Whenever people are just starting to delve into the world of gender theory and ask me for recommendations of books, my first go-to rec is pretty much anything by Kate Bornstein. Kate (who goes by ze, hir, hirs pronouns) is an author, playwright and performance artist who, in my option has written some of the most interesting, accessible, FUN books about gender that I’ve read. Ze doesn’t come without hir critics, many trans people (particularly trans women) take issue with hir politics and presentation. However, it is absolutely worth taking a look at hir books and, if you are so inclined, I encourage you to search for some of the criticisms as well.
My Gender Workbook offers an interactive look at the constructs of gender in our everyday world. It will ask you to poke and prod at your own assumptions and identities in a way that feels engaging and challenging. Conscious of intersectionality, Bornstein specifically includes things like race, sexuality and class in hir deconstructions of what we assume to be a “real man,” a “real woman,” or “something else entirely.”
Bornstein’s most recent book, A Queer and Pleasant Danger (recently adapted into a movie with the same title), documents hir journey through Scientology. If you liked Going Clear, then you will race through this first person account of Bornstein’s dramatic and arduous time in the organization. The one-sentence summary says it all: “The true story of a nice Jewish boy who joins the Church of Scientology and leaves twelve years later to become the lovely lady she is today.“ In a particularly favorite moment of mine, Bornstein attends a gender conference that heavily influences the accessible, entertaining books ze writes today.
Hir book Gender Outlaws (not to be confused with hir other excellent book, Gender Outlaw) collects a variety of perspectives from trans and sex/gender radicals. Prepare to have your mind blown and your concept of ‘self’ challenged as you hear from some of the most progressive and important activists and advocates of our time.
As a primarily cis-gender woman, I was surprised by how much of the content in Bornstein’s books resonated with me and challenged my own notions of identity. I don’t think books about identity are effective unless they make me uncomfortable in some way, either in my privilege or in the words I generally use (without thinking) to describe myself. Bornstein’s books do just this and are essential for anyone (cis or trans) who desires to be well-informed and conscious of how gender works (or, perhaps, doesn’t work) in our crazy world.