for a primer for someone (a parent or a friend who wants more information) I think this might be a good pick.
There are also resources of sites, groups, organizations, legal resources, etc. that you may find helpful.
The only problem I had with the book was that the writing was quite dry and academic. My interest in the subject matter kept me going but I could really only read a few chapters at a time (and the chapters are really not that long at all from a few pages to maybe 7-8). The book runs less than 200 pages including the index, resources, citations, etc. but I personally found the text a little excruciating at times.
But that should not be a detriment. As I wrote it's a relatively short book so it shouldn't be too intimidating for a reader who is looking for more information. If you're more familiar with the subject and/or the specific myths addressed by the authors you may feel it's redundant to your own information so those with better/more in-depth knowledge may want to skim this first before deciding if you really want/need the book. But I definitely recommend reading it.
The book is basically what it says on the tin: the authors look at 21 myths about transgender people. Some are probably familiar to the reader: that transgender people use the "wrong" bathroom if they don't "look" a certain way, that transgender people are mentally ill and the like. And there might be some that are not so obvious: I had never heard of the concept that all transgender people all secretly want to be Barbie or Ken.
So it was a learning experience. Backed by anecdotes, statistical data, research, and historical examples the authors go through and dismantle various myths. Overall the book was informative, even when I was already familiar with the myth. It's also relatively short so if you're looking for a primer for someone (a parent or a friend who wants more information) I think this might be a good pick.
There are also resources of sites, groups, organizations, legal resources, etc. that you may find helpful.
The only problem I had with the book was that the writing was quite dry and academic. My interest in the subject matter kept me going but I could really only read a few chapters at a time (and the chapters are really not that long at all from a few pages to maybe 7-8). The book runs less than 200 pages including the index, resources, citations, etc. but I personally found the text a little excruciating at times.
But that should not be a detriment. As I wrote it's a relatively short book so it shouldn't be too intimidating for a reader who is looking for more information. If you're more familiar with the subject and/or the specific myths addressed by the authors you may feel it's redundant to your own information so those with better/more in-depth knowledge may want to skim this first before deciding if you really want/need the book. But I definitely recommend reading it.
February 9, 2020
I found the book interesting and informative. Unfortunately, I could not find my notes to make my usual comments, and it was a library book that has been returned.
Still, I can testify to my experience involving the myths covered in the book from the Amazon look inside feature set at the table of contents.
[Myth 1] Never met another transgender person is false because I have indeed met at least one, and have seen others in public which appeared trans, but of course, I could be wrong in these cases.
[Myth 3] I am really a transwoman, but have not and might not have gender confirmation surgery.
[Myth 4] I do not feel trap in the wrong body. Yes there are things I want to change about my body, but so do cisgender persons. (See my blog post on this - https://stephiegurl.home.blog/2019/11...)
[Myth 5] Yep, I'm gay; I'm a translesbian, and I'm open about it. But, I also know from my online experiences that there are many transwoman who go strictly for guys, hence are heterosexual.
[Myth 6] I'd rather have someone ask me my preferred pronouns than have them misgender me.
[Myth 9] I don't hate my body; I only want to adjust it (see myth 4).
[Myth 13] I now use unisex or women's bathrooms exclusively, and while in a multiple user one I worry about a confrontation, I still feel that I am in the proper bathroom.
[Myth 14] Ain't nothing gonna change me.
[Myth 17] Doesn't stop people laughing at me (recently happened by a group four young kids).
[Myth 20] Hey, I'm a feminist and I get along perfectly well with myself. 😉
This is a good book for anyone. And if I believe in required reading, it should be on that list.
Still, I can testify to my experience involving the myths covered in the book from the Amazon look inside feature set at the table of contents.
[Myth 1] Never met another transgender person is false because I have indeed met at least one, and have seen others in public which appeared trans, but of course, I could be wrong in these cases.
[Myth 3] I am really a transwoman, but have not and might not have gender confirmation surgery.
[Myth 4] I do not feel trap in the wrong body. Yes there are things I want to change about my body, but so do cisgender persons. (See my blog post on this - https://stephiegurl.home.blog/2019/11...)
[Myth 5] Yep, I'm gay; I'm a translesbian, and I'm open about it. But, I also know from my online experiences that there are many transwoman who go strictly for guys, hence are heterosexual.
[Myth 6] I'd rather have someone ask me my preferred pronouns than have them misgender me.
[Myth 9] I don't hate my body; I only want to adjust it (see myth 4).
[Myth 13] I now use unisex or women's bathrooms exclusively, and while in a multiple user one I worry about a confrontation, I still feel that I am in the proper bathroom.
[Myth 14] Ain't nothing gonna change me.
[Myth 17] Doesn't stop people laughing at me (recently happened by a group four young kids).
[Myth 20] Hey, I'm a feminist and I get along perfectly well with myself. 😉
This is a good book for anyone. And if I believe in required reading, it should be on that list.
September 23, 2017
This book is well-written and broken up into easily digestible chunks, but I found it difficult to read for other reasons.
This book is by trans women who are medical professionals. It's grounded in the history of the movement, research studies, and more recent events. It does incorporate dated terminology in service of describing each myth as people heard it, which I think is effective in terms of reaching the target audience. I'm glad I read it because it's given me a greater understanding of what people are fighting for. As a bonus, it also helped shed light on my own personal evolution in views.
My own understanding of trans activism has changed a lot in the past decade, especially the past few years. It took me so long to unlearn some of the myths that are taken apart in this book. Seeing them written out clearly here made me realize that I don't think my misconceptions all came from general cultural osmosis. I must have spent some time specifically reading things by TERFs and watching comedy by transphobic cis people.
This book is by trans women who are medical professionals. It's grounded in the history of the movement, research studies, and more recent events. It does incorporate dated terminology in service of describing each myth as people heard it, which I think is effective in terms of reaching the target audience. I'm glad I read it because it's given me a greater understanding of what people are fighting for. As a bonus, it also helped shed light on my own personal evolution in views.
My own understanding of trans activism has changed a lot in the past decade, especially the past few years. It took me so long to unlearn some of the myths that are taken apart in this book. Seeing them written out clearly here made me realize that I don't think my misconceptions all came from general cultural osmosis. I must have spent some time specifically reading things by TERFs and watching comedy by transphobic cis people.
July 25, 2017
Written in easy to understand language (but maybe too difficult for a Republican congressman) this book discusses popular misconceptions about transgender people.
For cisgender people, especially loved ones and allies, this book is an invaluable source of information.
For transpeople who are learning about themselves, it is a crucial read. The resources section at the end of the book is worth its weight in gold-pressed latinum- for all transpeople and their allies.
I discovered nothing new in the text itself, but I have been researching trans issues for over seven years. But that resource section I mentioned above is a Godsend.
I recommend this book highly.
For cisgender people, especially loved ones and allies, this book is an invaluable source of information.
For transpeople who are learning about themselves, it is a crucial read. The resources section at the end of the book is worth its weight in gold-pressed latinum- for all transpeople and their allies.
I discovered nothing new in the text itself, but I have been researching trans issues for over seven years. But that resource section I mentioned above is a Godsend.
I recommend this book highly.
March 26, 2018
First off, I have to say that I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, and I am grateful to the publisher for the copy of this book.
I will say that I did not have super high hopes for this, mostly because I haven't seen a kind of 'introduction to transgender' done well before, but this surprised me with its nuance! The authors do a pretty decent job of painting trans people as more than a monolith, and always leave room for a lot of difference within the community, which I really enjoyed and found interesting. My one major complaint is that although there are "notes" in the back, these notes are not connected to specific claims in the book, so when I come across something that makes me go "oh???" I can't find the exact place the authors got that information. I understand why they might not use foot or endnotes (some readers might find them intimidating) but it was something I missed.
I will also say this isn't really a 101-level book, either; more like 102, maybe. It felt accessible but like maybe there was a little bit of previous knowledge needed. I could be wrong though, as I have a hard time gauging these things.
Overall, I was pretty pleasantly surprised to see how nuanced this book was, and encourage folks who might have questions to seek it out!
I will say that I did not have super high hopes for this, mostly because I haven't seen a kind of 'introduction to transgender' done well before, but this surprised me with its nuance! The authors do a pretty decent job of painting trans people as more than a monolith, and always leave room for a lot of difference within the community, which I really enjoyed and found interesting. My one major complaint is that although there are "notes" in the back, these notes are not connected to specific claims in the book, so when I come across something that makes me go "oh???" I can't find the exact place the authors got that information. I understand why they might not use foot or endnotes (some readers might find them intimidating) but it was something I missed.
I will also say this isn't really a 101-level book, either; more like 102, maybe. It felt accessible but like maybe there was a little bit of previous knowledge needed. I could be wrong though, as I have a hard time gauging these things.
Overall, I was pretty pleasantly surprised to see how nuanced this book was, and encourage folks who might have questions to seek it out!
August 13, 2017
As someone who is transgender, the information in this book really rang true for me; these are really the sentiments/myths I've encountered when talking to cisgender people, well-meaning and otherwise.
The authors did a great job presenting what transwomen experience...although, yes, the experiences of transmen weren't dealt with as well. I don't fault them much for that. It's really hard for one side of the community to explain the experiences of the other. If they write a revised edition later on, maybe find a transman to help breathe a little more life/depth into that side of the experience?
That said, I'm very glad to have this as a resource. It helps put things into words that are hard to explain to other people, especially sexual orientation and what it takes to get access to adequate medical treatment. I especially appreciated the historical aspects regarding WPATH and the rigidity of the narrative transgender people told a generation ago, compared to now. Very eye-opening.
Plus this is a really fast read. Probably the average high school student could read and understand it, although the experiences it addresses are mostly those of trans adult life.
Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in transgender issues.
The authors did a great job presenting what transwomen experience...although, yes, the experiences of transmen weren't dealt with as well. I don't fault them much for that. It's really hard for one side of the community to explain the experiences of the other. If they write a revised edition later on, maybe find a transman to help breathe a little more life/depth into that side of the experience?
That said, I'm very glad to have this as a resource. It helps put things into words that are hard to explain to other people, especially sexual orientation and what it takes to get access to adequate medical treatment. I especially appreciated the historical aspects regarding WPATH and the rigidity of the narrative transgender people told a generation ago, compared to now. Very eye-opening.
Plus this is a really fast read. Probably the average high school student could read and understand it, although the experiences it addresses are mostly those of trans adult life.
Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in transgender issues.
September 7, 2017
I met my first trans person in 1983. He was the best man at the wedding and all over one of the bridesmaids. He was dark, swarthy, with middle-eastern looks, heavy black eye brows, lots of chest curls climbing out of his shirt top. Later, my friends told me he often dressed in women's clothing and secretly wanted to be a woman. WHAT? I soon saw him again dressed and made up as a woman and we had an uncomfortable dinner with him. He looked like a Halloween idea gone terribly wrong. Since then, Jenny has taken hormones, had all that hair removed and lives full time as a woman. She lost her career that she was college educated for and she lives a quiet existence in a community that understands her. She identifies as a lesbian. I read this book in an attempt to understand all the Jennys of the world. I try to be a compassionate person, I have friends who say a person should not be allowed to use the bathroom of the sex they are not. I believe trans people are at risk in the bathroom where they are not welcome and in danger...not me or the children. Very informative book. A quick read, Eye-opening.
April 30, 2018
Let's say it's not ahead of its times, but it's a useful repository of ideas. And it should reveal helpful and informative as a first foray into transness for complete novices. But be warned that this is a dry, if easy to read, cataloguing of all the different ways one can experience each aspect of transness. This, I assume, is for the sake of nuance, but what it really does is kill all nuance and flow.
More importantly, I was uncomfortable with the tone of the book, without being able to exactly put into words why. But, for example, the authors constantly mention the idea of "stealth" without any critical analysis of it, which I found surprising, as they mention the controversial aspect of the idea of "passing".
More importantly, I was uncomfortable with the tone of the book, without being able to exactly put into words why. But, for example, the authors constantly mention the idea of "stealth" without any critical analysis of it, which I found surprising, as they mention the controversial aspect of the idea of "passing".
November 27, 2017
This book is very well-written. Manageable chapters, broken up by myth, and grounded in historical context. I found it to be a humbling read and uncomfortable in some places. It's troubling to know that I have bought into some of these myths. I'm happy to have had the chance to read this and will continue to keep learning.
September 24, 2017
Such a wonderful 101-level book that debunks important myths about transgender and gender non-conforming folks. I love Beacon Press for doing this series, and "You're in the Wrong Bathroom" is a terrific installment.
February 21, 2023
Really good.
It tackles each myth in an easy to digest chunk of words and it has an extensive resource section in the back that led me to even more library holds.
It tackles each myth in an easy to digest chunk of words and it has an extensive resource section in the back that led me to even more library holds.
January 22, 2023
I'll start with saying that it's a great book!
I've been existing in the queer internet space for six years now, finding myself, support and learning and learning all the time. And only recently i started reading books to learn more as well as just mingling in the internet. This book is exactly what it says in the title and i appreciate it. Written by a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist, one of them being trans - perfect combination of writers! Every chapter was titled as a myth and then it would explain the reality and the history behind the myth. Very informative and wonderfully structured. I've been recommending it to all my friends as well, because it's written in such a way that anyone can pick it up and understand it. All the resources are cited. This book presents the truth as it is. The only negative thing i can think of is that it's a very american book, and i'd love to read something from other point of view and reality, but that's relevant to me. Highly recommend reading it!!
I've been existing in the queer internet space for six years now, finding myself, support and learning and learning all the time. And only recently i started reading books to learn more as well as just mingling in the internet. This book is exactly what it says in the title and i appreciate it. Written by a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist, one of them being trans - perfect combination of writers! Every chapter was titled as a myth and then it would explain the reality and the history behind the myth. Very informative and wonderfully structured. I've been recommending it to all my friends as well, because it's written in such a way that anyone can pick it up and understand it. All the resources are cited. This book presents the truth as it is. The only negative thing i can think of is that it's a very american book, and i'd love to read something from other point of view and reality, but that's relevant to me. Highly recommend reading it!!
June 10, 2017
This book, which I received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, is an excellent resource for educators. The matter of fact tone is appropriate for both adolescent and adult audiences. Short, tightly focused chapters balance readability with historical and social science references. Referenced works are fully cited in the back matter of the book, providing a strong basis for further inquiry, without impacting the clear nature of the text, or cluttering the body of the book with footnotes.
An extensive section of resources will be valuable for those seeking further reading and is helpfully broken down by genre and target audience. The resources section will also be invaluable for those seeking support from organizations, or attempting to create safe spaces for trans and gender nonconforming individuals in their community.
I can highly recommend You're in the Wrong Bathroom! to anyone seeking a resource to facilitate respectful dialogue about trans and gender non-conforming people and the issues they face.
An extensive section of resources will be valuable for those seeking further reading and is helpfully broken down by genre and target audience. The resources section will also be invaluable for those seeking support from organizations, or attempting to create safe spaces for trans and gender nonconforming individuals in their community.
I can highly recommend You're in the Wrong Bathroom! to anyone seeking a resource to facilitate respectful dialogue about trans and gender non-conforming people and the issues they face.
June 28, 2025
I read this to better understand what my son was experiencing and, therefore, support him. What I liked is that it gave us some interesting points of discussion. What I found frustrating is that it purports to explain an experience in one way. It would have been more helpful to have more people discuss their experiences. I found that there were a number of sections that did not reflect his or his friend’s experiences. It would have helped if the author had either broadened their sources of experience or made it clear to those of us truly trying to learn that the book is only from the perspective of the author and their social circle. I realize that no one experience can be applied to all but a disclaimer would have been appreciated.
January 3, 2023
This book was pretty interesting to read. I read it because I have been reading a few books about transgender people recently. I liked this book because it addressed a lot of misconceptions about transgender people and their community. I love how they frequently referenced a lot of sources and showed that there was a lot of research that went into making this book. I find most of these myths blatantly false, but it is also not hard to imagine people believing them. I also like how there was advice in the book for both transgender people and allies. It was much better than I expected, and I love how there were definitions for terms throughout the book. Even though I already knew most of the terms, I appreciate that this book can be read by people that don’t already know them. I also love how this book about transgender people doesn’t just talk about transgender males and females. They mention nonbinary, genderfluid, demigender, bigender, agender, and more people too. I have personal connections to this book because I regularly interact with people that believe some of these myths.
I found the fact that they referenced several books and studies as resources very cool. I did not realize how many transgender books were made before 1980. I loved how this book gave these sources to show how much research they did and give more resources to people interested, but also gave enough context so people could understand everything without being familiar with the sources. They were very well integrated with everything.
Another interesting part of the book is how they were able to take a myth and not only disprove it, but use it as an introduction to a bigger topic and talk about that. This gives a lot of information while also not being too overwhelming since people can always just focus on the myth being disproven if all of the information is too much.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in gender or has transgender friends, even if you don’t have much time to read the entire book, there is still a lot to be gained from even looking at the table of contents and recognizing that all of these are myths. The book goes into a lot of depth in some things, but it is worth it. The book defines a lot of terms it uses, so not understanding a lot of transgender vocabulary isn’t a reason to read the book. There is also a nice table of contents which is almost a necessity for these types of books. There is not too much background knowledge on transgender people needed to read and understand this book.
I found the fact that they referenced several books and studies as resources very cool. I did not realize how many transgender books were made before 1980. I loved how this book gave these sources to show how much research they did and give more resources to people interested, but also gave enough context so people could understand everything without being familiar with the sources. They were very well integrated with everything.
Another interesting part of the book is how they were able to take a myth and not only disprove it, but use it as an introduction to a bigger topic and talk about that. This gives a lot of information while also not being too overwhelming since people can always just focus on the myth being disproven if all of the information is too much.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in gender or has transgender friends, even if you don’t have much time to read the entire book, there is still a lot to be gained from even looking at the table of contents and recognizing that all of these are myths. The book goes into a lot of depth in some things, but it is worth it. The book defines a lot of terms it uses, so not understanding a lot of transgender vocabulary isn’t a reason to read the book. There is also a nice table of contents which is almost a necessity for these types of books. There is not too much background knowledge on transgender people needed to read and understand this book.
October 26, 2019
Published in 2017, this book still offers some great information about opening up one's eyes and ideas of Transgender. It also offers short (several page) explanations of these 20 myths and misconceptions:
They include:
-"you've never met one"
-"trans people want to be barbie or ken"
-"you're not which gender you say if you haven't had anatomical surgery"
-"trans people are secretive or liars"
-"trans people are trapped in the wrong body"
-"trans people are secretly gay"
-"it is rude to ask"
-"what's in your pants?" (never ask this!!)
-"trans people are sex workers with HIV"
-"trans people hate their bodies"
-"trans people are trying to trick people"
-"trans people can't find partners and end up alone"
-"trans people are a danger especially to children"
-"trans people are in the wrong bathroom"
-"trans people are mentally ill"
-"getting hormones and surgeries is easy"
-"testosterone makes you angry, estrogen makes you emotional"
-"there are laws supporting transgender community"
-"trans people have always existed"
-"certain cultures embrace trans people" (this was REALLY fascinating)
-"trans people don't get along with feminists"
-"LGBTQ+ are united with Trans people"
Honestly, if you know nothing about transgender people, READ this! Educate yourself. It certainly opened up my eyes. These myths are not true. Listen to the facts provided. Grow, understand and open your mind! It certainly opened up mine. I had no idea about some of these things. I became aware of some unconscious biases and misconceptions I had previously had. Seriously, this is the power of books: Educate, inspire, learn, grow!
They include:
-"you've never met one"
-"trans people want to be barbie or ken"
-"you're not which gender you say if you haven't had anatomical surgery"
-"trans people are secretive or liars"
-"trans people are trapped in the wrong body"
-"trans people are secretly gay"
-"it is rude to ask"
-"what's in your pants?" (never ask this!!)
-"trans people are sex workers with HIV"
-"trans people hate their bodies"
-"trans people are trying to trick people"
-"trans people can't find partners and end up alone"
-"trans people are a danger especially to children"
-"trans people are in the wrong bathroom"
-"trans people are mentally ill"
-"getting hormones and surgeries is easy"
-"testosterone makes you angry, estrogen makes you emotional"
-"there are laws supporting transgender community"
-"trans people have always existed"
-"certain cultures embrace trans people" (this was REALLY fascinating)
-"trans people don't get along with feminists"
-"LGBTQ+ are united with Trans people"
Honestly, if you know nothing about transgender people, READ this! Educate yourself. It certainly opened up my eyes. These myths are not true. Listen to the facts provided. Grow, understand and open your mind! It certainly opened up mine. I had no idea about some of these things. I became aware of some unconscious biases and misconceptions I had previously had. Seriously, this is the power of books: Educate, inspire, learn, grow!
July 31, 2017
This is a wonderfully written book. I would have liked a glossary of some of the terms as I got a bit confused on some and had to try and find the explanation in past chapters. Other than that bit, I was well pleased with how the book was edited.
Each chapter is a myth that I know causes consternation in the conservative world. The reader may already know quite a bit, or think they do. But this will help explain in clear concise language what might be going through the transgender person's mind at any given time or fears they feel. The prejudice that is even within the trans community. That surprised me, but I guess it shouldn't. In a struggle to be accepted, support from within should be the norm. But it isn't. I can sort of identify with that as a woman in the world of women who can delight in bringing each other down rather than raising each other up.
But I know that I can go into the women's restroom at the store and not have anyone give me any grief. I won't have to fear that someone will tell me that I can't adopt because I am not a 'real woman' or have my children taken from me due to a law. Or fear of losing my job.
I can definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about this subject.
Each chapter is a myth that I know causes consternation in the conservative world. The reader may already know quite a bit, or think they do. But this will help explain in clear concise language what might be going through the transgender person's mind at any given time or fears they feel. The prejudice that is even within the trans community. That surprised me, but I guess it shouldn't. In a struggle to be accepted, support from within should be the norm. But it isn't. I can sort of identify with that as a woman in the world of women who can delight in bringing each other down rather than raising each other up.
But I know that I can go into the women's restroom at the store and not have anyone give me any grief. I won't have to fear that someone will tell me that I can't adopt because I am not a 'real woman' or have my children taken from me due to a law. Or fear of losing my job.
I can definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about this subject.
May 9, 2023
“You’re In the Wrong Bathroom!” by Laura Erickson-Schroth and Laura A. Jacobs is my first foray into lgbtq+ material - ashamedly late, given the looming presence of gender identities and expressions. I confess to being utterly clueless but also very intrigued.
‘Transgender’ is an umbrella term that refers to folks whose gender identities, expressions and behaviours don’t fit with their assigned gender at birth. Because of its broad categorisation, it can also include people who identify as non-binary.
Exploring gender identity and expression can be a highly personal and nuanced affair, and the book debunks several myths and the various challenges that trans folks face in their lives.
I finished the book in one sitting and found it informative and noob-friendly. It also opened my eyes towards subtle things that I probably wouldn't have given a second thought about. I would recommend this book to people who have no idea about the discriminations that transgender people face in their daily lives, and don’t have any prior knowledge about the political history of gender as well.
‘Transgender’ is an umbrella term that refers to folks whose gender identities, expressions and behaviours don’t fit with their assigned gender at birth. Because of its broad categorisation, it can also include people who identify as non-binary.
Exploring gender identity and expression can be a highly personal and nuanced affair, and the book debunks several myths and the various challenges that trans folks face in their lives.
I finished the book in one sitting and found it informative and noob-friendly. It also opened my eyes towards subtle things that I probably wouldn't have given a second thought about. I would recommend this book to people who have no idea about the discriminations that transgender people face in their daily lives, and don’t have any prior knowledge about the political history of gender as well.
July 21, 2017
“You’re in the Wrong Bathroom: And 20 Other Myths and Misconceptions about Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People by Laura Erickson-Schroth and Laura A. Jacobs is a timely exploration and debunking of many of the myths and fallacies about transgender people. It’s written in a very readable style with each question making up an individual chapter. The authors are open and honest about each question and while readers may be familiar with many of the concepts discussed, there is likely to be new information that is unfamiliar.
The myths make up about 140 pages of the book. There are 20 pages of resources that the reader may find useful and the remainder is made up of chapter notes.I view the book as a useful primer that anyone who has an interest in learning about gender-nonconforming people will enjoy reading.
Full disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a LibraryThing Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
The myths make up about 140 pages of the book. There are 20 pages of resources that the reader may find useful and the remainder is made up of chapter notes.I view the book as a useful primer that anyone who has an interest in learning about gender-nonconforming people will enjoy reading.
Full disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a LibraryThing Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2018
This is a good starter book to demystify Trans and Gender-nonconforming people. The title of the book is so on point, because Gender-nonconforming people, whether trans or not, are always the target of the gender police in public bathrooms. They routinely get harassed, questioned or even removed from the bathroom.
However, there are definitely a lot of myths around Trans and Non-conforming people, and the narrative of so many out there just helps to perpetuate some people's ignorance. So, if you are an ally and want to get more info on how to help out and support the Trans community, this is a good place to start. The book has tons of resources listed in case you want to read more about specific issues, and find out what some organizations are doing to change the narrative.
However, there are definitely a lot of myths around Trans and Non-conforming people, and the narrative of so many out there just helps to perpetuate some people's ignorance. So, if you are an ally and want to get more info on how to help out and support the Trans community, this is a good place to start. The book has tons of resources listed in case you want to read more about specific issues, and find out what some organizations are doing to change the narrative.
June 21, 2022
I'm glad I read this. I learned some things. I still have a ways to go in my learning, but this book was very digestible and easy to read in the format it's written in. Recommend!
Something I have thought about reading this book (and the other I read recently on the same topic) is if T would ever separate from LGB, as one is about sexual attraction and the other gender identity (which seem like, and the book confirms, are 2 totally different things--- though there is a lot of overlap in many ways in terms of political advocacy). That was addressed in this book, but under the idea that LGB wanted to separate because of shame of being associated with the trans community. That surprised me.
Something I have thought about reading this book (and the other I read recently on the same topic) is if T would ever separate from LGB, as one is about sexual attraction and the other gender identity (which seem like, and the book confirms, are 2 totally different things--- though there is a lot of overlap in many ways in terms of political advocacy). That was addressed in this book, but under the idea that LGB wanted to separate because of shame of being associated with the trans community. That surprised me.
September 28, 2022
Very informative, well researched and sourced.
This book is important for the times we live in. With states passing laws that affect transgender health it is more important than ever. Those genuinely curious with an open mind will have their questions addressed, while those that simply desire information to shut up "Maya supporting relatives during Thanksgiving dinner will be able to acquit themselves better.
The ones that will benefit most are the parents of transgender children will have facts to bring up to discuss with " well meaning relatives that know better" and think it is "just a phase". My phase has been lasting for over 40 years". I wish this resource had been available during my teen years.
This book is important for the times we live in. With states passing laws that affect transgender health it is more important than ever. Those genuinely curious with an open mind will have their questions addressed, while those that simply desire information to shut up "Maya supporting relatives during Thanksgiving dinner will be able to acquit themselves better.
The ones that will benefit most are the parents of transgender children will have facts to bring up to discuss with " well meaning relatives that know better" and think it is "just a phase". My phase has been lasting for over 40 years". I wish this resource had been available during my teen years.
July 21, 2023
This book really opened my eyes to the world of transgender and gender-nonconforming people. I would recommend it to the curious, the openminded, even the judgmentals, to view the issue from all sides. The best quote from the book: "When we have support, we thrive." I believe that's the main problem, not enough support. I still have lots of questions and so much empathy for anyone struggling to live this way, especially young people who often don't have anyone to turn to. A very short (12 min) film was referenced (I'm Just Anneke) about a 12-yr-old girl taking a hormone blocker, Lupron, to give her some time to deal with her gender identity.
October 4, 2017
This is a very useful book. I learned quite a bit, even though I talk to transgender people and their family members a lot and have read other books on these topics. It will probably need frequent revision, given the evolution in legal and political trends, sociological knowledge about gender non-binary people, and terminology. One virtue of the book is consiseness. Along with that goes comprehensiveness: you get a lot of ideas and statistics in a small space, the authors making each point clearly and moving on.
January 6, 2020
This book was assigned for a class and I thought it was really well written! It challenged my core knowledge base behind many of these myths and really helped me develop ways to challenge these myths in real life in an educated, calm and collected way.
I definitely recommend this to people who have a trans or gender non-conforming person in their lives and want to learn more about the trans community. I also recommend this to people who wish to learn how to have cohesive thoughts when discussing trans issues with those who aren't as educated and may be misinformed on certain subjects.
I definitely recommend this to people who have a trans or gender non-conforming person in their lives and want to learn more about the trans community. I also recommend this to people who wish to learn how to have cohesive thoughts when discussing trans issues with those who aren't as educated and may be misinformed on certain subjects.
June 9, 2017
A brisk read, this book examines various myths about transgender and gender nonconforming people. The book is organized by examination of various myths and ideas. For example, Myth 14 (and thus, chapter 14) explores the myth that Trans people are mentally ill and therapy can change them. For me, especially intriguing were the sections of the book devoted to history and culture. I also loved the resources found in back of the book including books for further reading.
June 26, 2017
I think the book was a informative and timely book. It discussed the attitudes and misconceptions many people have over the transgender that live amoung us. I believe this book will help people who think somehow transgendered are to be feared and see they are no different than you or me. They just dream and right to be of living to be who they are. I was impressed so I donated it to the head of psychology at my local mental health center for use by clinicians and clients.
June 4, 2020
Twenty-one myths and misconceptions that are in the T and GNC community. Interesting to get to know the ones that I knew of and some that changed my mind on how to look like it. I disagree with a couple like being trapped in the wrong body mainly cause that is how I feel although I do not hate my body. I just long for a cisgender alignment other by my birth sex or a magic redo into the sex I desire to be.
January 26, 2021
The title of the book makes it seem like it's just gonna be short and funny anecdotes. But it's actually well-researched short chapters about the different subjects. I'd suggest checking it out if you're interested in learning more about the trans experience (speaking as a cis person, it was good knowledge). A lot of it is fairly basic but it's still good to have it all in one place and easily readable.
December 23, 2022
VERY informative read
As an ally, I found this book extremely helpful in furthering my understanding of these marginalized groups of people. I learned a few things and it’s really reinforced the idea (for me) that Allie’s need to do more than just voice support for transgender and gender non-conforming people. EDUCATION is equally as important . I will be recommending this book to others who call themselves supporters/allies.
As an ally, I found this book extremely helpful in furthering my understanding of these marginalized groups of people. I learned a few things and it’s really reinforced the idea (for me) that Allie’s need to do more than just voice support for transgender and gender non-conforming people. EDUCATION is equally as important . I will be recommending this book to others who call themselves supporters/allies.
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