Prerna's review of Gender Outlaw (original) (raw)

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Prerna's Reviews > Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us

Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein

Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us
by

79765515

At the time of this book's writing, non-binary wasn't an available category, it wasn't yet in queer lingo. Mostly because queer culture was still grappling with identities, teams, allies and language and all of this on the margins of culture wars. It was a time when queer people had to use slurs used against them as terms of self-identification because they hadn't mobilized on a large scale yet, they couldn't decide if they should claim back the insults and wear it proudly like a second skin or refute it altogether and craft a new community-based yet individual focused identities. And that's why I have so much respect for Kate Bornstein and this book despite its many flaws, because they paved the way for me, for us. Not-man not-woman is a lot more clearly defined now while also being incredibly nuanced.

Although I'm not trans and therefore cannot speak for the trans community, I know that Bornstein is a well-celebrated trans elder. However, I also know that she thinks she still isn't accepted, or they think they still aren't accepted. Because their identity is not just of a trans woman but:

I write from the point of view of an S/M transsexual lesbian, ex-cult member, femme top, and sometimes bottom shaman. And I wondered why no one was writing my story? I’m writing from the point of view of used-to-be-a-man, three husbands, father, first mate on an oceangoing yacht, minister, high-powered IBM sales type, Pierre Cardin three-piece suitor, bar mitzvahed, circumcised yuppie from the East Coast. Not too many women write from that point of view. I write from the point of view of a used-to-be politically correct, wannabe butch, dyke phone sex hostess, smooth talking, telemarketing, love slave, art slut, pagan tarot reader, maybe soon a grandmother, crystal palming, incense burning, not-man, not always a woman, fast becoming a Marxist. And not too many men write from that point of view

I am conflicted about my own gender, I mostly think I'm a woman but not always. I know I'm not a man. And no, it isn't mood swings or phases, I've always felt very distant from the mainstream cultural binary gender classification. I'm lucky, I was born at a time when the idea that gender is not merely an x-y graph but a 3-D, no, a 4-D structure, was becoming fast established. This is not to say that we live in gender-fluid paradise now, but it surely is easier for queer and trans people today than it was for Kate Bornstein. Gender is a spectrum that has evolved over time. But I guess the point of contention is that Bornstein believes the future will be gender free, I suppose that is offensive for trans people who've fought hard to be recognised for their gender, but I also think it isn't too far-fetched.

I had several complaints about the book, but let's give Bornstein a break. They're 73 and all I can give them now is acceptance and respect.

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Reading Progress

January 8, 2022 –Started Reading

January 8, 2022 – Shelved

January 13, 2022 – Shelved as:lgbtq

January 13, 2022 –Finished Reading

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