CN Lester

A very good combination of memoir, social science study, political polemic, history, and opinion piece on feminist theory (and the limitations set by its historical lack of intersectionality.) Lester does not acknowledge in any way the source of people's discomfort with gender nonconformity, and I think just glossing over that discussion limits this to a book that will be broadening to trans allies rather than people still trying to figure things out. One notable example, there is an acknowledgment that for some (certainly not all) gender nonconforming people there is body dysphoria. They then dismiss the possibility that there is a mental health concern with the statement that they is mentally ill, and this is different from their mental health struggles so clearly there is no connection. That sort of tautology (as if all mental health issues and every person's gender dysphoria is the same) weakens what is otherwise a compelling, edifying, and completely worthwhile read.… (meer)