Last year, I developed an eye disease that rendered me unable to read for a while. Mercifully, I have got enough sight back to read again, although it's not always comfortable. Some of you have been asking for book recommendations on gender ideology, so here is a wee list of ones I've read recently or am just about to read. Please contact me if you think of any other titles that would be of interest.
'Feminism for Women' Julie Bindel 2021 Hot off the press this week and I'm only half way through. Bindel Julie Bindel is a journalist, writer, broadcaster and researcher, who's been active in the global campaign to end violence towards women and children since 1979 and has written extensively on rape, domestic violence, sexually motivated murder, prostitution and trafficking, child sexual exploitation, stalking, and the rise of religious fundamentalism and its harm to women and girls. This latest book is not always an easy read, but essential for her analysis on the misogyny inherent in extreme trans ideology.
'Misogynies' Joan Smith 1989. An older text, but worth a revisit. Joan Smith has recently been sacked by email from her voluntary role as co-chair of London's Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) board. She was dismissed because se raised concerns about male bodied people accessing shelters for women escaping domestic violence. She had also been clear that she felt trans people should have access to services they required, but this was deemed transphobic.
'The Creation of Patriarchy' Gerda Lerner 1986. An even older text, but one I value highly.
'Why Women are Blamed for Everything' Jessica Taylor 2021. On my coffee table and next on my list. I follow Jessica on Twitter. She does talk an alarming amount of sense.
'Material Girls; Why Reality Matters for Feminism' Kathleen Stock 2021. If you only read one of the books on this list, read this one. Kathleen Stock is a philosopher and takes a philosophical approach to the issue in this text. I worried that would be beyond me, but no - it actually made it easier to read.
'Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality' Helen Joyce 2021 An immensely popular text that has been in the non fiction best seller top ten for weeks. A trifle too polemic for my taste, but still worth a read.
It's important for me read outside my comfort zone on this issue, so a couple of titles I feel were worth reading:
'Trans Britain: Our Long Journey out fo the Shadows' Christine Burns (Ed.) 2016 A collection of very moving personal accounts of the history of trans people in this country. Essential reading for me as I knew little of the history. It is also fascinating to compare the early movement to what we are experiencing today. A chapter on Scotland is fascinating - it reveals how the policy capture was achieved - taking advantage of the SNP desire to be 'a leading nation'. The cynical approach was to tackle soft targets such as prisons first.
'The Transgender Issue: An argument for Justice' 2021 Shon Faye. Hot off the press and unopened so far. Shon Faye is a young trans activist you may have seen on TV.
'Feminism for Women' Julie Bindel 2021 Hot off the press this week and I'm only half way through. Bindel Julie Bindel is a journalist, writer, broadcaster and researcher, who's been active in the global campaign to end violence towards women and children since 1979 and has written extensively on rape, domestic violence, sexually motivated murder, prostitution and trafficking, child sexual exploitation, stalking, and the rise of religious fundamentalism and its harm to women and girls. This latest book is not always an easy read, but essential for her analysis on the misogyny inherent in extreme trans ideology.
'Misogynies' Joan Smith 1989. An older text, but worth a revisit. Joan Smith has recently been sacked by email from her voluntary role as co-chair of London's Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) board. She was dismissed because se raised concerns about male bodied people accessing shelters for women escaping domestic violence. She had also been clear that she felt trans people should have access to services they required, but this was deemed transphobic.
'The Creation of Patriarchy' Gerda Lerner 1986. An even older text, but one I value highly.
'Why Women are Blamed for Everything' Jessica Taylor 2021. On my coffee table and next on my list. I follow Jessica on Twitter. She does talk an alarming amount of sense.
'Material Girls; Why Reality Matters for Feminism' Kathleen Stock 2021. If you only read one of the books on this list, read this one. Kathleen Stock is a philosopher and takes a philosophical approach to the issue in this text. I worried that would be beyond me, but no - it actually made it easier to read.
'Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality' Helen Joyce 2021 An immensely popular text that has been in the non fiction best seller top ten for weeks. A trifle too polemic for my taste, but still worth a read.
It's important for me read outside my comfort zone on this issue, so a couple of titles I feel were worth reading:
'Trans Britain: Our Long Journey out fo the Shadows' Christine Burns (Ed.) 2016 A collection of very moving personal accounts of the history of trans people in this country. Essential reading for me as I knew little of the history. It is also fascinating to compare the early movement to what we are experiencing today. A chapter on Scotland is fascinating - it reveals how the policy capture was achieved - taking advantage of the SNP desire to be 'a leading nation'. The cynical approach was to tackle soft targets such as prisons first.
'The Transgender Issue: An argument for Justice' 2021 Shon Faye. Hot off the press and unopened so far. Shon Faye is a young trans activist you may have seen on TV.