Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity

Julia Serano’s Whipping Girl details the author’s perspectives on gender. Serano describes her journey from awkward teenage boy, through crossdresser, and through her transition to a transgender woman. She discusses what gender means to her personally and her experiences in society. She discusses gender roles, myths about trans people, and the role of trans people in the feminist movement. WHY THIS BOOK? Transgender lives are political. 2016 saw the passage of North Carolina’s HB2, the “bathroom bill”; 2017 started with 5 more states proposing similar legislature. These bills say that individuals born with male genitalia endanger people in the women’s restroom. I never believed that, but discussions of trans people made me realize how little I knew. With Whipping Girl, I sought the transgender story. THE GOOD Whipping Girl is a fabulous book. I read Whipping Girl because I wanted to better understand life as a trans person, but it makes so many great points about gender for the rest of us. Part of the strength of Serano’s narrative is the fact that she has lived on both sides of our gender divide. Sometimes the success of Jewish entertainers has been attributed to their ability to be both insiders and outsiders; perhaps transgender women like Serano have an analogous experience with womanhood. I can’t possibly cover all the things I liked about this book. It’s the rare book that makes me consider my own life differently. Serano asserts the societal belief: most believe that men and women are equal, but many do not believe that masculinity and femininity are equal. We consider masculinity strong, natural, and unpretentious. Because masculine and feminine are opposites, we believe femininity to be weak, artificial, and pretentious. It’s a restatement of familiar arguments; masculine women are penalized for failing to fit the model of a woman, and feminine women are penalized for being feminine. I realized that I hold some of these beliefs. I have congratulated myself for rarely wearing make-up; I have sneered at female friends that dress up. I heard these messages growing up a lot. They are rooted in seeing femininity as a failing. Serano describes how these societal beliefs complicate gender transition. She describes how mtf transgender people are viewed with suspicion. If masculinity is superior, someone who “trades down” voluntarily must have suspicious motivations. She describes how media shows many more mtf people than ftm. I hadn’t noticed, but it is true. Many of the roles with mtf people show them either as succubi seeking to entrap and damage men or as pitiful, funny failures. She cites a bunch of examples that I don’t know. My media experiences are with Orange is the New Black and Transparent. Hopefully that’s a sign of progress in the decade since this book’s publication. Serano discusses nature versus nurture. Some believe that men are born masculine and women are born feminine (and thus, gender is nature). Some believe that we only exhibit gendered behaviors due to societal influences (and thus, gender is nurture). Serano argues that women are more likely to be feminine and men more likely to be masculine, but with a distribution of traits. In her model, gender expression is like height; on average, men are taller than women, but many individual women are taller than many individual men. Women, on average, gravitate towards stereotypically feminine behaviors like chattiness, but many individual men are more naturally chatty than many women. Femininity feels natural to most women, and masculinity feels natural to most men, but not all. Serano talks about the process of seeing herself as transgender. Since childhood, she had experienced feelings that she was a girl. She calls it gender dissonance. She experimented with a lot of different gender expressions, eventually leading her to the trans identity. When she started taking hormones, that felt right. She describes it as her brain believing her body to be female. We don’t fully understand the relationship between brain and body, but to me, this seems similar to the so called “sixth sense” of proprioception, the awareness of one’s body in space. Serano also discusses the horrifying history of transgender people and medicine. It’s full of icky stuff like doctors rating their patients’ attractiveness, and seeing society’s comfort, rather than their patient’s, as the most important outcome of transition. Trans people were forced to leave home and assume a new life to make others comfortable, meaning that they were forced to leave their families and support networks. Today’s bathroom bills fall into that history of putting society’s discomfort above the health of an individual. THE BAD The book is a decade old. Although mine is a 2016 second edition, the guts haven’t changed much. Whipping Girl is still super informative, but a decade changes much. For example, DSM V was published in 2013; it’s treatment of transgender issues vary substantially from the DSM IV discussed in the book. The second half of the book discusses trans theory and feminist theory. Some other reviews of the book suggest that she is unfair to the feminist movement; I have no idea. Still, the first part had a real immediacy that the second part didn’t. It probably would be well-suited to the classroom, but didn’t add much for me as a reader just wanting to understand a different perspective better. OVERALL Whipping Girl is an essential read if you want to understand trans people better. It’s also a great dissection of gender in society. I came away from the book wishing that people could be more supportive of one another. Trans people aren’t bathroom predators, they’re people in a tough spot. We are obsessed with men being men and women being women, and we mostly don’t even notice. Trans people challenge that obsession, and we see that some people would rather punish others than question their assumptions.

This author has put forth an amazingly well thought out feminist perspective that I deeply respect. This is a persuasively good book on how transphobia and sexism are intimately tied together. Any person who believes all people should receive equal treatment regardless of sex or gender will appreciate the mighty contribution of this book. This book addresses both cis-sexism and trans exclusionary feminist beliefs. I find myself able to agree with only about half of the book, and I find myself not angered when I don't agree. The author presents some of the material as her perspective and differentiates well between that and the well researched aspects of the book. Where I take issue is usually in the biology part of her arguments, and since she is a biologist it might just be me who is mistaken. There was one area that pissed me off. The author spends time talking about 3rd gender and gender queer and making the case that transsexuals are not sell-out conformists to sexism- which I whole heatedly agree with... 3rd gender, trans* or cis are all equally valid states of existence. And then the author says: overall the gender binary works and is satisfactory. EXCUSE ME? The gender binary works FOR YOU. It does not work for a huge portion of people and your overlooking them, dismissing their valid desires to be recognized and the discrimination they face from lack of recognition and sexism is somewhat reminiscent of the claim that transsexuals are conformist sell-outs. Check your bias there... the gender binary does not "work" for a great number of people. Considering that I have a problem with 1 paragraph and the rest of book is amazing and non-offensive I gave it 5 stars. Everyone should read it. EVERYONE

This is a book that has really changed me. Other reviewers have remarked on Serano's specific discussions, so I'll be more general and personal. I am an 80-year-old lesbian feminist and I had a "liberal"/"accepting" attitude towards transgender/transsexuality. "Whipping Girl" rearranged my head and heart and sexual perspectives. (I now see gender/sexuality as immensely more fluid, at the same time that Serano helped me understand that our "intrinsic inclinations" of gender--our sense of who we are as gendered beings, unconscious in most of us, acutely dissonant in others--are essential aspects of our being quite apart from how we wish to exercise our sexuality. And I now see the issue of trans oppression as much more than how we should relate to a sexual minority--that there is a great deal to learn about all human gendering and sexism from an understanding of trans experience.) Serano responded with meticulous care and penetrating analysis to every media-induced or reflexly stereotypical assumption I had about trans experience. (I didn't realize I had so many!) She doesn't guilt-trip--instead she helped me to see all the elements in my world that--of course--prevent almost all of us from "getting it" about transgender/transsexuality. Rather than challenging my feminist perspective, her insights deepened it as she shows how powerful a factor sexism plays in transgender oppression. Serano writes with admirable clarity--still, even though I found an important insight on every page, " Whipping Girl" is undeniably a dense book to read through, and so it will not be as easily accessible as one would wish. Other books will be able to mine this one for a wider audience. (Alas, the title and cover--in-your-face ugly and suggesting S&M more than trans experience--would have turned me off if a trusted friend hadn't handed it to me. I would have missed a brilliant, powerful and important book.)

This book is amazing! It is comprehensive and thorough and reads like a textbook but it is well worth the effort of wrapping your mind around it. Julia comes off as intelligent and well informed; her essays are written not only from personal experience but from a well contemplated historical, scientific, and sociological standpoint as well. She has clearly taken many aspects into consideration when compiling this book and she has done an excellent job of it. I found her theories to be well thought out and the best assessment of some of our problem areas understanding sex and gender as a society - weighing and finding balance between less nuanced approaches whose gaps have always bothered me. I would happily recommend it to anyone who wants to take a hard, in depth look at these issues.

Julia Serano’s Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity, initially published in 2007, is an accumulative series of essays discussing gender theory and transfeminism, all through Serano’s personal experiences. In Whipping Girl, Serano describes her experiences living as a lesbian (now bisexual) transexual woman in America. She highlights the media's effect on the public perception of transsexuality. Julia notes that the media depiction of transexuals hindered representation by being exploitative and misogynistic. Serano looks at how society's systemic emphasis on masculinity has affected the transfeminist movement, as well as more implicit matters like oppositional sexism and cisgenderism. Serano brings a compelling perspective. Because she has lived both as a male and female at different points of her life, she has firsthand experience of how society treats both sexes. It is terrible that these issues exist, but Serano’s perspective and unique writing style allow for a deeper, more nuanced discussion. Interestingly, Serano mentions various potential faults in the preface of this second edition. Keep in mind that the original book was published in 2007 so, nine years later, some things have undoubtedly changed. Some of the terms or descriptions initially used have grown slightly outdated, so, among other factors, Serano prefaces this edition by stating that “[the original book] was a reaction to what was happening in society [...] during the early to mid [2000’s]” (x). She admits that the book's near-exclusive emphasis on Serano's experiences as a transsexual woman may give some a “skewed view of gender-variant communities and issues” (xxiii-xxiv). She regrets the lack of perspectives from colleagues and professionals, stating that the book does not actively discuss the "issues and experiences of intersex [...], non-binary identified and two-spirit [...], [trans-male/masculine or straight-identified trans people, or trans people of color and other cultures]” (xxiv). While the book primarily uses Serano’s experiences at different points of her life as the basis for many of her arguments, she builds upon these with a fair amount of research and notes various potential refutes to strengthen her arguments. Essentially, rather than being one-note, her claims are layered and encourage thought, introspection, and discussion. I try to envelop myself in a community based on love and acceptance, regardless of gender identity and other factors. Most of my closest friends, and people I work with on projects, are on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Most of these friends have been through some trauma in their lives, whether misogyny, assault, gender dysphoria, etc. Though Julia Serano has had different experiences in her life, I found some similarities between the issues she raises and the issues my friends have encountered in their daily lives. Unfortunately, transphobia is a significant problem in society and can be especially prevalent in the families of trans folk. This transphobia can make it extremely difficult for someone to come out, with many fearing that they may be harmed, kicked out of their house, or lose family members. I had already heard of many similar experiences, but Julia’s unique perspective gave me a fuller, more comprehensive grasp of these systemic issues. Ultimately, I found Whipping Girl’s most valuable aspect to be the perspective that Mrs. Serano brings. Though the book primarily utilizes Serano’s experiences, she has a lot of insight to offer and is well-spoken and articulate in explaining things. The book does not alienate cissexual people in its content and delves into subjects in a way that encourages discussion, learning, and introspection. Even though society has gradually become more inclusive in recent years, these issues are still important and continue to resonate even almost 15 years after the book was initially published. I’d highly recommend Whipping Girl to anyone with even an iota of interest in transfeminism, with the caveat that some terms that were prevalent in 2007 may be somewhat outdated today. Otherwise, it’s a fascinating read and is well worth your time.

julia serano's "whipping girl" is much more than an intellegent and insightful treatise on the modern trans experience. she provides a long needed revision in the very language we've been forced to use in our attempts to articulate the trans narrative. she offers an accurate analysis of the social context in which trans lives are lived, and how trans people are maginalized and oppressed. her observations are insightful and astute, backed up by her personal experience, and the experiences of other trans people. her unique understanding of how femininity is at the root of traditional *and* trans misogyny displays a comprehensive theory for trans and non-trans gender experience, no matter the specific perspective from which it is viewed. explanations for all types of trans, homo, and femininity phobias are covered. and her meticulous and exacting interpretations are revealed in a logical and steady format, well written and understandable. this is the best book on gender i've read. i highly recommend it.

This is, without a doubt, the most eye-opening, most mind-blowing, most important book I have ever read! This book actually proposes (successfully, I believe) the equivalent to physics' Holy Grail -- a "Unified Theory", so to speak, but not of time and matter and the universe, but of sex, gender, sexism, and privilege. Ms. Serano takes on and destroys multiple gender and psychological establishments with her keen intellect, her amazing insights, and her brilliant wit, with just a touch of sarcasm and bitterness (which is clearly justified). I have never read anything like this before and I can't believe that I waited so long to read this book. It explains so much, and makes me hope against hope that society can change. I've read a decent number of books on gender and sex, and never has one spoken to me so plainly or made things so clear. Thank you, Ms. Serano!

If gender truly were a construct, why does it seem to matter so much? Even if it is a construct, the impacts of it being forced into society are not something that can be erased. This argument is important, but it should be used with care. As someone who was once trans and strongly identifies with the LGBTQIA+ community, I need to raise a concern about the fact that we can’t just jump to the argument that gender is arbitrary when faced with questions about why trans women or men can’t simply be a subset of women or men, instead of grouping and identifying with cis women. I feel that denying the fact that you are trans diminishes the experience. Yes, people can attach shame to it within society, but you cannot change that fact. Being a trans woman or a trans man doesn’t make you any less of a woman or a man, it just means you have the experience of being trans. I’m not at all against transgender individuals. I fully support identifying however you choose to. However, I do think that this whole “trans women are women” instead of “trans women are trans women” argument is shooting itself in the foot. The word "trans" is not dirty unless you make it so. Being trans does not make you lesser. Don’t you want to be accepted and validated exactly as you are, rather than hiding behind what you cannot be (cis), polarizing part of the feminist community, and demonizing them? (I’m not including the feminists who believe trans women shouldn’t exist, but rather the ones who have genuine concerns about trans women identifying under the same label as them.) Use "trans" and "cis"—we created those defining terms for a reason. Don’t just create them and then not use them. It makes women feel like their cis experiences are being erased. It doesn’t detract from the experience of trans women whatsoever, but it also doesn’t help the trans cause. Trans women are a subgroup of women, just like cis women. No more, no less. The same applies to trans men. This does not make them any less valid. I bring this up because the argument this author makes is used to justify the argument that "trans women are women." Yes, they are part of the umbrella of women, but you can’t use the argument that gender is arbitrary to justify deleting your trans identity in order to blend in with women (the binary you just claimed was arbitrary).

I can't say enough good things about this book. Her varied experience slowly going from one side of the fence to the other, exploring along the way, gives her perspective real merit in my opinion. Beyond that she also takes great care to shine a light on the issues from a myriad of perspectives and opinions. This book should be anyone's first stop when concerning gender related questions and gender related research.

Un des meilleurs livres sur le féminisme, qui fait des liens super intéressants.

I read this book from cover to cover because I'm interested in the subject. I have relatives who are "on the spectrum" and I thought that this book would help me to understand them. On the contrary! I was totally confused. I will say this however - it must be a very difficult and confusing life for people who change their gender/sex identity so often. An interesting read but very repetitive.

Make no mistake, this book is a "MUST" for everybody, but particularly the LGBTQ community and feminists. It explains in detail why gender is not binary ...even though there are some misguided soles who still (somehow) think it is. Trans people (and in particular trans women) still have very limited legal rights or respect in the UK and although the book concentrates on the issue in the USA the connotations for the UK are valid. Latest estimates suggest that around 1% of the folks in the UK are trans and this figure has for many years continued to grow. One percent may not seem high but if you put all the trans folks in one city even Manchester would not be big enough. There are some reviewers that dislike this book. Often described as "TERF's" I still have not been able to get my brain around this terminology. For the fact is whilst there is a tiny minority of people who are "trans exclusionary" the term "radical feminist" is in my humble view not equitable. A proper feminist (and I certainly consider myself one), is striving for equality, meaning of course, we are ALL equal, no if’s and no but’s! The depth that this book goes into is extraordinary....no wonder it is considered a “textbook” in trans academia in the USA. If there is any negative to this book, (which engrossed me to read it in two days as per the normal one month), is the use of certain words that I personally have never encountered before. Please forgive me on this but as a child of the very early 1950's who missed some years of schooling due to illness, I accept I am not the brightest person on the planet. However, I am bright enough to understand that nature makes mistakes and that trans people are victims of nature’s mistakes… just as some are born partially sighted or with one leg longer than the other. There is NO ROOM in our society for discrimination in our society today, and the sooner all the "wrongs" described in this book are corrected the better society will be! Very highly recommended.

Julia Serano offers an unique insight into sexuality and gender. Her essays are at the same time informative and profound. This is not an autobiography by a trans woman like Janet Mock's; instead, it is a book that makes the reader reconsider much of what he or she has always taken for granted regarding sexuality. Highly recommended.