Second Serve

This is another intriguing story in the evolving history of transgender narratives. Here, the individual with the gender dysphoria was a noted eye surgeon with the financial resources necessary to achieve her goal. Still, her resources and did not prevent the inner turmoil and trauma that she underwent during a journey that took her from being Richard Raskin to Renee Richards. It was a journey that was, at times, to be marked by a curious ambivalence. In reading her story, I would sometimes wonder whether it was gender dysphoria that was at the root of her unhappiness with herself or the sexual abuse that she suffered at the hands of her mother and sister during her childhood. Having read the accounts of many other gender dysphoric individuals who have surgically changed their outer selves to conform to their inner selves, I never doubted their sincerity or reasons for doing so. In Ms. Richards' case, however, I found myself questioning the reasons for her gender change, as they rang hollow. Instead, it sounded as if she had other issues with which to contend that may have been the cause of her unhappiness. This is why I am not surprised to have recently read that she herself has apparently questioned her decision to undergo a surgical gender change and has evidently had regrets about her decision to surgically transition from male to female. Still, Ms. Richards has led a fascinating, though utterly narcissistic, life that makes for interesting reading. A well-respected ophthalmologist, she is still in practice today at the age of seventy.

I first read this book in the early 1980's. It is a book that was ahead of it's time on the subject of gender identification. The book is an autobiography and the author conveys her story in an intensely personal, yet well written manner. I remember being unable to put it down. I am not gender dysphoric, however the struggles and triumphs of the author are easily shared by anyone who is, or has ever been close to someone who is "different." I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a good story or the issues mentioned.

Renee has written a very powerful book, done things few can imagine but she still comes across as a narcissistic person, no matter what her genitalia. I admire Renee for her courage in doing some of the things she's done, her ability as a surgeon, her ability as a tennis player and much more. It's a good historical narrative of a time in transgender history that is fading into the past.

As a post-operative Transsexual Woman this book brought tears to my eyes at times as I shared in some of the authors experiences. I couldn't put it down until I finished the book, then I read it again.