Empathetic and inviting.
Through conversational prose paired with whimsical, softly colored illustrations and journaling prompts, this primer, an uncredited German translation by the author, provides an interactive exploration of gender.
Appearing as themself in illustrated form, Läuger, a White author and artist, eases into an in-depth discussion of gender with a personal introduction and gentle encouragement. Five chapters that include blank spaces for writing self-reflections focus on the topics of sex assigned at birth, gender as a social construct, gender identity, gender expression, and coming out. Läuger emphasizes the impacts of privilege and various forms of marginalization, cultural context, and capitalism as they explain each concept and define key terminology. For example, Läuger breaks down the flaws of a binary system for categorizing bodies and includes refreshingly central representation of intersex people. Repetition and references to other examples within the book help connect significant ideas without feeling redundant. Doodled graphics and expressive illustrations of people varying in skin tone, body type, and gender expression play an important role in the approachable and engaging tone that encourages curiosity and vulnerable self-reflection. While the varied and playful layouts mostly succeed in maintaining momentum, there are moments of distracting messiness. The longest chapter, devoted to gender identity, comes to life with the voices and perspectives of individuals who shared their experiences with Läuger. Acknowledging and embracing the complexities of gender, the conclusion provides resources for further reading and suggests ways for readers to continue examining their biases.
Empathetic and inviting. (Graphic nonfiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-262-04723-4
Page Count: 232
Publisher: MIT Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
Small but mighty necessary reading.
A miniature manifesto for radical queer acceptance that weaves together the personal and political.
Eli, a cis gay white Jewish man, uses his own identities and experiences to frame and acknowledge his perspective. In the prologue, Eli compares the global Jewish community to the global queer community, noting, “We don’t always get it right, but the importance of showing up for other Jews has been carved into the DNA of what it means to be Jewish. It is my dream that queer people develop the same ideology—what I like to call a Global Queer Conscience.” He details his own isolating experiences as a queer adolescent in an Orthodox Jewish community and reflects on how he and so many others would have benefitted from a robust and supportive queer community. The rest of the book outlines 10 principles based on the belief that an expectation of mutual care and concern across various other dimensions of identity can be integrated into queer community values. Eli’s prose is clear, straightforward, and powerful. While he makes some choices that may be divisive—for example, using the initialism LGBTQIAA+ which includes “ally”—he always makes clear those are his personal choices and that the language is ever evolving.
Small but mighty necessary reading. (resources) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-09368-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change.
Artist and activist Vaid-Menon demonstrates how the normativity of the gender binary represses creativity and inflicts physical and emotional violence.
The author, whose parents emigrated from India, writes about how enforcement of the gender binary begins before birth and affects people in all stages of life, with people of color being especially vulnerable due to Western conceptions of gender as binary. Gender assignments create a narrative for how a person should behave, what they are allowed to like or wear, and how they express themself. Punishment of nonconformity leads to an inseparable link between gender and shame. Vaid-Menon challenges familiar arguments against gender nonconformity, breaking them down into four categories—dismissal, inconvenience, biology, and the slippery slope (fear of the consequences of acceptance). Headers in bold font create an accessible navigation experience from one analysis to the next. The prose maintains a conversational tone that feels as intimate and vulnerable as talking with a best friend. At the same time, the author's turns of phrase in moments of deep insight ring with precision and poetry. In one reflection, they write, “the most lethal part of the human body is not the fist; it is the eye. What people see and how people see it has everything to do with power.” While this short essay speaks honestly of pain and injustice, it concludes with encouragement and an invitation into a future that celebrates transformation.
A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change. (writing prompt) (Nonfiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-09465-5
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
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