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The critically acclaimed author of The Home Place explores the heart and mystery of Big Sky Country...
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The Rule of Law in the European Union: The Internal Dimension
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This is a book about the internal dimension of the rule of law in the European Union (EU). The EU is...
The Great Interior Design Challenge: Decorate Your Home with Style
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The Great Interior Design Challenge is the official tie-in to the prime-time BBC Two series....
The Oxford History of Anglicanism: Establishment and Empire, 1662 -1829: Volume II
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The Oxford History of Anglicanism is a major new and unprecedented international study of the...
Howl, Kaddish and Other Poems
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Anil Kapoor recommended The Godfather (1972) in Movies (curated)
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us in Books
Jul 23, 2019
"Now, if anything you read in this book makes you feel bad or wrong or small and weak, then please know that I said something wrong. This book was written many years ago, and the culture I wrote it in is not the culture in which you're reading it. So, if you find anything to be personally insulting, please accept my apology and keep reading with the knowledge that your identity and how you express your gender are correct only when you feel they are correct."
It was a wonderful note to start the book on. I just loved "if you are offended, if this invalidates your identity, then I AM WRONG." Bornstein transitioned in the 80s, and has been an outspoken advocate of queer and trans people most of her life. She is definitely a figure in queer history that more people should read about.
The rest of the book is every bit as good as the foreword. Bornstein absolutely destroys the concept of gender in this book, dissecting it and looking at all the parts and pieces to attempt to figure out why society is so set on the binary system. She more than makes her case that gender is a spectrum, not an either/or. And not just a spectrum between "more male" and "more female" but a colorful kaleidoscope of gender expression and identity. She does not shy away from sensitive topics like surgeries and anatomy. She talks to the reader like she's your favorite outrageous aunt, sitting in the family room gossiping over heavily-spiked tea.
The formatting was occasionally confusing; she has the usual justified text, but then she has left-aligned passages (usually quotes from other people) and right-aligned passages (side-bar like content; I'm unclear if these are notes she made on the original text or what, but it generally clarifies or alters what the main text is talking about.)
I would HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about gender issues. Bornstein has an incredibly entertaining way of writing, and she loves to challenge what we think of as gender.
You can find all my reviews and more at http://goddessinthestacks.com
Effective Birth Preparation: Your Practical Guide to a Better Birth
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In response to the success of the award winning "Natal Hypnotherapy CDs" and courses, founder Maggie...

