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Transgender Resistance: Socialism and the Fight for Trans Liberation
Trans rights and trans lives have come under increasingly vicious ideological attack in recent times, from the "bathroom wars" and Donald Trump's anti-trans edicts in the United States, to attacks on proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act in Britain. Laura Miles' new book brings together key strands in the resistance to these attacks - on the streets, in communities, in workplaces and in unions. It addresses the roots of transphobia and the history of gender transgressive behaviours. It highlights trans people's fight for the freedom to live authentic lives and explains why that fight deserves unconditional solidarity in all sections of the left. Transgender Resistance shows how Marxism offers a comprehensive and coherent explanation of the material roots of transphobia; an explanation that locates the fight for transgender liberation firmly within the struggle for socialist transformation.
"I am proud to recommend this vibrant, fascinating book which calmly offers incisive and powerful political inspiration for everyone who wants to support the struggle for transgender rights, respect and liberation. Absolutely essential reading for the left, the LGBTQ+ movement and beyond" - Nicola Field, author of Over the Rainbow and member of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners
"I am proud to recommend this vibrant, fascinating book which calmly offers incisive and powerful political inspiration for everyone who wants to support the struggle for transgender rights, respect and liberation. Absolutely essential reading for the left, the LGBTQ+ movement and beyond" - Nicola Field, author of Over the Rainbow and member of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners
272 pages, Paperback
Published February 18, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 13, 2020
Beginning with the history of trans and non-binary people, through a study of the reality of life for transgender people around the world today and concluding with a powerful argument for the right of transgender people to self-identify, but also for a socialist world to destroy the structures that create oppression, this is a brilliant polemic by socialist and trade union activist Laura Miles.
January 11, 2021
This one really threatened to throw me off towards the end as it begins to tie all its threads together because it's understanding of some theories that I find quite important to myself that they argue against can be quite... rigid? That's going to alienate a lot of readers who could really do with what this book has to say about unity. However, even if you don't agree with every philosophical statement this book makes, (I broadly agreed, even when the book threatened to throw me off, it pulled me back in), it is an indispensable source of information and facts about the oppression of trans people that I feel like anyone who is serious about such issues or even opposing such issues should read.
When it ended I felt like punching the air because its point was so wonderfully and eloquently made and so immaculately researched and resourced.
When it ended I felt like punching the air because its point was so wonderfully and eloquently made and so immaculately researched and resourced.
February 13, 2022
This book was so bad that I wrote a three page critique on my wordpress.
June 13, 2020
"We should never forget that it has been mass acts of militant resistance, most notably the Stonewall Rebellion, that have most progressed LGBT+ rights, not the generosity and social liberalism of particular governments."
Finding a book analysing transphobia and transgender liberation from a socialist standpoint has been a long time coming for me, and I'm pleased to say Laura Miles does not disappoint. The book looks at an interesting and accessible analysis of the origin of transgender oppression to some of the issues surrounding the fight for trans people's rights across the world (with a focus in Britain, as that is where the author lives and is an activist), and an argument for why a Marxist strategy is what is needed to fully liberate trans people and the entire working class along with them. Highly recommend, especially for LGBTI activists and lefties trying to familiarise themselves with the arguments surrounding trans struggles.
January 20, 2023
Overall the themes in this book are good, The class politics approach to liberation is an important and key aspect. Unfortunately, that’s where my praise ends I find the work itself lacking in originality, often regurgitating the words of others but with a slightly misguided stance.
Laura being a trans person herself, seems not have much interaction with trans people… misusing the word “trans” as a noun on numerous occasions, and often writing rather clunkily and syntactically taxingly as a result. From her writing, Laura seems alienated from a lot of the work of modern day trans activists, it seems like she hasn’t done much work with the community at all, but feels qualified to write a book she also speaks about non-binary people in a rather alien and patronising fashion, and as well as this doesn’t speak much on modern struggles trans people are engaged in…
While I believe a good Marxist argument for trans liberation padded out in the form of a book like this is important, I question whether Laura Miles was the most appropriate choice of author. If you had told me this book had been written in 1999 I’d probably believe it, and recommend it stays there.
Laura being a trans person herself, seems not have much interaction with trans people… misusing the word “trans” as a noun on numerous occasions, and often writing rather clunkily and syntactically taxingly as a result. From her writing, Laura seems alienated from a lot of the work of modern day trans activists, it seems like she hasn’t done much work with the community at all, but feels qualified to write a book she also speaks about non-binary people in a rather alien and patronising fashion, and as well as this doesn’t speak much on modern struggles trans people are engaged in…
While I believe a good Marxist argument for trans liberation padded out in the form of a book like this is important, I question whether Laura Miles was the most appropriate choice of author. If you had told me this book had been written in 1999 I’d probably believe it, and recommend it stays there.
May 12, 2022
This was a good, structured study into the issues facing the transgender community.
Discrimination is explored in its many guises, from individuals hurling abuse to lack of inclusion to institutional inequality.
On the whole, Laura's arguments are sound and solid, with well referenced sources.
I think there is a sense of naivety however in calling for a socialist approach to change. The capitalist, patriarchal system can never be toppled without full scale revolution and a complete overhaul of the system, which is unlikely to occur in our lifetime.
Whilst the transgender community gains allies, supporters and facilitators, the draconian laws roll on (think of proposed Roe vs Wade overhauls in the US, the new policing bill in the UK, the rise of localised Sharia law in certain pockets of democratic states) and in the UK particularly, the NHS slips into its biggest decline since it rolled out in 1948. People are unable to procure cancer treatments or mental health input, let alone referrals for transgender individuals.
The system is getting worse instead of better and the grassroots changes remain those, grassroots changes only. Socialism, Marxism, anti-genderism, it doesn't matter what you propose, the current system is out to screw us all!
Discrimination is explored in its many guises, from individuals hurling abuse to lack of inclusion to institutional inequality.
On the whole, Laura's arguments are sound and solid, with well referenced sources.
I think there is a sense of naivety however in calling for a socialist approach to change. The capitalist, patriarchal system can never be toppled without full scale revolution and a complete overhaul of the system, which is unlikely to occur in our lifetime.
Whilst the transgender community gains allies, supporters and facilitators, the draconian laws roll on (think of proposed Roe vs Wade overhauls in the US, the new policing bill in the UK, the rise of localised Sharia law in certain pockets of democratic states) and in the UK particularly, the NHS slips into its biggest decline since it rolled out in 1948. People are unable to procure cancer treatments or mental health input, let alone referrals for transgender individuals.
The system is getting worse instead of better and the grassroots changes remain those, grassroots changes only. Socialism, Marxism, anti-genderism, it doesn't matter what you propose, the current system is out to screw us all!
December 11, 2023
This book was fantastic and totally changed the way I viewed oppression as a tool of capitalism; it showed how misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia are inherently interconnected which is a thesis I had never considered before. The first half also served as a very interesting history of gay, trans, and gender non-conforming people throughout hundreds of years of history. This book should be the first port of call in an education of women and queers under capitalism.
August 31, 2024
A great deal easier to digest than books on the relationship between transgender and socialism that I have read previously. Overall a great analysis and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a place to start.
December 30, 2020
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to put an end to trans oppression
September 19, 2023
Had so much information. I learnt so much. I’m always looking to better myself as a human and an ally and this book really opened my eyes
April 23, 2025
Now more than ever, us trans folk need community and solidarity. This book is a great entry point to anyone wanting to understand precisely why capitalism is a driving force for discrimination and persecution of trans folk, as its introduction and overview of the themes is accessible and concise, before delving into specific issues trans folk face.
It also does a wonderful job of connecting other struggles - racism in relation to eurocentric beauty standards and the crossover this has with transmisogyny; the fact that trans men, even when passing, still struggle under the patriarchy due to misogyny; and how capitalism intentionally keeps its foot on everyone's necks to enforce survivalist individualism over fostering community.
I wish there was a way to market this book to the terfs, "gender critical" and complacent right-leaning centrists that would be seen as more than woke propaganda, as it is imperative in our fight going forward that we truly make our points heard.
It also does a wonderful job of connecting other struggles - racism in relation to eurocentric beauty standards and the crossover this has with transmisogyny; the fact that trans men, even when passing, still struggle under the patriarchy due to misogyny; and how capitalism intentionally keeps its foot on everyone's necks to enforce survivalist individualism over fostering community.
I wish there was a way to market this book to the terfs, "gender critical" and complacent right-leaning centrists that would be seen as more than woke propaganda, as it is imperative in our fight going forward that we truly make our points heard.
September 29, 2023
A decent history of trans rights is drawn significantly down by bad analysis in the latter half of the book. Miles’ refusal to recognise the everyday improvements that racism gives to white people, misogyny gives to men, and more, are indicative of a world view that struggled to comprehend how oppression is maintained.
Towards the end, Miles makes many critiques of social theories, like intersectionality, queer theory, etc, but didn’t leave me with anything convincing on said theories.
Towards the end, Miles makes many critiques of social theories, like intersectionality, queer theory, etc, but didn’t leave me with anything convincing on said theories.
October 31, 2025
Better for people who are new to the idea that transgender resistance and socialism are linked, personally it felt like I already knew a lot of the stuff/facts that were mentioned and discussed in this book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews