Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender

Before We Were Trans is a new and different story of gender that seeks to widen the scope of what we think of as trans history by telling the stories of people across the globe whose experience of gender has been transgressive or not characterized by stability or binary categories. It is a history and celebration of gender in all its fluidity, ambiguity, and complexity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: John Murray Press

One of History Today's Best Books of 2022, "Before We Were Trans" offers a fresh and diverse perspective on gender history, challenging the conventional narratives that often focus on individuals with stable, binary, and uncomplicated gender identities. By blending culture, feminism, and politics, the book expands the scope of what we consider to be trans history by telling the stories of people from around the world whose experiences of gender have been transgressive or not characterized by stability or binary categories.

Spanning from Renaissance Venice to seventeenth-century Angola, from Edo Japan to North America, the stories in this book leave questions and resist conclusions. They are fraught with ambiguity and defy modern Western terminology and categories, particularly the concept of "trans." However, by telling these stories, the book provides a history that more closely reflects the richness of modern trans reality than any previously written.

"Before We Were Trans" is a history and celebration of gender in all its fluidity, ambiguity, and complexity. It explores the ways in which individuals have challenged and subverted traditional gender norms and expectations throughout history, and highlights the diverse ways in which people have experienced and expressed their gender identities. The book also sheds light on the historical and cultural contexts that have shaped these experiences, and the ways in which they have been both influenced and resisted by societal norms and institutions.

Through its engaging and accessible storytelling, "Before We Were Trans" encourages readers to think critically about the concept of gender and its role in shaping our world. It challenges the binary notions of gender that are often perpetuated in mainstream media and popular culture, and promotes a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of gender that recognizes the diversity and complexity of human experiences.

In conclusion, "Before We Were Trans" is a groundbreaking and essential book for anyone interested in gender history, feminism, and politics. It offers a fresh and diverse perspective on gender that challenges conventional narratives and promotes a more inclusive and understanding of gender identities. By blending culture, feminism, and politics, the book expands the scope of what we consider to be trans history and provides a history that reflects the richness of modern trans reality more closely than any previously written.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529377743