Female Husbands: A Trans History

Female husbands, who were assigned female at birth but transed gender and married women, were queer pioneers who lived as men despite tremendous risk, danger, violence, and threat of punishment. Jen Manion's book explores their lives in relation to broader social, economic, and political developments, and how attitudes towards female husbands shifted in relation to transformations in gender politics and women's rights, leading to their demise in the early twentieth century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Long before the terms "transgender" or "lesbian" were coined, there existed a unique phenomenon known as "female husbands." These individuals, who were assigned female at birth but transitioned to living as men and married women, were true pioneers of the LGBTQ+ community. Spanning from the colonial era to just before the First World War, Jen Manion delves into the captivating and deeply personal stories of ordinary people who defied societal norms and lived as men, despite facing tremendous risk, danger, violence, and the threat of punishment.

Female Husbands intricately weaves the story of these individuals' lives in relation to broader social, economic, and political developments in the United States and the United Kingdom. It also explores how attitudes towards female husbands shifted in response to transformations in gender politics and women's rights, ultimately leading to the demise of the category of "female husband" in the early twentieth century.

This groundbreaking and influential work offers a dynamic, diverse, and complex history of the LGBTQ+ past. It sheds light on the experiences of these individuals and their contributions to the broader LGBTQ+ movement, challenging traditional narratives and providing a more inclusive understanding of our shared history. Through their stories, Female Husbands reminds us of the resilience and courage of those who have paved the way for greater equality and acceptance in society.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108718271