I actually did read the book a couple weeks ago, but I got a great deal more from your interpretation than from her book. (Although people should definitely go read "A short history of trans-misogyny".
I'm a white trans woman from Oklahoma who spent 9 of the last 11 years in Latin America and the first year of my transition in Colombia. I just moved back to the US in January to get access to the world class gender affirming care that should be available to everyone.
So when I read her book, I was already quite familiar with the concepts in the last third of it. But I failed to connect them to white American culture because I haven't been a part of that for so long. Now I’m trying to re-integrate into white culture but I’m just constantly too “extra”. Not just in my gender, but in everything. That was fine in Colombia where everyone is extra, but it’s rough in the US where white culture always wants me to be less in basically every way.
So I’ve been making myself small, mousy, etc… Trying to fit back into white culture, white queerness. But I feel Latina in my soul. The same way I have always felt woman-ness in my soul. Your post just rocked my world, because it makes me wonder if “it’s ok” to be Mujerísima, Latina, etc… All of me, all the extra bits… Exactly who I feel that I am in my innermost being.
And maybe I don’t need to make myself small for anyone, or any culture. And maybe this is an idea worth spreading.
Bought! And will be read. A longer read, but I also commend "That's Revolting! (Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation)" from Soft Skull Press in Brooklyn 💥
Happy to see your reaction to the book was as enthusiastic as mine! After I finished it a few days ago, I was prompted to hunt down a copy of Queen For A Day: Transformistas, Beauty Queens, and the Performance of Femininity in Venezuela by Marcia Ochoa (Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz, up the hill from where I live). Longer and more academic in style than Jules’ book, but I’m relishing it and I bet you would too.
I actually did read the book a couple weeks ago, but I got a great deal more from your interpretation than from her book. (Although people should definitely go read "A short history of trans-misogyny".
I'm a white trans woman from Oklahoma who spent 9 of the last 11 years in Latin America and the first year of my transition in Colombia. I just moved back to the US in January to get access to the world class gender affirming care that should be available to everyone.
So when I read her book, I was already quite familiar with the concepts in the last third of it. But I failed to connect them to white American culture because I haven't been a part of that for so long. Now I’m trying to re-integrate into white culture but I’m just constantly too “extra”. Not just in my gender, but in everything. That was fine in Colombia where everyone is extra, but it’s rough in the US where white culture always wants me to be less in basically every way.
So I’ve been making myself small, mousy, etc… Trying to fit back into white culture, white queerness. But I feel Latina in my soul. The same way I have always felt woman-ness in my soul. Your post just rocked my world, because it makes me wonder if “it’s ok” to be Mujerísima, Latina, etc… All of me, all the extra bits… Exactly who I feel that I am in my innermost being.
And maybe I don’t need to make myself small for anyone, or any culture. And maybe this is an idea worth spreading.
Bought! And will be read. A longer read, but I also commend "That's Revolting! (Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation)" from Soft Skull Press in Brooklyn 💥
Brilliant - thank you for writing.
Happy to see your reaction to the book was as enthusiastic as mine! After I finished it a few days ago, I was prompted to hunt down a copy of Queen For A Day: Transformistas, Beauty Queens, and the Performance of Femininity in Venezuela by Marcia Ochoa (Associate Professor at UC Santa Cruz, up the hill from where I live). Longer and more academic in style than Jules’ book, but I’m relishing it and I bet you would too.
I've heard that one's good!