What does it mean to be transgender? How do we discuss the subject? In this eye-opening book, CN Lester, academic and activist, takes us on a journey through some of the most pressing issues concerning the trans debate: from pronouns to Caitlyn Jenner; from feminist and LGBTQ activists, to the rise in referrals for gender variant children – all by way of insightful and moving passages about the author’s own experience.
Trans Like Me shows us how to strive for authenticity in a world which often seeks to limit us by way of labels.
Trans Like Me breaks down the stereotypes and misconceptions about trans people. It sheds light on society’s incorrect terminology and treatment of trans, and it also highlights (and condemns) how the media can incorrectly position them.
“The question I am most often asked about being trans – on the internet, in the pub, on the bus, at work – is the one I most dread answering. Sometimes it’s delivered through euphemism, sometimes crudely, and worst of all by a groping uninvited hand. Have you…you know? or so you’re…post or pre-op?”
CN Lester is trans and works as an academic, and this book shows impeccable research. Almost every point CN makes is backed up with an example or a fact or a statistic. CN dedicates a chapter to Caitlyn Jenner and how Bruce Jenner’s transition changed how others view transgender people (both in a positive way and a negative way – CN has some concerns about Caitlyn that they mention in the book).
There are a lot of aspects of modern society that CN Lester delves into. They talks about popular TV shows and movies and how they misrepresent transgender people, mentioning CSI in particular because of how many episodes of the show have featured the transgender character as the victim:
“The inclusion of marginalised trans women as jokes or victims only is not a new trend.”
This book is extremely well-written, presenting a fool proof argument for almost every chapter but also making sure to focus each chapter on different things so the reader doesn’t find themselves bogged down with too much information. CN Lester also talks about labels and the correct terminology for certain identities:
“Crucially, when talking about young people, the term ‘gender non-conforming’ is used, rather than trans. A gender non-conforming child could be a child challenging traditional ideas of gender expression: a little boy who is adamant that he wants to wear dresses and be a princess.”
I found out so much about transgender representation in film and TV, and also how they’re presented in the media. I found out a lot about how they like to be seen or viewed or spoken to, and there was a lot in the book about well-known trans people throughout history who accomplished certain things or who became a pillar for those struggling to come to terms with who they were.
At times this book felt a bit too much like an academic essay, with so many sources sighted and so many examples noted. What I would’ve liked from this book was more of a sense of CN Lester’s own experiences. I got to the end of the book and felt like I didn’t know much about the author. I didn’t know much about their journey, but rather what they observed of others and how those others were perceived.
CN doesn’t mention much about their own experiences (only what is said in the beginning and then dropped in throughout the book) and CN doesn’t mention much about trans friends either. Most of the examples given are of famous trans people or well-known personalities from history. Some of them died long ago. And although this is an interesting read, it felt a little heavy at times. I would’ve liked for CN Lester to have put a bit more memoir into this book to dilute the academic nature of it all.
If you’re a trans person then you’ll love CN Lester’s determination to strive for authenticity in modern society. If you’re not trans, you’ll learn a lot from this book. It’s thick with study and statistics at times and it’s very heavy on the academia, but it’s still very informative.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Trans Like Me
CN Lester
June 2017
Hachette Book Publishers