Woman I Was Not Born To Be: A Transsexual Journey

by Aleshia Brevard

Told with humour and flair, this is the autobiography of one transsexual's wild ride from boyhood as Alfred Brevard (Buddy) Crenshaw in rural Tennessee to voluptuous female entertainer in Hollywood. Aleshia Brevard, as she is now known, underwent transitional surgery in Los Angeles in 1962, one of the first such operations in the United States. (The sexual surgery pioneer Harry Benjamin himself broke the news to Brevard's parents).

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Transgender, Biography, Memoir, Gender

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2001

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good reading, and a story well told. Aleshia Brevard tells her transexual story. And it is an iconic story indeed. With a good amount of openness to talking about the tough stuff, which one doesn't always find in earlier transsexual memoirs, like that of (the "faces" of early transsexuality in the US and UK respectively) Christine Jorgensen, or Roberta Cowell. Those authors are fairly openly homophobic in keeping with the mentality prevalent in their time, and clearly wish to present a sanitised vision of their transition.

But Brevard has the benefit of hindsight, as this was written long after the events it portrays. Portraying earlier times in the light of somewhat more modern attitudes. While openly acknowledging how Brevard's rural southern upbringing had positioned her to embrace (or have forced upon her) a feminine role which was in many ways fraught and unfair and cruel.

For its portrayal of bits of the San Francisco scene and Hollywood scene, this also has some good trans/gay history in it. Making it altogether a valuable document which is easily consumed.

[Michelle Koleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, it is hard to write a review on a topic that is so close to you (sometimes). Yeah, I know: It's so well known to you, you kind of live it, it's close to you. But these days... I will go sort of personal: Okay when I am reading an (auto)biography I tried to relate, even sometimes to identify with the person on the pages, in front of me. I am very emphatic and I am that kind of person who will live all the characters feelings/emotions through the reading process. So, reading Aleshia's first book, I found the usual common things, even some of her thoughts were so out of time and so mature. I really love her way of describing the environment, the situation back there. I catch myself thinking: At one point in my life I wanted to be that kind of traditional woman figure, even worse - more like a Stepford's Housewife. And somehow I differentiate myself from her. As experience, journey, etc.
So I am glad to be reminded, how hard the whole journey is and what unique experience, everyone has.
Thank you, Aleshia!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard tales about this legendary actress while I was working on the southern dinner theatre circuit several decades ago. So I was excited to learn that she had penned an autobiography. (Two, in fact.) This is the fascinating story of one of America's earliest sex change pioneers. She grew up wanting to be a woman of the times. But after she had her operation in the early sixties and began to fully live as a woman, all those expectations changed. And the men in her life also behaved in an unexpected ways. Usually badly. This is a soul searching account of what it means to be a woman in America. And she had an interesting if spotty career in the entertainment world, too.

[Marlo Bernier · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Aleshia Brevard's "The Woman I Was Born to Be", is the most exquisitely and elegantly crafted work of Non-Fiction I have ever had the pleasure to possess and to read. Run - Do Not Walk - to the nearest Barnes & Noble, or Border's and buy as many as are available! One will most certainly be better off arriving to this year's holiday festivities with a copy of Miss Brevard's book as a gift for the host/hostess, in lieu of (yet once again) a Tupperware full of even your best attempt at Ambrosia ~ It is, in a word, a phrase; Without Peer*

Sans Reservation,

Marlo Bernier
Jackie Frost Films
Los Angeles

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with the writing style at first. The author's thoughts seem to jump between moments, often with little transition. 

That said,  this was an insightful view into the history of transgender and LGBTQ+ people, and what it means to be a woman, particularly for someone forced to constantly prove her womanhood. Aleshia does not paint a flattering portrait of her journey and the choices she made, but she offers a unique look into the pressures of society; to fit the gender mold, to marry, to be what is expected.