The Transsexual Empire: The Making of the She-Male

I understand many dislike this book, and it seems to me its mainly those who have strong ties to the Trans community via being that way themselves or being close with someone who is. I appreciated the points presented and while some is strong and difficult to read I would imagine for transexuals, I appreciated another feminist viewpoint. This book allowed me to process some recent events and it made me feel much better about my core feelings that women are women and you cannot buy a vagina to make youself one.

This book, first published in 1979, was based on a doctoral dissertation Raymond wrote. Because she tells the truth about people who go through surgical mutilation and being pumped up with hormones in order to be fake men or fake women, obviously many from the transgender community take offense. Those who are male-to-female, the major focus of the book since that is far more common than female-to-male, simply think that because they have this surgery and wear women's clothing and act out a stereotype, that they ARE "female." But they aren't, and they never will be, and they can never understand the experience of being female in a male-dominated society since they were never born female. They are in fact dysfunctional or deviant males, as Raymond writes, and they are rebelling against a male stereotype by trying to act out a female one. These transgendered people believe that the gender they were born was the "wrong" one and that they were living a "lie" until they had surgery when in fact they are living a lie now. I am glad Raymond wrote the book and only wish she would update it. The truth does hurt.

I am an autogynephilic transsexual, and I think that Janice Raymone doesn't like people like me. And I understand why. Too often, delusional and aggressive and masculine trannies try to bully their way into women's networks. I think that the other kind of male-to-female transsexual ("homosexual transsexuals"--see Bailey's THE MAN WHO WOULD BE QUEEN) would fit in better, but they have no desire to do so.

Raymond's thesis is a very stimulating discussion of the transsexual "solution". Most of the reviews here obviously have soem investment in supporting a biological approach to what even a majority of physicians see as a psychological issue. While it may be popular, "liberal" and "progressive" to support surgical transgender changes, these "solutions" are far from proven effective.Raymond's book gives a fresh perspective to the issue. Her approach is very feminist and anti-patriarchal. So what? She makes some good points about the issues. Her arguments also have implications that go beyond transsexualism to questions of society's take on what is appropriate for each gender.If you aren't afraid of discussion, then Raymond's ideas are interesting to explore. Especially a good book to read along with "As Nature Made Him" by John Colapinto and Christine Jorgenson's autobiography.

This book was right on the mark. Janice Raymond is a leading cultural mind in radical feminist theorizing. Don't be fooled by the postmodern rhetoric in the past reviews. Janice Raymond addresses the issues in a clear, concise, and reasonable fashion -- from a feminist perspective, a perspective sadly lacking in today's world. Give it a read. The insight will surprise you.