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Transgressive: A Trans Woman on Gender, Feminism, and Politics
How do I know I am trans? Is trans feminism real feminism? What is there to say about trans women's male privilege? This collection of insightful, pithy and passionately argued think pieces from a trans-feminist perspective explores issues surrounding gender, feminism and philosophy and challenges misconceptions about trans identities. The book confronts contentious debates in gender studies to alleviate ongoing tension between feminism and trans women. Split into six sections, this collection covers wider issues, as well as autobiographical experiences, designed to stimulate the reader and encourage them to actively participate.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 27, 2018
"We should be focussing on listening to each other, listening to our unique stories, and celebrating our differences rather than trying to fix all trans people into a single theoretical model. Why not let 1000 flowers bloom?"
Transgressive is an collection of essays written by Rachel Anne Williams on her blog Transphilosopher. Rachel Anne Williams is a trans woman and ex-philosopher. And also one of my favourite people I've ever read a book off.
Continue reading at: www.booksandmacchiatos.com
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Transgressive is an collection of essays written by Rachel Anne Williams on her blog Transphilosopher. Rachel Anne Williams is a trans woman and ex-philosopher. And also one of my favourite people I've ever read a book off.
Continue reading at: www.booksandmacchiatos.com
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this free copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 13, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Some people have said that this is too academic and with too much difficult terminology. I don't see it that way. English isn't my native language, and I'm a graduate of the Finnish equivalent of a high school. That's it. I didn't find the book particularly difficult to read, challenging, yes, but not difficult, per se. Sure, there are terms and abbreviations that I wasn't familiar with – like t4t – but Williams did explain those terms and abbreviations.
Of course the author's philosophical and (sometimes excessively) theoretical approach to things can make things difficult for people who didn't start reading Nietzsche at the mature age of thirteen, but I digress (and am probably also humblebragging).
I found myself disagreeing on some parts. I don't, for an example, think gender dysphoria is an absolutely necessary part of the trans experience. (Gender euphoria is an option, too!)
I liked the book. The essays sometimes made my head ache, in a good way. Like the way your muscles ache after a very good workout. Some essays made me question my views on stuff. Some essays made me throw my fist in the air and yell, "Yes!" Some essays made me want to cry (it's difficult for me to cry, so I never did).
This book will challenge your views. This book will make you uncomfortable. In a good way!
Read this!
Some people have said that this is too academic and with too much difficult terminology. I don't see it that way. English isn't my native language, and I'm a graduate of the Finnish equivalent of a high school. That's it. I didn't find the book particularly difficult to read, challenging, yes, but not difficult, per se. Sure, there are terms and abbreviations that I wasn't familiar with – like t4t – but Williams did explain those terms and abbreviations.
Of course the author's philosophical and (sometimes excessively) theoretical approach to things can make things difficult for people who didn't start reading Nietzsche at the mature age of thirteen, but I digress (and am probably also humblebragging).
I found myself disagreeing on some parts. I don't, for an example, think gender dysphoria is an absolutely necessary part of the trans experience. (Gender euphoria is an option, too!)
I liked the book. The essays sometimes made my head ache, in a good way. Like the way your muscles ache after a very good workout. Some essays made me question my views on stuff. Some essays made me throw my fist in the air and yell, "Yes!" Some essays made me want to cry (it's difficult for me to cry, so I never did).
This book will challenge your views. This book will make you uncomfortable. In a good way!
Read this!
February 3, 2020
2.5 (for now)
As a member of the LGBT community, I picked this up to broaden my view on transgender issues, since I am not entirely familiar with the topic.(although every person should)
Honestly, struggling to move forward after the introduction. I was expecting objective arguments and an open discussion on what it means to be transgender. This just seems like a straight-up cis-gender bashing blog post.
I will continue reading the rest of the essays with an open mind and maybe find some good points.
As a member of the LGBT community, I picked this up to broaden my view on transgender issues, since I am not entirely familiar with the topic.(although every person should)
Honestly, struggling to move forward after the introduction. I was expecting objective arguments and an open discussion on what it means to be transgender. This just seems like a straight-up cis-gender bashing blog post.
I will continue reading the rest of the essays with an open mind and maybe find some good points.
June 17, 2019
The author has collected essays written about trans women and their experience, which she wrote on her blog. She says she only decided after her wife left with another man, to really come out and transition; however I can't help thinking that the 'ton of pot' she admits to having smoked in college won't have done her any good. The author swears, at almost random times, during this book, and altogether comes across to me far more aggressively than women do.
Different readers will give different ratings based on how relevant the book feels to them, or how much their own experiences are reflected. I found some parts more interesting than others, and the author talks about her dysphoria and other psychiatry terms without giving simple definitions, which might be helpful for younger readers. The author says she 'gave up the male gaze' which she had enjoyed through developmental years; in other words, instead of being a man who could look at and sometimes intimidate women, she was now a woman who felt nervous when being looked at by a gang of men. She says she never paid the 'pink tax' and 'played with the cool toys' but as a girl who refused to do girlish things like makeup and play with dolls, I can say that this is more a reflection on her consumer society than gender roles. She doesn't mention (that I saw) the horribleness, expense and inconvenience of having to have periods, which she avoided. And given she says she's among 'half a percentage point' how come she claims all men have seen trans porn? Maybe only in America would this happen?
I don't get her point about personal finance. Saving money, and not wasting it on the most expensive coffees, or stupidest perfumes, is good for everyone.
I would have liked an exploration of online society with 'Gamergate' and chatrooms rather than just a nod to the randomness and scariness of net dating and the claimed (with no stats) unpleasant trolling of gay or trans people online. Overall I would have liked to see more statistics and less philosophising. The book also seems to reflect a life of self-obsession and non-useful college courses, and doesn't mention getting involved in charity work, student unions or environmental cleanups, for instance. The author has written her own views and tells us that everyone will have a different experience. I would hope everyone would have a good experience. I expect this book will be helpful to some people.
Further reading P258 - 263, notes 264 - 269. As initials were used I am unable to say how many women are quoted.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Different readers will give different ratings based on how relevant the book feels to them, or how much their own experiences are reflected. I found some parts more interesting than others, and the author talks about her dysphoria and other psychiatry terms without giving simple definitions, which might be helpful for younger readers. The author says she 'gave up the male gaze' which she had enjoyed through developmental years; in other words, instead of being a man who could look at and sometimes intimidate women, she was now a woman who felt nervous when being looked at by a gang of men. She says she never paid the 'pink tax' and 'played with the cool toys' but as a girl who refused to do girlish things like makeup and play with dolls, I can say that this is more a reflection on her consumer society than gender roles. She doesn't mention (that I saw) the horribleness, expense and inconvenience of having to have periods, which she avoided. And given she says she's among 'half a percentage point' how come she claims all men have seen trans porn? Maybe only in America would this happen?
I don't get her point about personal finance. Saving money, and not wasting it on the most expensive coffees, or stupidest perfumes, is good for everyone.
I would have liked an exploration of online society with 'Gamergate' and chatrooms rather than just a nod to the randomness and scariness of net dating and the claimed (with no stats) unpleasant trolling of gay or trans people online. Overall I would have liked to see more statistics and less philosophising. The book also seems to reflect a life of self-obsession and non-useful college courses, and doesn't mention getting involved in charity work, student unions or environmental cleanups, for instance. The author has written her own views and tells us that everyone will have a different experience. I would hope everyone would have a good experience. I expect this book will be helpful to some people.
Further reading P258 - 263, notes 264 - 269. As initials were used I am unable to say how many women are quoted.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
April 27, 2020
Rachel Anne Williams’ Transgressive delved into the life and experience of trans women through the lens of queer theory and lived experience. She’s also delivering her thoughts as an ex-philosopher which provides an interesting background. The text itself is intended to be read as the reader wishes rather than in a linear fashion; Williams appreciates that you might not necessarily require everything that her book offers.
Each chapter is around 1000 words, and they read much like blog posts. They are short and to the point, but some could have done with a little finer tuning as it was clear that they had just been copied and pasted from her blog rather than re-worked.
At times, Williams is blunt. She will not pander to her readers, and I appreciate this. There are far too many Trans 101 texts that fail to acknowledge the harsh realities that can come with being transgender, particularly being a trans woman or trans woman of colour.
Williams is willing to be completely transparent about her journey, and through the text you can see her finding her feet and her voice. Some chapters are more captivating than others, and I thoroughly enjoyed chapter 6 ‘Being an Angry Tranny’ where she explains that academics, and in particular ‘white cis straight males’, have a ‘tendency to treat pressing social problems as curious thought experiments.’ I have known female scientists to take a similar stance and view my life as a live experiment that will unfold in front of them over the next few years. That was more than uncomfortable, and I had to take time to assess whether I wanted to keep them in my life and how to convey the severity of the things that they had said.
Her views on non-binary people were disappointing, and she states that ‘many trans people themselves, view the non-binary movement with scepticism and disdain.’ Her personal stance is that the movement is ‘neither good nor bad. It is simply the evolution of modern queer culture. It’s a fact. It’s happening. I see it happening all around me. As I see it, we have three options. We can: (1) Fight it (2) Promote it or (3) Be neutral.’
The chapter is concluded by her saying that her ‘promotion’ of the movement ‘is merely the logical conclusion of neutrality: this is where things are heading and I don’t want to be on the wrong side of history.’ It’s disheartening and potentially damaging.
Throughout the book, we also see Williams suggest that trans men have an easier existence, often because she considers them to pass more easily. It’s exhausting for this argument to continually crop up in books on the trans experience, especially when there is such a lack of depth to the argument.
I think that Williams should have written a more extended piece on both the non-binary identity and the privileges experienced by trans men, as it is difficult to have a well-reasoned discussion in a thousand or so words; it’s far more nuanced than that. In her introduction, she states that she is open to discussion surrounding anything contained within her book, so I might contact her for clarification.
Delving further into the book, I wondered if I should complete it as her opinions had sparked genuine anger and frustration. I decided to continue in the hope that more of her arguments and discussions would resonate with me. It was a mixed bag.
Writing about herself and her experiences with gender and identity are the strongest areas of the text. Later in the work, Williams explores the concept of ‘gender agnosticism’ which ‘is the refusal to claim certainty that I know what my “true sex” or “true gender” is.’ This chapter was a refreshing read, and echoes sentiments by Juno Roche in Trans Power, who identifies as trans rather than trying to contort into an identity that doesn’t fit. Williams doesn’t attempt to overwrite the identity of others and understands ‘that many trans people take solace in gender gnosticism, the certainty they feel in knowing their gender.’ I won’t say that it was a flawlessly articulated argument, but it can act as an opening to discussion, which is what this book is about.
One of the final chapters, ‘Queering Personal Finance’, argues that ‘There is a tendency in queer/leftist circles to think that personal finance is for rich white conservatives and no one else.’ Williams goes on to suggest that a ‘$5 Starbucks’ will destroy our budgets, and that you should have an emergency fund that covers 3-6 months and should be at least $1000. The way she presents this is heavy-handed and judgmental.
Williams is effectively guilt-tripping readers as she writes ‘you are essentially saying the risk of financial ruin is worth the latest chef’s offerings.’ Statements like this are vile and vilify poor people who wish to make small purchases with the disposable income that comes their way. I’m one of those people who is forced to live month to month, and saving isn’t an option. I’m not bad with money, I just don’t make enough. So, if I find it in my budget to eat out, I’m going to. I’d much rather have that experience than be desperately gathering pennies for an emergency fund and living miserably. Also, $1000 in London is barely going to cover a month of rent and utilities, I’d need at least $3000-4000, and that’s impossible on my salary unless I saved for years.
Whilst I do agree that ‘We need to normalise frugality, budgeting, retirement, and investing in queer/leftist circles’, this is not the way to convey your point. It’s reads as hastily written and provides very little guidance as to how you can get to a point where saving is viable. There are people in far worse situations than I, and this should have been an opportunity to guide rather than scold.
Overall, Transgressive is an interesting read, but it’s not the first book that I would recommend. You might enjoy this if you’re seeking more accessible pieces that you can dip in and out of. Whilst I might not agree with everything Williams has to say, her arguments are, for the most part, well constructed and her views on gender and identity are genuinely interesting, and I am curious to see if gender agnosticism resounds with others.
*I received a free copy of this via NetGalley for review*
Each chapter is around 1000 words, and they read much like blog posts. They are short and to the point, but some could have done with a little finer tuning as it was clear that they had just been copied and pasted from her blog rather than re-worked.
At times, Williams is blunt. She will not pander to her readers, and I appreciate this. There are far too many Trans 101 texts that fail to acknowledge the harsh realities that can come with being transgender, particularly being a trans woman or trans woman of colour.
Williams is willing to be completely transparent about her journey, and through the text you can see her finding her feet and her voice. Some chapters are more captivating than others, and I thoroughly enjoyed chapter 6 ‘Being an Angry Tranny’ where she explains that academics, and in particular ‘white cis straight males’, have a ‘tendency to treat pressing social problems as curious thought experiments.’ I have known female scientists to take a similar stance and view my life as a live experiment that will unfold in front of them over the next few years. That was more than uncomfortable, and I had to take time to assess whether I wanted to keep them in my life and how to convey the severity of the things that they had said.
Her views on non-binary people were disappointing, and she states that ‘many trans people themselves, view the non-binary movement with scepticism and disdain.’ Her personal stance is that the movement is ‘neither good nor bad. It is simply the evolution of modern queer culture. It’s a fact. It’s happening. I see it happening all around me. As I see it, we have three options. We can: (1) Fight it (2) Promote it or (3) Be neutral.’
The chapter is concluded by her saying that her ‘promotion’ of the movement ‘is merely the logical conclusion of neutrality: this is where things are heading and I don’t want to be on the wrong side of history.’ It’s disheartening and potentially damaging.
Throughout the book, we also see Williams suggest that trans men have an easier existence, often because she considers them to pass more easily. It’s exhausting for this argument to continually crop up in books on the trans experience, especially when there is such a lack of depth to the argument.
I think that Williams should have written a more extended piece on both the non-binary identity and the privileges experienced by trans men, as it is difficult to have a well-reasoned discussion in a thousand or so words; it’s far more nuanced than that. In her introduction, she states that she is open to discussion surrounding anything contained within her book, so I might contact her for clarification.
Delving further into the book, I wondered if I should complete it as her opinions had sparked genuine anger and frustration. I decided to continue in the hope that more of her arguments and discussions would resonate with me. It was a mixed bag.
Writing about herself and her experiences with gender and identity are the strongest areas of the text. Later in the work, Williams explores the concept of ‘gender agnosticism’ which ‘is the refusal to claim certainty that I know what my “true sex” or “true gender” is.’ This chapter was a refreshing read, and echoes sentiments by Juno Roche in Trans Power, who identifies as trans rather than trying to contort into an identity that doesn’t fit. Williams doesn’t attempt to overwrite the identity of others and understands ‘that many trans people take solace in gender gnosticism, the certainty they feel in knowing their gender.’ I won’t say that it was a flawlessly articulated argument, but it can act as an opening to discussion, which is what this book is about.
One of the final chapters, ‘Queering Personal Finance’, argues that ‘There is a tendency in queer/leftist circles to think that personal finance is for rich white conservatives and no one else.’ Williams goes on to suggest that a ‘$5 Starbucks’ will destroy our budgets, and that you should have an emergency fund that covers 3-6 months and should be at least $1000. The way she presents this is heavy-handed and judgmental.
Williams is effectively guilt-tripping readers as she writes ‘you are essentially saying the risk of financial ruin is worth the latest chef’s offerings.’ Statements like this are vile and vilify poor people who wish to make small purchases with the disposable income that comes their way. I’m one of those people who is forced to live month to month, and saving isn’t an option. I’m not bad with money, I just don’t make enough. So, if I find it in my budget to eat out, I’m going to. I’d much rather have that experience than be desperately gathering pennies for an emergency fund and living miserably. Also, $1000 in London is barely going to cover a month of rent and utilities, I’d need at least $3000-4000, and that’s impossible on my salary unless I saved for years.
Whilst I do agree that ‘We need to normalise frugality, budgeting, retirement, and investing in queer/leftist circles’, this is not the way to convey your point. It’s reads as hastily written and provides very little guidance as to how you can get to a point where saving is viable. There are people in far worse situations than I, and this should have been an opportunity to guide rather than scold.
Overall, Transgressive is an interesting read, but it’s not the first book that I would recommend. You might enjoy this if you’re seeking more accessible pieces that you can dip in and out of. Whilst I might not agree with everything Williams has to say, her arguments are, for the most part, well constructed and her views on gender and identity are genuinely interesting, and I am curious to see if gender agnosticism resounds with others.
*I received a free copy of this via NetGalley for review*
June 27, 2019
Review to come
July 4, 2020
Unfortunately, my review is too long to fit in the allotted number of characters.
I posted it on my transgender blog. Here is the link - https://stephiegurl.home.blog/2020/07...
I posted it on my transgender blog. Here is the link - https://stephiegurl.home.blog/2020/07...
March 31, 2019
As an intersectional feminist, I actively seek material that will expand my understanding of the world and all the diversity within it. Rachel Anne Williams crafted an important book in "Transgressive" that should be in every gender studies classroom and on every feminist's TBR.
Trans issues are complex because every person is different. As a trans woman who happens to also be highly educated, Williams uses her point of view to examine gender identity, sexuality, social justice, and philosophy simultaneously. She took essays from her blog and repurposed them into book form. This transfer from blog to book is often very apparent when the narrative becomes repetitive (the same quote is used three different times to make the same point) and the same terms are defined repeatedly, but in slightly different words.
The structure of the book is pleasant to read. The short, topical essays make for a quick jaunt into Williams's world whenever you have time to dive in. While she states that she wants the book to be open to the uninformed reader, I find that due to the complexity of many of the topics, and the fact that they are not yet mainstream ideas that the general public will already have familiarity with, casual readers will be frustrated by the academic language and philosophical concepts.
The most interesting part of the book is her fight against the "born this way" idea of transgenderism. Not all trans people identify with this feeling and Williams's voice is a welcome change of pace. I wish more of the book was written autobiographically as her story is fascinating and important. The chapter I enjoyed the most was "Giving Up My Male Privilege" and appreciate the honesty with which Williams approached each of her topics, especially this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Trans issues are complex because every person is different. As a trans woman who happens to also be highly educated, Williams uses her point of view to examine gender identity, sexuality, social justice, and philosophy simultaneously. She took essays from her blog and repurposed them into book form. This transfer from blog to book is often very apparent when the narrative becomes repetitive (the same quote is used three different times to make the same point) and the same terms are defined repeatedly, but in slightly different words.
The structure of the book is pleasant to read. The short, topical essays make for a quick jaunt into Williams's world whenever you have time to dive in. While she states that she wants the book to be open to the uninformed reader, I find that due to the complexity of many of the topics, and the fact that they are not yet mainstream ideas that the general public will already have familiarity with, casual readers will be frustrated by the academic language and philosophical concepts.
The most interesting part of the book is her fight against the "born this way" idea of transgenderism. Not all trans people identify with this feeling and Williams's voice is a welcome change of pace. I wish more of the book was written autobiographically as her story is fascinating and important. The chapter I enjoyed the most was "Giving Up My Male Privilege" and appreciate the honesty with which Williams approached each of her topics, especially this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2019
I very much enjoyed reading Rachel Anne Williams essay collection. In my experience so far, of reading other books and articles/blogs/commentary on social media, writing around the subject of being transgender tends to be either personal or theoretical. 'Transgressive', written by a woman with academic credentials, who is also transgender herself, combines both of these aspects beautifully. The author writes passionately, from personal experience, but she also writes very well, producing rational reasoning and theoretical argument to produce an excellent balance within her work. There are numerous new works being published on this subject now, many dealing more with basic explanations and defining terms for the less academic reader or one who is new to the subject matter. Rachel Anne Williams on the other hand provides the depth and quality of writing here that I've been finding lacking. Highly recommended reading.
(I received a free copy if this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review)
(I received a free copy if this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review)
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January 20, 2025Long collection of short essays. When I read this in November 2022, I wrote here that the essays "show evolving, flexible thought on a variety of linked topics" and give "one trans person's thinking about trans topics," and I said more on Medium (unpaywalled link). Update: In August 2023, this author announced on YouTube that he's detransitioning. He now goes by Ray Alex Williams. People may detransition for any reason. What concerns me is that Williams is using his online presence to make anti-trans comments and insult the appearance of trans people he apparently doesn't know. It always saddens me when people choose to devote their public image to the anti-trans agenda. I became aware in January 2025 that Williams had gone that route. This makes it impossible for me to recommend the book.
February 13, 2019
This is a really interesting and well written book of essays and blog pieces about being a transgender woman. It is something I am ignorant of, and also the vitriolic debate on the subject in social media meant I was looking forward to understanding the view of someone living the situation and writing as a philosopher. However, I did find the book a little disjointed and I don't feel I "knew" the writer much better after I'd finished. I did learn interesting things about the general topics of gender and feminism. I feel the author wanted to be dispassionate and argue the case as an academic but I wanted more passion or something to show how this mattered to her. The ability to dip in and out of this will make me come back to reread some of the pieces and do some further research. It is well worth the time invested to read a view from the heart of the debate.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
July 12, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. It's a collection of essays written over a period of 3 years where the author outlines her thoughts as a philosopher and nonbinary trans woman. While I didn't agree 100% with everything she said in this book, I respect her thought processes and believe that she is a well-meaning person.
July 17, 2021
Thoughtful set of essays -- I learned something from each one and gained a lot by reading this author's experience and expertise.
October 10, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest book review!
I would like to note that this book is out of my normal wheelhouse of books. This is a book of essays written by Rachel Anne Williams, a transgender woman, taken from her blog she writes. I am not normally a fan of essays, but this book intrigued me and I was excited to be approved for the advance copy.
The author prefaces this book with letting you know to read the book however you want. Since this was an ebook for myself, it was easiest to read it straight through. She also asks for feedback and requests it come in the form of a “shit sandwich.” What this means is you say something that wasn’t so great, add in a part or something you loved, and end with something else that needs a little work. I appreciate this author and her quest for honest, constructive feedback.
The essays are categorized in similar groups and so they begin. I had to Google a lot of things in this book. As someone who does not know any trans gendered people, this was my first real introduction in to this world. Suddenly terms appeared in the essays and I was clueless at what they meant. This became frustrating to have to read with my phone nearby so I could look up new terms. I did find that as I read and finished the book, many of the terms were explained in detail that I had to originally look up. It would have been great to have those essays at the beginning of the book or at least an extra preface to terminology that someone outside of the transgendered world would not be familiar with.
Williams is a well-educated woman with a clear background in philosophy. The way she writes is stunning and remarkable. You can tell she thought about how she wanted to articulate herself. I also appreciated that she made sure to clarify that this book is about HER experience, and her experience only, and that everyone’s experience is different. I will say it was eye opening to learn about the process and what transgendered people go through. If you are looking for an insight and are overall just curious, I must steer you in the direction of Rachel and this book.
I wanted to like this book more than I did, but, I found myself skipping over a few essays as they just went above my head. It also frustrated me to have unfamiliar terms explained at the end of the book. I know this also probably goes with the nature of an advance copy, but, there were footnotes that were all at the end of the book. That made it difficult to read the footnotes, so I just gave up on trying, it would have been helpful to have them at the end of each essay instead.
I am giving Transgressive a 3.5 star rating. It held my interest and I feel much better informed and understanding of issues and the process that surrounds transgendered people. I also see the potential in the book to be very controversial. You won’t be sorry if you pick this book up to read and you really can skip around and read essays in whatever order (my recommendation is start with the last category of essays first). I hope to read more work from Williams in the future.
I would like to note that this book is out of my normal wheelhouse of books. This is a book of essays written by Rachel Anne Williams, a transgender woman, taken from her blog she writes. I am not normally a fan of essays, but this book intrigued me and I was excited to be approved for the advance copy.
The author prefaces this book with letting you know to read the book however you want. Since this was an ebook for myself, it was easiest to read it straight through. She also asks for feedback and requests it come in the form of a “shit sandwich.” What this means is you say something that wasn’t so great, add in a part or something you loved, and end with something else that needs a little work. I appreciate this author and her quest for honest, constructive feedback.
The essays are categorized in similar groups and so they begin. I had to Google a lot of things in this book. As someone who does not know any trans gendered people, this was my first real introduction in to this world. Suddenly terms appeared in the essays and I was clueless at what they meant. This became frustrating to have to read with my phone nearby so I could look up new terms. I did find that as I read and finished the book, many of the terms were explained in detail that I had to originally look up. It would have been great to have those essays at the beginning of the book or at least an extra preface to terminology that someone outside of the transgendered world would not be familiar with.
Williams is a well-educated woman with a clear background in philosophy. The way she writes is stunning and remarkable. You can tell she thought about how she wanted to articulate herself. I also appreciated that she made sure to clarify that this book is about HER experience, and her experience only, and that everyone’s experience is different. I will say it was eye opening to learn about the process and what transgendered people go through. If you are looking for an insight and are overall just curious, I must steer you in the direction of Rachel and this book.
I wanted to like this book more than I did, but, I found myself skipping over a few essays as they just went above my head. It also frustrated me to have unfamiliar terms explained at the end of the book. I know this also probably goes with the nature of an advance copy, but, there were footnotes that were all at the end of the book. That made it difficult to read the footnotes, so I just gave up on trying, it would have been helpful to have them at the end of each essay instead.
I am giving Transgressive a 3.5 star rating. It held my interest and I feel much better informed and understanding of issues and the process that surrounds transgendered people. I also see the potential in the book to be very controversial. You won’t be sorry if you pick this book up to read and you really can skip around and read essays in whatever order (my recommendation is start with the last category of essays first). I hope to read more work from Williams in the future.
August 6, 2020
Interesting! I really enjoyed this. It's definitely a very personal collection of essays (which she says outright), but also is logical, clever and takes into consideration the effect society has on her trans experience. I can see some of what she's saying is possibly quite controversial (e.g, that she didn't always feel like a woman), but she's also quick to acknowledge that her way isn't the only valid way, which I liked. I also appreciated hearing her thoughts on how she used to have male privilege, and how that's filtered through into her experience as a woman, and as trans. Would recommend this, ideally as one book in a series of different books by a variety of trans authors. The tone is blunt in a way that sometimes was almost unrelenting, but it worked for me since it was never paired with close-mindedness, but I can see some people not going for it.
Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
I was very happy to be able to review this book, because I am always actively seeking out new voices and especially marginalized voices that I feel desperately need to be given light in our world today. This book and others like it are extremely important for our society and I hope that it is able to reach a wide range of audiences.
I went into this book hopeful to learn and increase my knowledge and I received so much more than that! Even though Williams has an extensive background in philosophy and theory, I really appreciated the writing style and did not ever feel lost or like it read too academically. On the contrary, I was delighted with the refreshing honesty and articulate way in which the essays were written. I especially enjoyed reading the essays that particularly related to the author’s experience transitioning such as the essay titled, “Giving Up My Male Privilege.” Another essay I really enjoyed was, “There I Go Again, Thinking I Have a Basic Right to Exist in Society,” which discusses transgender bathroom access. I really appreciated this essay because I unfortunately live in a state that has been dealing with bathroom access and horrible exclusionary bathroom laws, and too often I find that I get in arguments with people about why these laws are not okay and cannot succinctly convey or get through to people what I am trying to say. Williams’s essay achieved this very well and I found myself nodding “yes!” throughout the whole thing.
If you are looking to expand your knowledge, read intelligent and well-written essays on trans experience, politics, and feminism, then Transgressive is the perfect collection of essays for you!
I was very happy to be able to review this book, because I am always actively seeking out new voices and especially marginalized voices that I feel desperately need to be given light in our world today. This book and others like it are extremely important for our society and I hope that it is able to reach a wide range of audiences.
I went into this book hopeful to learn and increase my knowledge and I received so much more than that! Even though Williams has an extensive background in philosophy and theory, I really appreciated the writing style and did not ever feel lost or like it read too academically. On the contrary, I was delighted with the refreshing honesty and articulate way in which the essays were written. I especially enjoyed reading the essays that particularly related to the author’s experience transitioning such as the essay titled, “Giving Up My Male Privilege.” Another essay I really enjoyed was, “There I Go Again, Thinking I Have a Basic Right to Exist in Society,” which discusses transgender bathroom access. I really appreciated this essay because I unfortunately live in a state that has been dealing with bathroom access and horrible exclusionary bathroom laws, and too often I find that I get in arguments with people about why these laws are not okay and cannot succinctly convey or get through to people what I am trying to say. Williams’s essay achieved this very well and I found myself nodding “yes!” throughout the whole thing.
If you are looking to expand your knowledge, read intelligent and well-written essays on trans experience, politics, and feminism, then Transgressive is the perfect collection of essays for you!
October 29, 2018
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for feedback.
I want to preface this by saying that I read this on my Kindle and I accidentally skipped to chapter 27 without realizing it. As you can imagine, I was quite surprised as to how (I thought) the book was beginning. That chapter, "Sacred bullshit: A rebuttal to Dan Harris" refuted a number of ignorant comments by a transphobe. I liked the essay but I thought that was a rather aggressive way to begin the book (whoops, it doesn't actually start that way!) After going back to read the first 27 chapters/essays, I saw that the book does a great job addressing misconceptions within the transgender community, written by the thoughtful and dynamic Rachel Anne Williams.
As a cisgender, heterosexual, Caucasian female, I know I am in a place of privilege. (Side note: I loved the chapter where Williams also discusses the privileges she had before she transitioned). As such, I want to do everything I can to support my sisters, no matter what sex they were given at birth. I personally did not know much about the fetishization of transgenders, nor did I know much about the dating scene as a transgender (or even homosexual, for that matter). Now more than ever is a time where we should understand what our marginalized peers are going through, so we can support them. Williams and her book are not just a testament to those transitioning/have transitioned, but this type of literature is what we NEED as a society so that we can lovingly accept others.
I want to preface this by saying that I read this on my Kindle and I accidentally skipped to chapter 27 without realizing it. As you can imagine, I was quite surprised as to how (I thought) the book was beginning. That chapter, "Sacred bullshit: A rebuttal to Dan Harris" refuted a number of ignorant comments by a transphobe. I liked the essay but I thought that was a rather aggressive way to begin the book (whoops, it doesn't actually start that way!) After going back to read the first 27 chapters/essays, I saw that the book does a great job addressing misconceptions within the transgender community, written by the thoughtful and dynamic Rachel Anne Williams.
As a cisgender, heterosexual, Caucasian female, I know I am in a place of privilege. (Side note: I loved the chapter where Williams also discusses the privileges she had before she transitioned). As such, I want to do everything I can to support my sisters, no matter what sex they were given at birth. I personally did not know much about the fetishization of transgenders, nor did I know much about the dating scene as a transgender (or even homosexual, for that matter). Now more than ever is a time where we should understand what our marginalized peers are going through, so we can support them. Williams and her book are not just a testament to those transitioning/have transitioned, but this type of literature is what we NEED as a society so that we can lovingly accept others.
January 3, 2019
As an advocate of civil rights for all, I always seek out information and books to hear people's stories in their own words. I was hoping Transgressive would help me understand the transgender narrative from actual experiences.
Rachel Anne Williams combines essays from her website as well as adds new material for this collection about her life as a transgender woman. I learned a lot but mostly about gender theory and less on her own experiences.
I like that she made sure that the reader understand these were her experiences and opinions and that she does not speak on the transgender population as a whole. As I learned reading the book, gender is so varied and experiences of living gender is very personal and different for everyone.
The biggest issue I had with the book was the tone. At the beginning, she states she always wants to hear other thoughts and questions about the topic she writes about. As I got into the book, it became clear that she didn't really want to answer questions or have discussions about topics from cis people. I can understand this to a point; many people are rude and just want to argue. I honestly want to understand what she goes through and truly understand the concepts she presents in the book.
Overall, this book is great in discussing gender theory (though it gets above my head on a scholarly level). I learned a lot and have a lot to mull over in my head.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; al opinions are my own.
Rachel Anne Williams combines essays from her website as well as adds new material for this collection about her life as a transgender woman. I learned a lot but mostly about gender theory and less on her own experiences.
I like that she made sure that the reader understand these were her experiences and opinions and that she does not speak on the transgender population as a whole. As I learned reading the book, gender is so varied and experiences of living gender is very personal and different for everyone.
The biggest issue I had with the book was the tone. At the beginning, she states she always wants to hear other thoughts and questions about the topic she writes about. As I got into the book, it became clear that she didn't really want to answer questions or have discussions about topics from cis people. I can understand this to a point; many people are rude and just want to argue. I honestly want to understand what she goes through and truly understand the concepts she presents in the book.
Overall, this book is great in discussing gender theory (though it gets above my head on a scholarly level). I learned a lot and have a lot to mull over in my head.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; al opinions are my own.
December 14, 2018
What an essay collection! I really enjoyed this, not only because of the content but also because of how Williams' wrote this. There were a wide range of essays covering many topics relating to trans life and culture. I feel like this helped me understand certain aspects and view points better. I point i did appreciate was Williams stating that the opinions and views that she holds come from her pre-trans life as well and that her experience is not the only trans experience out there, just one of many different kinds.
December 3, 2019
These are short conversational tone (from a blog) essays. There is a lot of food for thought here and Rachel writes about many things I have wondered about and contemplated.
September 5, 2021
In my quest to deepen my own understanding of gender debates, I took this book (and some others) on with an open mind. I was drawn to this book because it’s written by an educated person who has life experience. It was interesting to get some insight into Ms Williams views and to go some way to understand her own journey. It was easily digested and thought provoking.
I liked her openness. I was touched by her views on male privilege and felt that she has a unique perspective on this having lived as both a man and a woman. Being a woman is a beautiful experience, one that is not without its challenges and I felt Ms Williams had a respect for that. When all is said and done, we are all individuals trying to make it in the world- trying to find our place to belong!
Good book. I’d recommend it.
I liked her openness. I was touched by her views on male privilege and felt that she has a unique perspective on this having lived as both a man and a woman. Being a woman is a beautiful experience, one that is not without its challenges and I felt Ms Williams had a respect for that. When all is said and done, we are all individuals trying to make it in the world- trying to find our place to belong!
Good book. I’d recommend it.
July 15, 2022
I was drawn to this collection of essays to understand the viewpoint of a transgender woman. Williams starts by emphasizing her experience and seeks to expand the discussion beyond universalists claims that all transgender people are this or that way. She writes clearly and succinctly, elucidating arguments so that even if one disagrees with them it is still clear what the premises and implications are. She also writes honestly about the differences between her story and the “classic” transgender story, seeking to infuse nuance to a conversation that can easily be derailed by too rigid terminology or ideology. While not speaking for anyone else she does articulate what her lived experience has been and how it has informed her beliefs and ideas about gender/sex and society.
April 13, 2023
The style of this book is unusual in that it is a collection of very short essays that could be considered musings. While, some of the essays miss the mark and repeat each other, in the main they are honest and capture many experiences of 'some' transgender women. Therefore, as a transgendered woman myself, I found much that I could relate to and enjoyed reading this book. It is an easy read and I would have finished it much sooner had I not kept leaving it at work.
November 22, 2021
Transgressive is a great book that discusses think pieces in a way that makes it understandable to everyone, whether they identify as Trans, or they are unsure, or they just want to learn more about the community. It is a collection of essays that discusses subjects that are important and whom the Trans community has time and time again brought to the forefront to discuss.
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October 19, 2023I've decided im not going to simply be rating the books I read for my Feminist studies, my thoughts are far too complex to put into a number. But not rating them doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy them, quite the opposite.
February 17, 2019
Highly insightful and deep thinking book about gender and everything in between the binary genders.
May 21, 2019
As a scientist I can generally access books by philosophers. But this one... oh dear.
March 12, 2021
Never have I ever argued with a book in real time while reading it and still ended up liking it.
March 3, 2022
A very interesting learning experience.
September 21, 2025
4.5, rounding up.
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