THE TRANSSEXUAL EMPIRE: The Making of the She-Male

by Janice G. Raymond ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1979

Transsexualism: is it, as Jan Morris and others maintain, remediation for lifelong gender discomfort or is it, as Raymond argues, ""a stunted attempt in the quest for integrity,"" yet another sorry consequence of a patriarchal society? Raymond's convoluted investigation calls up the heavy artillery (the Gnostics to Jacques Maritain and Adrienne Rich) in an effort to explore this puzzling new phenomenon. She maintains that transsexualism, which supports a lucrative medical subspecialty, doesn't free its mostly male-to-female patients and allow them true behavioral choice but instead forces on them the stereotypical behavior that modern women resist (Rebecca West has suggested that Morris sounds like a man's idea of a woman). Raymond has certainly pored over the published accounts--of pioneers (Benjamin, Money), of witnesses (Morris, Martino), and others centrally involved--and she clearly throws critical issues into relief. But there are undercurrents of resentment here--toward medical specialists who set the ground rules for constructed sexuality and toward transsexuals who have ""invaded"" the lesbian-feminist movement (""Because transsexuals have lost their physical 'members' does not mean that they have lost their ability to penetrate women--women's minds, women's space, women's sexuality""). Not that Raymond writes as if grinding an axe--more like grinding her teeth (""The real Fall may not have been the division into biological sexes but the separation into oppressive sex roles and stereotypes""). A serious, intense contemplation which raises valid issues among lesser but pervading concerns.

Pub Date: May 1, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Beacon Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1979

Categories: NONFICTION