Trans Power: Own Your Gender

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up - i appreciated the authors thoughts at the start & end of the book, & at the start & end of each interview but did feel it become a bit repetitive by the end of it.

i've seen a few reviews criticizing the author for sharing their own experiences & perspectives in the interviews, & some people saying that they were trying to force their ideas onto the people they were talking to but i did not see it that way at all. the interviews felt more conversational & back & forth, with everyone involved bouncing off of each other to share without being overbearing, it felt less sterile or clinical than interviews can be.

i've also seen a lot of people expressing discomfort with the author discussing genitalia in their personal blurbs & in the interviews themselves, & it's okay to be uncomfortable with those topics, but i think they were handled with care & genitalia for a lot of trans people is a huge aspect of identity & its interesting & helpful to hear individuals experiences & relationships with their trans genitals.

& one final thought, the author mentions at a few points how allies often won't have sex with trans people & i've seen some reviewers taking that sentiment to mean that if you are an ally you MUST fuck trans people. i think it's been misconstrued & the authors intention was that people often feign support for trans people, but won't view them as viable sexual or romantic partner options. okay that's all

y'all ever read a book and it just changes your life, even if it's only a little?

yeah, this is one of those books for me