Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality

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Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality
Trans- When Ideology Meets Reality cover.jpg
AuthorHelen Joyce
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SubjectGender studies
GenreNonfiction
PublisherOneworld Publications, Simon & Schuster
Publication date
2021
ISBN9780861540495
OCLC1264139440

Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality is a 2021 nonfiction book by journalist Helen Joyce about the transgender rights movement. It is published by Oneworld Publications, their fifth book in the Sunday Times bestseller list.[1][2] The book received a number of favorable reviews, though some, like The Guardian and Publishers Weekly, were more critical of Joyce's approach.

Summary[]

Joyce writes that the book is about the idea "that people should count as men or women according to how they feel and what they declare, instead of their biology", describes this as gender identity replacing sex, and says this has "far-reaching consequences". Joyce states the book is not about transgender people, but about the lobbying of trans activism.[3]: intro. 

She begins by recounting a history of transgender identity. She describes the gender transitions of Lili Elbe and Christine Jorgensen, as well as influential researchers Magnus Hirschfeld, Harry Benjamin, and John Money, stating that these researchers all had unscientific beliefs about the nature of sex.[3]: ch. 1  She next discusses Blanchard's typology, in which trans women are classified into androphilic and autogynephilic types, and Anne Lawrence's research into the accounts of other self-identified autogynephiles. She next discusses the popularization of this research in The Man Who Would Be Queen, and the ensuing controversy.[3]: ch. 2  While agreeing with the existence of gender dysphoria, she criticizes the concept of gender identity, calling it a "sexed soul" and a form of mind–body dualism, and criticizes activists that state that being male or female has nothing to do with the physical body. She states that the concept is intellectually rooted in postmodernist philosophy, and gives rebuttals to arguments that sex is too complicated or socially constructed to be useful.[3]: ch. 3 

She next relates various academic debates around the treatment of gender dysphoria in children. She criticizes the "gender affirmative" approach and argues that puberty blockers "block the developmental process whereby gender dysphoria often resolves", and argues this leads to lifelong health issues.[3]: ch. 4  She endorses the concept of rapid onset gender dysphoria, and compares it to past psychological social contagions and to culture-bound syndromes. She also relates the experiences of several detransitioners.[3]: ch. 5  She criticizes educational materials for children as equating non-conformity to stereotypes to being trans. She also argues that, as happened in the 1970s, activists are being careless about the safeguarding of children from sexual abuse.[3]: ch. 6 

She argues that most feminism has become disconnected from issues related to female embodiment, and has become unable to even name them. She criticizes the asymmetry between how gender and race are viewed, and argues that lesbians have come under particular pressure to accept unwanted sexual partners.[3]: ch. 7  She relates the legal cases of Jessica Yaniv, and argues they illustrate the weaknesses of gender self-identification policies. She states that single-sex spaces like changing rooms, domestic violence shelters, and prisons are now such in name only, and that this has led to adverse consequences.[3]: ch. 8  She relates various controversies and research related to transgender people in sports.[3]: ch. 9 

She discusses the recent history of transgender activism in the United States, and makes a case for why the political left there has become an especially strong proponent of it.[3]: ch. 10  She argues that gender self-identification in law infringes on the rights of others and has often been put into place without the general public knowing what is happening or supporting the consequences. She says it has been supported by billionaires and that there is a potential for conflicts of interest between researchers and those who profit from gender medicine.[3]: ch. 11  She criticizes many journalists, social media sites, universities, and other organizations as captured by transgender activism.[3]: ch. 12  She discusses recent successful resistance in the UK to gender self-identification, as well as Maya Forstater's legal case and the founding of the LGB Alliance. She makes a case for why a "secular, feminist resistance" appeared in the UK rather than somewhere else.[3]: ch. 13 

She argues that gender self-identification will not grow to widespread acceptance as same-sex marriage did, and suggests that preference falsification and pluralistic ignorance may be currently at play. She makes suggestions for how to recognize sex when it matters and also accommodate transgender people. She concludes by calling for more negotiation, for more listening, and a recommitment to freedom of belief and of speech.[3]: concl. 

Reception[]

Reviews[]

In The Times, David Aaronovitch wrote that Joyce examines "a new ideology about gender." He commended the book for "its intellectual clarity and its refusal to compromise", and stated Joyce "takes apart this ideology of gender with a cold rigour."[4]

In The Telegraph, Kathleen Stock, professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex, and author of Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism, gave the book 5 out of 5 stars. She called it a "superlative critical analysis of trans activism" and said that "Joyce shows an impressive capacity to handle complex statistics, legal statutes, and other bits of evidence without losing clarity or narrative drive." She states that Joyce "deals with the philosophical contradictions of gender identity ideology briskly but efficiently", and that she describes harm being brought "on children, women, gay people, autistic people, and on trans people themselves."[5]

In The Guardian, Gaby Hinsliff reviewed it alongside Material Girls. Hinsliff comments on the thesis defended by Joyce's book, mentioning it's seen some anecdotal support, but spends most of the review criticizing "some curious holes" present in the work. For Hinsliff, the book spends too much time on "contentious speculation about what makes people trans" instead of focusing on presenting the point of view from "policymakers, activists, the ordinary trans people [Joyce] considers misrepresented". Hinsliff also argues that Joyce's refusal to acknowledge the "fundamental conflicts" between many trans women fearing violence in men's changing rooms and some women feeling less safe in their presence "precludes finding solutions." She considered Material Girls to handle the topic better.[6]

Stella O'Malley reviewed the book in the Evening Standard, praising its writing style, and stating that Joyce "goes through every issue related to trans activism and, painstakingly, piece by piece, she takes a scalpel to it." She calls the book a must-read for those who want "to gain a deep understanding of the issues related to trans activism".[7]

In the New Statesman, Louise Perry discusses both Trans and Material Girls, calling them "incisive, compassionate and nuanced". She states that Trans "provides a political account of the points of contention between the trans movement and feminists." She suggests that the success of both books indicates an upwards "respectability cascade" for gender-critical feminism.[8]

In The Scotsman, Susan Dalgety recommended the book and called it a "searing analysis of the transgender debate".[9]

A review at Publishers Weekly criticized the book as "alarmist" and a "one-sided takedown" that comes up short. The review put forward that Joyce didn't speak to people who have happily transitioned and that she doesn't present statistics about how many people regret their surgical and hormonal treatments.[10]

Lionel Shriver described the book's reviews as "glowing" and related that Helen Joyce expected a "rough ride" when planning the book, and met with some reluctance when selling the book.[1]

In reviewing Trans for The New York Times in September 2021, journalist Jesse Singal called it an "intelligent, thorough rejoinder to an idea that has swept across much of the liberal world seemingly overnight." He also states that "here and there, I found myself wishing for a bit more nuance", pointing to an instance of not accurately rendering opponents' arguments, calling its narrative of radical activists having nearly routed sober-minded scientists "a bit too tidy", and saying it is "very thin on citations." Nevertheless, he concludes that Trans "is a compelling, overdue argument for viewing self-ID more critically."[11]

For Critical Legal Thinking, law professor Alex Sharpe described the book as 'zealous' in contrast to Stock's 'forensic' approach in Material Girls, and went on to say "It is poorly referenced, contains a great deal of anecdote, draws conclusions barely supported by evidence, fails to weigh evidence properly, or to consider fully or at all counter evidence even where such evidence accords with medical or other consensus". Sharpe goes on to take issue with a number of points Joyce raises, including the link between autogynephilia and transsexuality; the proportion of children experiencing gender dysphoria who go on to become trans adults, where she argues Joyce has confused gender noncomformity with gender dysphoria; Joyce's reference to the controversial theory of rapid onset gender dysphoria; and Joyce's claims that 'a few wealthy people', including George Soros, influence the global agenda with regards to trans rights.[12]

Sales[]

The book sold well, debuting within a week of its publication at number 7 on The Sunday Times list of bestselling general hardbacks.[2]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Shriver, Lionel (6 August 2021). "Trans purity test has lost touch with reality". Times. Archived from the original on 2021-08-07. Retrieved 7 September 2021. An initially interested literary agent who considered her proposal “well-argued”, “persuasive” and “timely” eventually demurred that Joyce would need an advocate to “weather the storm that publishing this book will create. I am sorry to say that I am not that person.” One sceptical British editor wrote, “Debate over trans issues is incredibly polarised and siloed, and if we are going to torch our own credentials as woke members in good standing we would prefer to do it for a book that has some chance of selling.”
  2. ^ a b "The Sunday Times Bestsellers List—the UK's definitive book sales chart". The Sunday Times. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Joyce, Helen (July 15, 2021). Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality. Oneworld Publications. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. ^ Aaronovitch, David. "Trans by Helen Joyce review — Women exist! The facts of biology trump ideology". The Times. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ^ Stock, Kathleen (18 July 2021). "Toddlers transitioning, male rapists in women's prisons: this is the book you need to read about trans activism". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  6. ^ Hinsliff, Gaby (18 July 2021). "Trans by Helen Joyce; Material Girls by Kathleen Stock – reviews". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  7. ^ O'Malley, Stella (12 July 2021). "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality review: A tour de force". Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  8. ^ Perry, Louise. "It's still possible to "cancel" gender-critical feminists, but this strategy won't work". New Statesman. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  9. ^ Dalgety, Susan (16 July 2021). "Dear Nicola Sturgeon, please read this plea from a sister feminist about the trans debate – Susan Dalgety". The Scotsman. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  10. ^ Joyce, Helen (7 September 2021). "Nonfiction Book Review: Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality by Helen Joyce". PublishersWeekly.com. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-86154-049-5. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  11. ^ Singal, Jesse (September 7, 2021). "Trans Rights and Gender Identity". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  12. ^ Sharpe, Alex (2021-10-08). "Review of Helen Joyce's Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality and Kathleen Stock's Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism". Critical Legal Thinking. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
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