TRANS: Exploring Gender Identity and Gender Dysphoria

by Az Hakeem, Elizabeth Riley (Contributor), Kevan Wylie (Contributor)

What is gender dysphoria? How does it affect people? What do terms like intersex, cisgender and transsexualism mean? This book, the first of its kind, presents an easy-to-read, jargon-free guide to help anyone understand the terminology, the concept and the day-to-day reality of gender dysphoria and related concepts.

TRANS is a book for everyone - insightful enough for professionals, but accessible enough for all. Put simply, TRANS explains what gender dysphoria is, how it affects people, and what is available, medically and psychotherapeutically to support people with gender dysphoria. The editor, Dr Az Hakeem, has assembled a group of contributors to give readers a truly accessible guide to the psychology and the everyday reality of gender dysphoria, transvestism, gender reassignment and being trans.

The book even addresses 'the difficult questions' like 'What do we tell the children?' and 'What happens when you change your sex, then change your mind?'

Genres: Nonfiction, Gender, Psychology

209 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Dr Az Hakeem (MBBS, FRCPsych, Msc M.InstGA) is a top gender expert. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Visiting Professor in Psychiatry & Applied Psychotherapy. He ran a specialist Gender Dysphoria service in the NHS for 12 years. He now practises in the private sector at The Priory Hospital Roehampton and at Harley Street. He is a Visiting Professor at Bradford University and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at The University of New South Wales, Australia. Az has a wealth of media experience. He was an on-screen resident psychiatrist alongside Davina McCall on Channel 4's Big Brother, and a psychotherapist and co-presenter on E4's Wife Swap: The Aftermath. He has also appeared as Resident Psychiatrist on Weekend Sunrise in Australia and GMTV in the UK.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am slightly torn when it comes to this book, on one end I liked it on another end I wished it could have focused more on the transition related. This isn't a book I would recommend to friends or family of trans people part in due to the surgical results (which focused image-wise only on trans woman, not trans men as well) and part in due to that the text is somewhat confusing- even to a trans man like myself. I learned about different types of people who deal with a gender-related issue, those tend to be more on the sexual gratification personal and have the highest rate of being a bio male.

This is a book more for the transgender person who has a little knowledge of transgender issues is what I came away with this text. It was explained to the best of the author's ability but it was still confusing in some aspects mainly explaining the inserts of those who receive sexual ratification doing some type of cross gender-related activity. I had to re-read those sections to understand what was being said.

Overall it was an informative piece of information that is best for a slightly more experienced trans person who knows basics. But will learn many things including theories, the process of gender identity change etc. Note, there will be images of genitals so take that into consideration when picking up this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

well balanced presentation

I know very little about trans stuff. I read this book as an introduction to get a better idea about what all the ruckus is about. I have my own preconceived notions of course but wanted to learn more from professionals, intellectuals,& trans people themselves. This book fit the bill presenting opinions of medical professionals & psychiatrists with experience treating trans people, views of trans activists, & experiences of trans people. Dr. Hakeem deliberately & meticulously details the heterogeneity amongst trans people. I would like to have heard more from an about trans men. He also only mentioned in passing feminist concerns about trans activism and how it potentially affects natal women & girls. Overall a good read.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edited by a psychiatrist, a discipline that has arguably caused more harm than good to gender non-conforming people, this book is useful in describing the processes through which trans people in the UK need to navigate to receive gender-affirming healthcare, and it's useful in that regard (though, given the politically and ideologically driven pace of change in respect of trans citizenship, it may become increasingly outdated). It is less useful in that, in parts, it medicalises trans experience and, in parts, uncritically presents some controversial, and transphobic, concepts. Approach with caution.

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy focus on the medical/psychotherapy aspects. Also, the final chapter (on trans politics) came off as defensive on the author/editor's part. Informative but perhaps not the best book if you're looking for something to help you understand the experiences of trans people (which I was).

[Jay Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very information heavy but important information inclosed. Suits a range of ages, including teenagers, adults and parents. Included information on hormones, surgery, clinics, documentations, and politics as well as updated terminology

[Lycra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to understand the psychology behind the present trans phenomenon better and to navigate the related terminology, rather than encounter the physical manifestations. Thus, I was not keen to know about, or particularly see, the results of the post-operative surgery and a surfeit of images of neovaginas in one of the chapters. Drawing from his observations as a psychiatrist and as a psychotherapist to trans adults at various stages of their transition, the editor, Dr. Hakeem explains the multifarious groupings and subgroupings encompassed under the term 'trans', and discusses the nature of gender dysphoria and transvestism. This is interspersed with accounts of trans individuals' personal experiences. There are chapters by other authoritative contributors, some of whom are trans themselves, which give insights into trans issues, especially gender reassignment and surgery (hence the neovaginas). Male-to-female transition seems to predominate throughout the book. The final chapter addresses trans activism and politics as greatly influenced by Dr. Hakeem's experiences in the wake of harassment. I would have preferred much more about the psychological aspects and analyses of motivations, but just the useful clarification of 'trans' categories rendered the book worth reading.

[Amos Blyth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many issues with this book. Almost every account of a personal experience was rife with the use of a dead name and pronouns when talking about their earlier life. This is not common practice and would lead to a lot of confusion amongs people who are not aware of this.
Additionally, outdated language, far too much of an emphasis on "born sex", an inability to use the word transgender correctly, and a confused sense that the authors stance on a person's gender is dictated by their stage of medical transition.

[Josie A.]

Great book.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

all the terminology

[Artemis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a hard one to review.
One the one hand, there is some useful information in there, mostly by people who aren't actually the editor/main author.

The writing of Az Hakeem is, incredibly, dry. It reads like a clinician reporting on their research to fellow academics in a little blog journal thing that nobody actually wants to submit to.
It doesn't read as something that a person without academic training would be able to tolerate. It was difficult to get through the first chunk.

The ending being so heavily focused on the authors own victimization was also incredibly weird. Most of the book is focused on pushing against there being a binary, and how everybody is unique and etc... and then at the end we reinforce the binary while also taking a job at trans people as a whole while also implying that trans people need to somehow be better than non-trans people.

It was, a bit of a mess.

I guess I'm just bothered because it could have been so much more.

Overall, I'd look for a different resource. There's gotta be better out there.